I’m 34 years old. I’ve been voting since I was 18. Much has been said about young people’s lack of interest in politics. And frankly, I understand them. I did not know the politics of the 1970s when we enthusiastically built the Quebec of tomorrow. The only politics I have known for 16 years is that of politicians surrounded by scandals who turn a deaf ear to young people. This was the case for education in 2012, where the only option was to demonstrate for months in the streets to be heard. This is still the case today with the environment, where we must constantly hammer home our fears. Who is listening?
Posted at 11:00 a.m.
Who takes note of our needs, our fears and our anxiety about the future? It is we who will have to live with the consequences of the decisions that will be taken today and tomorrow. I heard few politicians talk about our issues during the election campaign. It’s as if we didn’t exist. Don’t be surprised that young people don’t vote.
For only 20 years, I have seen the environment deteriorate at breakneck speed. I have seen society change, open up to several social issues and question itself. Several things moved quickly. But the face of politics has not changed. We are still with the same politicians and the same political system. We have to evolve on that too.
Every election, I vote with my heart. Even if the urge to vote strategically has often been strong, I’ve always convinced myself that democracy shouldn’t be that. So I very rarely won my elections. Because people who think like me are not necessarily my neighbors. They are spread across the province. But, in our democratic system, that means nothing.
It does not mean that 59% of voters did not choose the CAQ, this party will have the big majority of power anyway. It does not mean that 13% of voters chose the Conservative Party, they will not have a representative in the National Assembly. It does not mean that a party has obtained 13, 14 or 15% of the votes, the number of deputies will not be accordingly.
Every election, I go to bed with a huge sense of injustice. We very rarely have the political representativeness that we should. And, each time, the reform of the voting system disappears from the electoral promises. Of course, a party will not reform a system that put it in power.
I have tilted when I heard François Legault say that it was not a priority for Quebecers. Really ? I’m pretty sure 59% of voters disagree with him this morning.
Much has been said about the survival of the French language (and with good reason), but no one has spoken about the survival of our democracy. We wonder why there are more and more people who are radicalized and fewer and fewer people who vote. Empower the people and they won’t feel like they have to take extremist means to make themselves heard. Make every vote count. Stop governing as if you have majority support when you don’t. Everyone should be properly represented in the National Assembly, otherwise what’s the point?
Mr. Legault, if democracy still means something to you, reform the voting system. We shouldn’t have to go out into the streets all the time to be heard. Listen to us and maybe my generation and the next will want to participate in the debate.