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Editorial: Get out to vote

Canadians will head to the polls Monday to cast their ballots in the federal election.

Canadians will head to the polls Monday to cast their ballots in the federal election.

It’s been a long haul. In fact, this election has been the longest campaign in recent history with Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking Gov. Gen David Johnston to dissolve Parliament  Aug. 2 for a Monday. Oct. 19 election.

In that time since, it has been an eventful campaign with voter support ebbing and flowing across the country between the Conservatives, Liberals and NDP, according to pollsters.

Facebook quotes and Twitter tweets have played dominant roles throughout the campaign, with all three leading parties experiencing candidate turmoil through their own missteps and blunders online.

Issues arising during the election have included, but are not limited to, such controversial topics as the Mike Duffy trial, the niqab, Canada’s stand on terrorism, the Syrian refugee crisis and, most recently, Canada’s role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a trade agreement between 12 Pacific Rim countries concerning a variety of matters of economic policy five years in the making.

Child care, the legalization of marijuana, tough on crime legislation, taxes, climate change and defence spending are a few of the other hot topics that have dominated the election news headlines.

In our area, we have seven candidates vying for the Cariboo-Prince George riding who have taken part in various all-candidate forums throughout the region, the final being last night in Williams Lake.

Candidates have also weighed in on some of the issues throughout the last five publications of The Tribune/Weekend Advisor.

Some area residents already flexed their right to vote during advanced polling which took place on the Thanksgiving weekend while students across School District 27 have also been learning about the election this week.

Whether you are leaning left, right, centre or somewhere in between, there are many candidates to choose from in this election – most importantly just get out and vote.

- Williams Lake Tribune