Your Vote Matters - At Every Level
There is an important election happening in EG right now.
The York-Simcoe Provincial By-Election has been called, and residents of East Gwillimbury will have the opportunity to choose our next Member of Provincial Parliament. Election Day is September 3, with advance voting available August 26–28.
I encourage everyone who is eligible to vote, to take the time to do so because I believe, strongly, that voting is one of the most important responsibilities we have as citizens. Unfortunately, far too many people don't vote.
In Ontario's most recent provincial election, only 45% of eligible voters cast a ballot. At the municipal level, participation is even lower. In East Gwillimbury's 2022 municipal election, only 25% of eligible voters cast a ballot. I find that concerning.
It is easy to think that politics doesn't affect us directly, or that our one vote won't make a difference. But government decisions affect our everyday lives in ways that are often much more immediate than we realize. At the provincial level, decisions affect healthcare, education, transportation, infrastructure, housing, the environment and many of the services we rely on every day.
At the municipal level, the connection is even more direct. Council decisions affect our property taxes, roads, parks and trails, recreation, libraries, fire and emergency services, planning, development, infrastructure and the future shape of our community.
Having served in public office for many years, I have seen first-hand how important it is for people to participate in the democratic process. You don't have to agree with every decision a government makes. You don't have to support a particular political party. And you certainly don't have to be a political expert. Someone once told me voting is like catching a train, not a taxi. Choose one that is going in the general direction you want. Don’t miss out because its not taking you exactly where you want to go.
We have a responsibility to take the time to understand the choices before us and make our voices heard at the voting booth. No one candidate will be everything you want, no one ever is. Its up to us to weigh the values and integrity of the candidates and their parties, determine how they align with our own thoughts and beliefs and make the best informed opinion of who is best for our community.
And that responsibility doesn't end with the provincial by-election. On October 26, EG residents will once again go to the polls for the municipal election. We will choose the Mayor, Councillors and school board trustees who will make decisions on behalf of our community for the next four years.
Our next Council will face some very important decisions. East Gwillimbury continues to change, and choices being made now will shape our community for decades to come. That makes it particularly important that residents take the time to learn about the candidates, not just what they say during an election campaign, but what their experience has taught them, what their record shows about their values and what they have actually accomplished.
Your vote may feel like a small thing. Collectively, it is anything but.
So, if you are eligible to vote in the York-Simcoe Provincial By-Election, please take the time to do it. Learn about the candidates, ask questions, consider what matters to you, who aligns best with your values and then make your own decision.
And when the municipal election arrives in October, I hope you'll do the same.
Democracy works best when people participate. Our community is worth showing up for.
Your vote matters. Your voice matters. Please use both.
Please visit these official election websites for more information:
For the Provincial By-Election
For the Municipal Election
