The much-awaited Ontario Provincial Elections have been called for October 2, 2003. Canadian citizens with residency in Ontario have a singular opportunity to make their voices heard through the ballot box. The Ghanaian News takes this opportunity to appeal to Ontario citizens of all ethnic backgrounds to turn up in their numbers to express their opinions by way of voting.

We encourage eligible Canadians not to sit on the fence but exercise their franchise, because many voters have the erroneous impression that their votes do not carry weight and wouldn’t matter in the political process. Every vote does matter. This is the time for every Canadian to consider and weigh pressing political issues that will benefit the community and thus vote wisely for persons who would solve those issues for the betterment of all.

An educated community is a viable one and virtually serves as a spring board to socio-economic development. We want our kids to have access to every educational faculty irrespective of any political ideology and their cultural background. Parents have the mandate to steer the trend of their children in the area of youthful educational choices. The future of the province in particular and the country as a whole revolves on an educated community.

This is the time our political leaders pretend that they have our issues and interest at heart. It is therefore the only time in a four or five-year term that citizens get the rare opportunity to question the politicians on these pretensions. It is the only time citizens can get politicians to really commit themselves on important issues so that we can hold them to account if they do not deliver on those promises. A serious case in point is the intended “privatization of education” in Ontario. Public education is very important and should no longer be sacrificed on the altar of privatization. A sound mind operates in a sound body. Canada is one of the countries in the world that dispenses health-care in a quality manner. Just like education, health services need no politicizing. Privatization of health care is also very much in the works and we need to get our politicians to publicly commit themselves on where they stand on this all-important issue. Staffing and properly equipping our hospitals, taking care of emergencies and equitable access and affordability are what the health care system needs. Ensure that you vote for those who will champion this cause.

Members of our community are among those that usually adopt apathy towards elections and the political process. But we have too much at stake as a young developing community to shun the electoral and political process. The more we get involved, the more the politicians will take our votes and our issues seriously.

We therefore need to attend many of the town hall meetings with politicians and rallies and let our views and issues be known as well as be visible in the electoral process.

We need representatives who will go to Queen’s Park and fulfill our dreams of equity in all aspects of life of the most culturally diverse province in Canada. Ontarians have an opportunity. Everyone needs to get involved. And most importantly our community members need to get involved in greater numbers. And on election day, October 2 please do vote but remember to vote wisely!!