Kelsey Ehler: Why bother getting involved with the B.C. leadership races?

The final months of 2010 saw the political landscape of B.C. tossed about like a rowboat up against a tempest. The resignations of the leaders of the two major parties—first Gordon Campbell in November, then Carole James in December—was an unprecedented event in B.C. history, making provincial politics suddenly dangerous and sexy. But now it seems the only thing left to do is wait to see who clambers to the top in the leadership races and wait even longer for some far-off election day.

This is a boring path to take, but it doesn’t have to be that way. As it happens, anyone who’s a B.C. resident can join either the B.C. Liberal Party or the NDP and vote in their coming leadership conventions.

You may ask: “Why should I bother with this? Isn’t going to the polling station on the election day good enough for you people?” This is a fair question.

All too often, individuals may agree with the underlying values a political party supposedly holds dear and genuinely like their preferred party’s candidate for MLA in their riding, only to find themselves stopped short. What of this candidate’s leader? Does her or his interpretation of the party’s values bear any relation to their own? Do they consider that leader and premier-hopeful to be toadish and slimy? Do their stomachs sink whenever they see them on the television or read their quotes in the paper? By casting a vote in the leadership races, they increase the odds that they won’t have to hold their noses as they slip their ballots into the boxes during the actual election.

The benefits of joining a party go beyond that. It allows you to get involved in your riding association, giving you input into who will be its candidate for MLA. It keeps you informed of events and developments within the party. It gives you another avenue of airing your concerns over matters of policy. Political parties have a vested interest in keeping their membership happy, both for their ballots and their dues.

“Ah,” you add, “That’s all well and good, but it’s not like my boss will give me time off to go attend some leadership assembly.” Which is fine. You won’t have to ask for time off. Both parties will allow for Internet or telephone voting during the days of reckoning, with the NDP offering the added convenience of advance voting.

Are you convinced? On to the nitty-gritty.

NDP sympathizers, you must join by Monday (January 17) at www.bcndp.ca/—next week. Their vote takes place on April 17.

Liberal-minded folk, sign up by 5 p.m. on February 4 at www.bcliberals.com/ in order to vote on February 26.

Remember, you can’t be a member of both parties at the same time. Not only is it against their membership guidelines, it’s considered to be a grievous social faux pas. So opt for the one you’re better disposed toward.

Head on over to B.C. Votes for more information, and remember: vote early, vote often.

Kelsey Ehler is a volunteer for Canadians Advocating Political Participation Vancouver, the local chapter of a nonpartisan group dedicated to engaging all Canadians in the democratic process.