Bad behaviour by many Canadian politicians is turning off voters, federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said in Halifax Friday.
He said the current statistics surrounding voter apathy are disappointing.
But he said staying home on election day is counterproductive.
Ignatieff said 40 per cent of Canadians "don't bother to show up" to vote, while only one in five Canadians age 18 marked their X in the last federal election in 2008.
He said politicians must do their jobs better if electors are to be persuaded to cast ballots on voting day.
Ignatieff said part of his job as Liberal leader "is to fire people up (and) get people out.
"It looks pretty mean, sometimes, in the House of Commons. We've got to all raise our game as politicians and appeal to the best in Canadians, not their worst," he said.
Though the spectre of a coalition government, formed with the NDP, has been raised in the past, including during recent remarks he made to Liberals in Quebec, Ignatieff stressed his intention is to lead the Grits to victory in the next election.
Liberal Leader Ignatieff says politicians need to motivate voters
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Published on
June 12, 2010
- Published on June 30, 2010
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The Canadian Press ~ The News
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Comments
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- Manny
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:52:43
Iggy has a point, however, he needs tolok at himself if he wants to become PM. On every major issue where he has to oppose Harper and the Cons he swings way over to the left.Abortion issue..e.g) All this guy has to do is stay centre of the road and Harper would be defeated by now. Smarten up Iggy! While your not much to get excited about, you have to be better for NL than Harper.(Atlantic Accord..e.g)
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- Lloyd
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:44:40
Motivate voters? At least partly what they have to do is to stop de-motivating them.
The silly political games, the pathetic maneuvering for what they perceive to be some sort of political advantage. It's not working is it?
Let us hear what the ideas are, what is your big dream - your vision for this country.
If you actually oppose the Government - then vote against it, or at least allow MPs to vote what they believe themselves - case in point the long gun registry but there are others.
Trying to cater to everyone at once and never standing up for what you actually believe in is no way to show leadership, and that goes for all of them. The people will vote for you (or preferrably the IDEA) - or not - and that is what democracy is all about. Isn't it?
State your beliefs, stand up for something and the voters will become interested (after awhile). -
- Manny
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:37:14
Iggy has a point, however, he needs tolok at himself if he wants to become PM. On every major issue where he has to oppose Harper and the Cons he swings way over to the left.Abortion issue..e.g) All this guy has to do is stay centre of the road and Harper would be defeated by now. Smarten up Iggy! While your not much to get excited about, you have to be better for NL than Harper.(Atlantic Accord..e.g)
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- Lloyd
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:23:39
Motivate voters? At least partly what they have to do is to stop de-motivating them.
The silly political games, the pathetic maneuvering for what they perceive to be some sort of political advantage. It's not working is it?
Let us hear what the ideas are, what is your big dream - your vision for this country.
If you actually oppose the Government - then vote against it, or at least allow MPs to vote what they believe themselves - case in point the long gun registry but there are others.
Trying to cater to everyone at once and never standing up for what you actually believe in is no way to show leadership, and that goes for all of them. The people will vote for you (or preferrably the IDEA) - or not - and that is what democracy is all about. Isn't it?
State your beliefs, stand up for something and the voters will become interested (after awhile).
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