The very name of our newspaper compels us to encourage voter participation. A citizen is a resident of a place but the word evokes more responsibility than simply occupying a space or identifying oneself as being from a certain place. The origin of the word "citizen" is linked to the word "denizen," a fancier, less common term in modern English for a resident. It also goes back to the Latin word "civitas," meaning a group of politically organized people. Free citizens of the Roman Empire were granted rights under the law but were also given legal responsibilities to support the health of the empire, such as obeying the laws, paying taxes and so on.
In a 21st century democracy like Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms grants individual citizens broad powers to conduct their daily lives. Unfortunately, not enough Canadians fulfill their responsibilities to uphold the Charter by voting in all municipal, provincial and federal elections to which they are entitled as citizens.
That's our name, that's who we are, that's why we want you to take part in the #myvotematters campaign and that's why we want to see you at the polls on Oct. 19.
During and between elections, the Citizen's responsibility is to inform Prince George and area residents of government action (and inaction), praise and criticize those actions (and inaction) in spaces like this, as well as provide space for readers to praise and criticize government. It then falls on the citizens of Prince George to keep themselves informed of what their governments are doing (and not doing) on their behalf.
Your vote matters at election time but your voice matters between elections matters even more.
It's critical that politicians and bureaucrats feel that not only the news media but all citizens are paying careful attention and providing feedback, not just with their votes but with their voices. Writing letters (and emails) to the editor is one way.
Another way is to send in a picture of yourself holding up a piece of paper that says "#myvotematters because..." and fill in a few words of your own. Or you can grab a downloadable version of the #myvotematters sign on our election web page, print it and fill it out, then send a hi-res picture of yourself from your smartphone to [email protected].
Share the picture through social media and encourage friends and family to take part, too.
We'll publish them all on our 2015 election page, which debuts today on our website, and we'll print a large group of them as a collage on the front page of the Oct. 19 edition of the Citizen, to remind everyone to go vote.
Also on our 2015 election web page, you'll find candidate profiles, information about the ridings and their boundaries, voter eligibility, our extensive coverage of the campaign and so on.
The Citizen has also partnered with CKPG, UNBC, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce and the B.C. Northern Real Estate Board to host an all-candidates debate for both ridings.
We're awaiting to hear from a few more candidates (you know who you are!) but most have confirmed. We'll let you know of the date, time and place on Thursday.
-- Managing editor Neil Godbout
