Calgary Centre candidates unite to boost voter turnout
Some of the city's most vulnerable got a chance to meet four of their federal election candidates over dinner at the Calgary Drop-In Centre on Wednesday night, as each candidate set aside their political differences to work together to increase voter turnout.
Green Party candidate Thana Boonlert says he reached out to Conservative Joan Crockatt, Liberal Kent Hehr, and NDP Jillian Ratti over concerns of voter apathy. He chose to hold the event at the shelter because he says homelessness is a real issue in the riding.
"A lot of times voting is not on the top of their priority list because they're worried about where they are going to get their next meal or where they're going to sleep at night," said Boonlert.
The Drop-In Centre also hosted a mock election on Sept. 21 along with a voter registration booth to allow people with proper identification to use the centre as their place of residence.
A polling station will also be set up at the Drop-In Centre on election day.
Apathy
Voter turnout during the last byelection in Calgary Centre was 29.4 per cent — and it led to a very close race between Crockatt and then-Liberal candidate Harvey Locke, with Crockatt emerging as the winner.
"One of the main things that we find is that a lot of people say they don't vote because they're not well enough informed," said Crockatt. "So part of our job here is to help them be more informed."
Hehr says people need to understand that on voting day, everyone's ballot is equal, from the boardroom to the homeless shelter.
"Getting more people from places like the Drop-In Centre, or new Canadians involved, or from people who are traditionally marginalized, to the ballot box, you will see a change in the trajectory of this country that looks at issues more from their perspective," said Hehr.
Favouring the Liberals?
Return on Insight pollster Bruce Cameron says the Calgary Centre riding has traditionally had more transient voters, such as students, people who are new to the area, or those who haven't voted before.
He says if the push to get more people to the polls is successful, it will end up favouring the Liberals.
"Many of the people that I talk about, either in middle- to lower-income brackets or students, they will be looking to try to defeat Joan Crockatt, or Harper," said Cameron.
"So they' re looking for who has the best chance of doing that. And I think with Kent, because he's well known there, he stands the best chance."
He says after looking at how many people are talking about each candidate on social media, how much engagement there is, and whether the reaction is positive or negative, he thinks Hehr is leading over Crockatt.
Making a difference
Colin Sanderson, who stays at the Drop-In Centre, says he's just happy to see some faces he's never seen before and that a friendly smile, good conversation, and time spent with potential voters really does make a difference.
"If you only see one person here, then they'll vote for that person. Getting everybody here, you'll be able to see who's serious about what they're talking about," said Sanderson.
Independent Yogi Henderson is also running in Calgary Centre.
Each candidate made the following pledge to support voter turnout:
I pledge to work with my fellow candidates in the riding of Calgary Centre on the non-partisan issue of increasing voter turnout. I will engage communities and demographics, such as younger voters (18-25), the homeless, and aboriginal communities. I will attend at least one non-partisan event with my fellow candidates, to focus on voting, why it is important, and how to vote. And, in coordination with my fellow candidates, I will make an official press release announcing this pledge.
