Faithfully yours - Faith and the federal election

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Published on Saturday, August 15, 2015

By Neil Strohschein

The Neepawa Banner

The campaign for the Oct. 19 federal election officially began on Aug. 2. It will last for 11 weeks and could be one of the costliest (if not the costliest) campaign in Canadian history.

While I would rather watch paint dry than be bombarded with the endless rhetoric and numerous attack ads that will come at us from every angle, I see much value in an 11 week campaign.

It will force party leaders and local candidates to get out, meet and talk with those who will decide their political futures. And it will give the voters an opportunity to meet the candidates, raise the issues they feel are important and listen to the answers each candidate gives.

This is not possible, especially in rural Canada, if a campaign is limited to the minimum 37 days required by law. Candidates can (and some do) hide behind the excuse that they only have so much time to cover their ridings and that they can’t spend as much time in one community as its residents would like them to. Now they don’t have that excuse. They have the time. They can spend it meeting and talking with the voters. And we (the voters) should demand that they do so.

But—and this is a big but—what questions will we ask; and how will we, as people of faith, evaluate the answers they give us? That is the question I will address over the next few weeks.

One thing I will not do is put my faith in a political party, its leader and its slate of candidates. My faith always has been and always will be in the God who created this world and who will be as much in control of Canada’s future after Oct. 19 as he has always been. But as a citizen of Canada, I have the right to vote. I intend to exercise that right; but as I have done in the past, I will remain an “undecided” voter until the moment I actually put the “X” on my ballot.

My vote will go to the party and the candidate whose platform will help to build a Canada that, to use the words of the prophet Micah, “does justly, loves mercy and walks humbly with God.” (Micah 6:8) What are the marks of a society that meets the standards set out in these words?

First, it is a just society—its people are respectful, responsible and responsive to another’s needs.

Second, it is a merciful society—its people are caring, compassionate and contribute generously to help those who are in need.

Third, it is a society that humbly serves God. Its people are accepting and tolerant of those with whose beliefs they may not agree. They recognize the contribution a person’s faith makes to his or her way of life. They do not hesitate to celebrate the benefits that the holy books and teachings of all faith traditions bring to Canadian society. And they will gladly partner with people of all faiths to work on projects that will help build better communities and a better Canada.

I believe the criteria mentioned above can help us identify the important issues that should be debated in the coming election campaign. My thoughts on these criteria will be shared over the next few weeks. My goal is to help us all identify the type of Canada in which we want to live, raise our children, retire and ultimately die—and then to vote for those whom we feel will help us achieve that goal.