For many, it’s about choosing least-bad option
Negative politics, finger-pointing and broken promises are turn-offs
With less than two weeks left until the provincial election, the most recent polls suggest that many Quebecers are still making up their minds about which political party they will be voting for.
In speaking with friends and family this week, I found a general lack of excitement about any one party. Rather, people are attempting to figure out which one is least bad. I have brought the elections up with countless friends and some family members only to receive a shrug. Gone are the days of voting for a specific party because that’s just how you voted.
Too many promises have been broken over the years; there have been too many instances of dog-whistle politics. There have also been too many examples of discriminatory remarks made about visible and religious minority groups in this province, not only by opposition politicians but also by members of the ruling party; this, in turn, has brewed mistrust. Now that the elections are around the corner, those same political parties are trying to earn the votes of the very same demographics.
As an English-speaking Quebecer and the Canadianborn child of immigrants, I am listening to the dialogue surrounding immigration policy very closely. Of course I am also following many other issues, not least health care.
Immigration policies have ramifications for all of us, not just those with friends or family who wish to immigrate to Quebec.
I think of my mom, may she rest in peace, of how she lived in Quebec for 30 years, working periodically, but mostly staying at home to raise my siblings and me, nurturing us to grow into well-educated, politically engaged trilingual professionals who live and work in Quebec and give back to the community. Could that have been done if there had been a law in place stipulating that she needed to know French within a period of three years? I cannot help but feel pangs about what sort of impact that would have had on my family. Beyond “bonjour” and “comment ça va?” her French was limited, at best.
It is important to remember that discourse matters, as well. This election campaign, as with the ones before it, reveals how our political leadership hopefuls will handle themselves under pressure. On a personal note, I get turned off by candidates who engage in negative politics, who start every response with a criticism of what others are doing wrong rather than a focus on what they will do right. Candidates who are apt to point fingers and hurl accusations at their opponents rather than attempt to engage with the voters concern me. When we see political candidates interact with their opponents, we get a chance to form insights into what sort of politics they may participate in.
Similarly, we are also able to better assess what kind of leader we will have, one who is willing to cut across, cut down or verbally decimate their opponent; one who needs a moderator-assisted introduction every time they wish to speak in a debate; or one who will speak calmly, intelligently and articulately even under pressure. These are the types of qualities that matter to me. While we cannot predict the future, we can take advantage of opportunities to glimpse into what type of politics these candidates are willing to engage in and perhaps even hope they remain focused on issues of infrastructure, transportation, health, education and immigration, the issues that do matter.
Elections are a good time to assess what political candidates say, versus what they mean. Voters also get a chance to try to determine what candidates will do, versus what they say they will do.
Between now and Oct. 1, I for one will be watching political coverage closely to determine who receives my vote.
Fariha Naqvi-Mohamed is the founder and editor in chief of CanadianMomEh.com, a lifestyle blog. twitter.com/canadianmomeh