Advanced polls were busy over the weekend as many took advantage of the four-day window to cast their ballots for the federal election.
It would not be surprising to see a higher voter turnout nationwide by the time the polls close on Sept. 20 - Canadians have been engaged in heated political debate for the past 21 months and COVID continues to be a hot-button issue going into the home stretch of the election.
The question, of course, is who will come out on top. There has been no definitive answer to that question since the writ dropped in August.
Some staunch Conservative or Liberal supporters, who have always marked an 'X' for either the blue or the red, are frustrated with their party policies and are seeking answers from other platforms, like the PPC, NDP or Mavericks. National polls continue to sway with the Conservatives and Liberals neck-and-neck, and with a portion of voters moving to fringe parties it's likely to be a minority government.
What matters is that Canadians get out and cast their votes, raise their voices in support of whichever party they believe in, and show they are invested in democracy and the future of the nation.
This could be the most important election in recent Canadian history, with an electorate in turmoil and a pandemic continuing to disrupt social wellness, economics and mental well-being.
Voter apathy has been ripe at the past two federal elections, with turnout levels dipping, and it's time to change that. After all, as we've all heard before - if you don't vote, you can't complain.
Now is the time to take a stand, mark a ballot, and make a difference.
