Considering ways to counteract voter apathy

‘THE ISSUE

The following is the third in-
- stalment in an ongoing series of
stories addressing some of the
many’ issues facing Canadians
as they consider who to vote
for in the upcoming federal
election. Today’s story and
». responses on the issue of voter
“apathy were written and com-
piled ‘by News reporter (Sur
Rattan.

WHEN ‘NORTH Shore. voters
go tothe polls to cast: their
votes. during the. federal, elec-
tion: on’ Monday, Oct. 25, the
issue of voter apathy will likely

* be on the minds of most poli-
ticians. “

In. 1988, during the last fed-
eral election, : 43,402 voters
‘turned out in the federal riding

VANCOUVER
WHARVES..

“Paul J: McElligott, Chief
“Executive Officer, is pleased
; to announce the appointment.

of-David-J. Alsop, MBA,
E. B.Comm.; as President'&
“Chief Operating Officer of
Vancouver Wharves Ltd., a
“wholly-owned, Independently -
operated and inanaged sub-
-sidiary of BC Rail Ltd. Both -
; firms are members of the
. BCR Group of Companies.

’. Agraduate of the Harvard
Graduate School of Business,
Mr. Alsop spent 16 years of
his business career with

‘North Vancouver-based
Versatile Pacific Shipyards
Inc,, until he resigned as
President and Chief Executive
Officer when the company
was sold in 1989. immediately |
prior to his joining Vancouver
Wharves Ltd., Mr. Alsop was
involved in business acqui-
sition and consulting through
his own company, Burrard

“Yarrows Corporation, of North
Vancouver, B.C.

’ °Mr. Alsop's new respon-
sibilities include the day-to-
day operation and develop-
ment of Vancouver Wharves
asa stand-alone business
unit of the BCR Group. He
will report directly to Mr.
McENigott and serve asa
member of the BCR Group
Executive Committee. Mr.
Alsap’s appcintment became
effective o11 August 4, 1993.

of Capilano-Howe Sound.
. But 52,585 potential voters
were enumerated in the riding
during that clection year.
Incumbent Tory MP Mary
Collins won the Capilano-
Howe Sound seat with 20,219
votes, or 46% of the vote,
In the federai riding of
North Vancouver, 49,348 peo-
ple turned out to vote. In

North Vancouver, 61,099 peo- .

ple were enumerated to vote.

Former. Tory MP Chuck
Cook, who died in February,
won the riding with 18,515, or
37% of the votes.

The following responses

-range from .a suggestion to

have the candidates knock on
more doors during the election
campaign to an idea that free
cookies should. be provided to
these who do decide to exercise
their right to vote.’

THE RESPONSE

We asked the federal candidates
on the North Shore about where
they stand on the question of how
to increase voter participation in
the democratic process. The fol-
lowing are the responses.

NORTH VANCOUVER
CANDIDATES:

Graeme Bowbrick
New Democratic Party
Every candidate should be out on

the doorsteps meeting as many:

people as possible in person.
Maybe some personal contact
between candidates and voters
would reduce the high level of
alienation that exists now.

Dallas Collis

National Party

Canadians must be presented with
a viable option. A political party

of integrity and honesty, one that
will listen to and work with the
public they serve; we. are such a

party. ;

Bradford Cocke \
Natural Law Party \
CBC radio and television, because
they are funded by! our tax
dollars, should increase their daily
free broadcast time to political

parties, especially the newer and

smaller parties in order to en-
courage voter turfiut on election
day. : i

Arne Hansan . ,
Green Party of Canada:

As ‘environmental . awareness
grows, people will be more eager
to voice their “concerns: at the
ballot box.

Greens are the only party with
the will to say no to destructive
economic growth with ‘endless
consumerism.

Mobina Jaffer
Liberal Party

Our North Vancouver riding is
known for its high voter turnout
rate. In 1988 we had an 84%
turnout.

However, [have knocked on
thousands of doors in our riding
and many people have told me
that the reason they are apathetic
about voting in this election is that
they believe their voices are not
heard and that their vote wii! not
matter.

Will McMartin

Progressive Conservative Party
Voter turnout in British Columbia
for federal and provincial elections
is in the 75-80% range, among the
highest in the. world. | do not
believe the. government should
legislate measures to induce higher
turnout.” 1 5

Ted White

Reform Party

For democracy to work we must
all take an active role in selecting -

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