Like it or not, we’re surrounded by politics. It’s in our daily newscasts, our social media feeds, our family dinner conversations and our “water cooler” talk around the office or workplace. However, all of this exposure to politics has not resulted in an engaged population on election day. Maybe it’s burnout. Maybe it’s cynicism. Maybe it’s just apathy.
Federal and provincial by-elections we held last month. Voter turnout was, to say the least, disappointing.
Provincially, it broke down like this:
Hamilton East/Stoney Creek – 29%
Scarborough Southwest – 26%
York-Simcoe – 21%
Federally the numbers are better, but still not what anyone would call great:
North Vancouver-Capilano (BC) – 45%
Chicoutimi-Le Fjord (QC) – 43%
Beaches-East York (ON) – 41%
Regardless of who you support, having these decisions made by such a small segment of the population should be alarming.
I don’t know what the answer is. In Australia, it is illegal to not vote. All eligible voters are expected to cast a ballot. You can provide a “valid and sufficient reason” for not voting to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). They will determine whether or not to excuse you from voting. A $20 administration fee is applied to all who are deemed eligible to vote and do not. In 2025, notices were sent to 1.3 million people who did not vote. Considering there were over 18 million eligible voters, it would appear many take the law seriously. 207,000 chose to pay the $20. That’s $4.1 million dollars to the government. The rest face court fines of $330.
Is that the answer here? Maybe. Would you pay $20 NOT to vote?
Perhaps the system itself needs to change. Some voters feel their single vote doesn’t matter in a first past the post election system. Many union members have suggested proportional representation (PR) would more properly reflect the voice of the people.
Take for example, the 2019 federal election:
PR would greatly have changed the outcome of that election. If you would like more information on PR, please refer to www.fairvote.ca.
Until a change is made, the system we have is the system we have to work within. Municipal elections happen in October. Please be engaged. Please vote.
Matt Bazinet
Union In Politics Chairperson
