Despite stats reporting the Foothills as one the safest Conservative ridings in Canada, every vote still counts say local constituents and candidates.
For Okotoks resident Rachelle Chapman, it’s about preserving the rights her ancestors fought to earn.
“I look at my great-great-grandmothers who fought for women’s rights over 100 years ago, and I think they made the opportunity and the right to voice their opinion, and I couldn’t ever not honour their legacy by putting my voice forward,” said Chapman.
She and her husband, an American-born citizen, have often discussed the issue of voting in the Foothills riding, which has been Conservative since 1911, when the Liberals held the seat.
For her, it doesn’t matter which party you’re voting for, it’s about making your voice heard – and the Foothills could always flip again like it did when it turned blue over 100 years ago, she said.
“You just never know where the numbers lie – we saw that with the last provincial election and the NDP being voted in,” said Chapman. “It’s just as much your right to say what’s happening with your government and to research and you never know.
“I don’t think it’s ever a guarantee.”
Jonathan Young, also of Okotoks, agreed. He said he plans to cast his vote in the upcoming election and doesn’t see the process as futile, even in the Foothills riding.
Besides, he said, no matter which party you support, if you don’t vote you shouldn’t gripe about the results.
“If you don’t voice your opinion, don’t complain,” said Young. “Your opinion doesn’t matter if you don’t put it out there.”
For non-Conservative candidates in the Oct. 21 election, running in the Foothills riding poses its own unique challenges.
NDP candidate Mickail Hendi said the campaign is run “with a certain level of difficulty.”
It can be hard to reach out to supporters, but he said he’s not going to stop trying to get out into the community and spread the NDP message.
It’s important voters don’t feel like their ballot is a waste, he said.
“The reason the election is so decided every single time here is because of apathetic (hopefully NDP) supporters, and I just want to encourage them,” said Hendi. “I think if NDP supporters realized how big their numbers were in this part of the country they would be less hesitant to go out and voice their support.”
Cheryl Moller, the Liberal candidate who just came on board last week, said there’s only so much she can do. She won’t have signs or an elaborate campaign for this election.
She decided to throw her hat in the ring to ensure the Liberal voice was heard in the riding, and she hopes to see a good contingency of voters.
“Over 8,000 people voted Liberal last time, so I’m here to represent them and I think they will vote for me,” said Moller.
Green Party candidate Bridget Lacey said it can be heartbreaking to know she’s representing a lot of people, the Earth and the environment, and she’ll never have the chance to have that voice in the House of Commons.
“It’s been difficult to stand up but at the same time it’s well worthwhile,” said Lacey.
She said she takes comfort in the fact the Green dialogue is making its way into platforms of other candidates, with parties taking a stance against climate change, protecting immigrants and respecting indigenous rights.
“That’s all we can hope for,” said Lacey. “That we get some of these ideas adopted, those are big wins for us.”
Greg Hession, candidate for the newly-formed Peoples Party of Canada (PPC) said he’s not concerned about the historically Conservative seat in the riding. With a lot of conservative values, he said the PPC stands a good chance in Foothills.
The Conservatives took a strong majority in the riding with 75 per cent of the vote in 2015.
“All other things being equal, the PPC, which espouses Conservative values, can win with 38 per cent,” said Hession.
He said that percentage could come from conservative voters looking for a different party platform, as well as disaffected Green, NDP and Liberal supporters.
Hession said he’s campaigning with a winning attitude and thinks voters need to approach the polls the same way – especially those who feel their vote may not count in Foothills.
“To just not vote, they are accepting defeat,” said Hession. “If they truly believe in their cause and their party’s platform, they should, under any condition, get out and vote.”
At the very least, the number of votes for a party that doesn’t win the seat may convince other people in the future to cast their ballots to raise that number, he said.
Incumbent Conservative candidate John Barlow said he never approaches the election feeling that his seat is a shoe-in.
“I’m just not wired that way,” said Barlow. “I think our constituents deserve a candidate and a member of Parliament who’s going to work hard to earn every single vote.”
He said his campaign team is out knocking on doors and putting up signs, campaigning like they are behind and not taking the seat for granted.
“The minute your constituents think you’re mailing it in, you’re not going to get that support,” said Barlow.
He said it’s even more than just getting signs in the ground.
People have been more engaged than ever at their doors, he said. They know what’s going on and plan to vote, whether it’s for the Conservatives or not.
“I truly believe this is the most important election in Canadian history,” said Barlow. “This election is about keeping our confederation. This is about protecting Canada, keeping us as a country.”
