COLUMN: Viewpoint – Voting is a privilege

Municipal elections are less than a week away. Only 16.9 percent of eligible Steinbach area citizens voted in the last election. That’s disconcerting. Winnipeg had 37.5 percent of voters show up. Certainly nothing to be proud of either.

Having the right to vote for leaders who make vital decisions about our local communities is a gift. If I start feeling blasé about voting I remember how hard suffragettes in the early 1900s worked to earn the right for me to vote, and how much more work was needed for racial minorities to gain the same right. To not bother voting is a sacrilege, when others sacrificed so much to earn that privilege for us.

Municipal elections may not seem as consequential as federal or provincial elections, but they can affect many people. I personally know Steinbach residents whose homes have flooded repeatedly. They need local government leaders who advocate boldly for them, address their concerns in concrete, substantial ways and offer help and restitution.

A recent forum in Steinbach, led by respected local professionals, gave city council candidates an opportunity to hear concerns, and express their views about important issues. The CBC reported none of the incumbent councillors running for office, showed up. According to friends in attendance at Steinbach’s Pride Parade, no council members were there either. They missed an opportunity to build bridges with Premier Wab Kinew, who spoke at the event. This is regrettable, since provincial funding is vital to the city’s welfare. Have incumbent council members provided legitimate reasons for their absences?