Be part of Canada’s decisions

[attach]3767[/attach]Recent polls have suggested that a mere 10 percent of Canadians pay any attention to politics; that only 10 percent of Canadians have any knowledge of what is going on in the government of Canada. What’s worse, the suggestion is that 90 percent of Canadians just don’t care.

I don’t believe it. I believe that a great many people care.

Of course they do. Of course you do. You and I want a Canadian society that is prosperous; one that provides equality of opportunity, and that embraces the diversity we have. A society that allows us to benefit from the things that we share, as well as from the things that make us different; a society that provides the educational opportunities we need for our children, and for adults who have lost their jobs and need to retrain for new ones; a Canada that stands strong for peace and prosperity in the world; a Canada that punches above its weight on the international stage. We want the best country and the best society possible for our children, our families, our communities.

The problem, I think, is that so many people feel disengaged. They — you — feel disconnected from Ottawa. You feel that the government just doesn’t listen and that anything you do or say won’t matter. But it does, and we need you. We need you to be engaged.

This is a wonderful country. We are prosperous, democratic, safe and the most successfully pluralistic society in the world. But our Canada didn’t happen by accident.

The only way decision-makers in this country have been able to make those critical decisions that have made Canada the great country it is, is by having people like you vote for them, and more importantly, by having people like you tell your politicians what you think, what you want, what kind of Canada you want.

But it won’t be the Canada we want if only 10 percent of you pay attention, get engaged, vote and talk to us.

As the Member of Parliament for Willowdale, my job is to work for, fight for and vote for what I think are the best things for the people of Willowdale and all Canadians. But I can only do my job well if I have an understanding of what my constituents’ concerns are: what you think the Canadian government is doing well, what you don’t like, and what you think we should be doing better.

I am asking you to do that now — please, be engaged. What do you think about family and home care; the lack of access to daycare and ECE; protecting the environment; crime prevention; and retirement with dignity?

Should we build more prisons; give corporate tax cuts for only 5 percent of the biggest corporations; and should we be spending $16 billion on stealth fighter attack jets?

What about the idea of a North American security perimeter?

How about helping new Canadians settle and become productive members of our society?

I want to know what you think about any or all of these issues, or any other issue that is important to you.

Please email me at [email]hallfindlay.m@parl.gc.ca[/email] or write to me at MP Martha Hall Findlay, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6.

And if you’d like to know about what I am doing, both in Willowdale and in Ottawa, please email me to receive my newsletter.