We are finally entering the home stretch of what is likely to be remembered as the never-ending election regardless of which party emerges as the winner.
Of course that assumes a winner, and there seems to be a good chance there will be a minority government when the smoke clears Oct. 19.
But the results are still nearly three weeks away.
Which means voters still have considerable time to determine exactly which party, or candidate they will support on election day.
On the national stage there have been leader debates to follow, events which at least give some insight into what each can bring to the role of Prime Minister in terms of skills to put forward a vision, and to defend a position.
It is of course important Canada has a Prime Minister who can be a strong voice in not just Parliament, but on the international stage.
But leadership goes farther. Even the person with the best leadership skills will come up short without strong policies.
Again that is an area where the leadership debates play a role. They are a compressed look at the positions of the mainline parties on some of the key issues in this election.
While we tend to get very much caught up in the battle of leaders, and the policies of the parties, there is a third consideration voters should focus on as they decide who they will support, and that is the merit of the local candidate.
Most MPs are not appointed to Cabinet, or handed important jobs in Opposition. Most are backbenchers, and as such their role becomes one of voicing the needs of the constituents as best they can.
It is important to look for a candidate we collectively feel will be able to speak best on issues of importance to the Yorkton-Melville riding. That may not always mean blindly supporting party politics if the policy of the party runs counter to local needs.
A good MP doing their job has to be willing at times to be a voice against their own party, at least behind closed doors, seeking to effect change if it would be better for their local riding.
If simply following the party line is how an MP sees their role, then they have already failed their constituents.
So it important local voters gauge the local candidates on how they will speak for Yorkton-Melville if elected.
That is where attending an event such as the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce sponsored All-Candidates Forum scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 8 in the city is important.
It is a chance to get to know the local candidates better, and that is important as the voice of our local representative should be clear in working for what is best for this constituency and not merely parroting their party’s position on all issues.
