Salluit is not like Digby

Election day has come and gone in the north, like in the rest of Canada. Some things are very much the same and others are very different. One similarity if the walk to the poll but the walk is about the only thing that is the same.

I have always enjoyed the walk in Halifax to the polls as it was less than five minutes from our home. during some elections I worked in the polling station. Here there was only one poll and the walk was about 10 minutes in weather that was not condusive to a long walk. Here I knew so few people as I walked to the poll. In Halifax or Digby I knew so many people.

When I have voted in southern Canada I always knew who the candidates were. I always knew who I was going to vote for. When I walked in the polling station in Salluit I had never seen the candidates names b efore. It is understandable that we were not visited by any candidate but I was surprised that no candidate, nor the head offices of the major parties, did not send information to the community. Nothing. Not one piece of paper came into the viallage about the election. What a shock to see the names on the ballot with no idea of the character of any person running. All I could go by was the party.

That is not a position that I am comfortable in. I like to examine party platforms and the statements of the leaders but I also want to know about the individual who is representing me in Ottawa.

I was also uncomfortable voting in the village. My vote could impact on the lives of the people who live here. I am not much more than a guest here in Salluit. I am here at the pleasure of the community. If the Inuit do not want me here I would have to go. One of the big hurdles all teachers have to go thru is being recommended by the local school council. If they do not think we fit in we are gone. It has nothing to do with our teaching abilities but our ability to fit in.

One thing I should I have done was spend time on the internet finding out about the candidates. It was not like in Digby where I knew the candidates and often the extended family. Once or twice I voted for my father. I was in Halifax for 20 years where I also had built up a bank of knowledge. I wish I had thougth to look up more info on the computer. my lack of information is my fault.

Election night was spent on the phone. Dad, from Florida, was calling Clyne in Digby who told him all the important numbers. Then he would call me. On the national CBC I could not get info about the Nova Scotia ridings I was interested in.

I must run as I have to meet with parents but I wanted to get somethig down about the election. What an interesting political future we a re going to have.