For the Federal Election Toronto Public Library endorses……
A knowledgeable electorate that votes. And how better to help accomplish that than a short alphabetical list by subject of the four major national political leaders.
Did you know one of Toronto Public Library's eight values is: "Intellectual Freedom: Guaranteeing and facilitating the free exchange of information and ideas in a democratic society"?
Looking for more information on voting?
- Elections Canada's webpage includes a postal code search engine that shows the candidates from your riding and which polling station you vote at!
- Settlement.Org "Information Newcomers Can Trust" answers many basic question on voting
- Torontoist webage "How to Vote in the 2015 Federal election"
- Toronto Star "What You Need to Know Before You Vote"
If you're looking for more detailed information about the leaders try John P's blog series:
3 thoughts on “For the Federal Election Toronto Public Library endorses……”
It would be nice if the library could promote a free and educated citizenry by having a place online where each party could state clearly their position on their platforms. The focus on charismatic leaders is not democracy – democracy is about intelligent individuals making educated choices about issues. Then choosing a party which matches their values most closely. What is each party’s position on the environment? Jobs? Immigration? If the library had a page with the top 5-10 issues broken down each party could have the responsibility for filling out their platform. It’s incredibly tiresome, stressful and confusing to have to listen to party spiels whether going to their sites, reading a long book or having to meet and greet the candidates at the door. The library is the perfect place – the only place – that is funded by us the citizens – and therefore it needs to serve us. So do the political candidates! Make the party platforms on 5-10 top issues easily accessible and separate from the hype of campaigning and we can all learn much more easily and freely. We can start with these issues and if we have further issues that aren’t addressed – then go to the parties themselves. Please support our free and educated democracy by setting up this kind of page. Keep it up during and after the elections – democracy is continual. We all need to learn that. Having a place to go where we can start to educate ourselves about issues in a non-partisan, quiet, intelligent place that we fund for citizens throughout Canada with our taxes – the library – is a step in the direction of maintaining and creating a free, educated citizenry – a free, educated Canada.
Enticing title, Bill! Thanks.
Hello Long Time Patron, thank you for reading the blog and your thoughtful comment. I have seen the kind of party and issues comparisons that you’re describing in various mainstream newspapers … you may find the following helpful.
1) Toronto Star Policy Guide that goes through a number of policies by party using a drop down menu system
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/06/23/federal-election-2015-what-the-parties-are-promising.html
2) The Globe and Mail has something similar although I do not find it as broad or inclusive(they don’t include the Green Party for example) in their “Why What are the biggest election issues” section of the following link (about half way down) – http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/when-do-the-polls-open-in-the-canadian-election-your-voting-day-questionsanswered/article26797591/
I think doing this same kind of gathering, sifting and analysis is beyond what the Library can do – but we can guide folks to a variety of sources that may do it already.
Thanks again for your thought provoking response.