Vote on or before October 15, 2022!
Voting Information:
For any questions on voting (eg, eligibility, advance poll locations and dates, etc), see: https://www.vernon.ca/elections-assent-voting/general-election-2022
Why Vote:
Although climate change efforts are necessary across all levels of government, local governments are especially well-positioned to respond to climate change. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) estimates that over 50 percent of emissions are under the direct influence of local governments, in areas such as energy use in buildings, land use, transportation, waste, and food.
Also, since local governments are the level closest to the community, they are also on the front lines of response efforts when preparing for the impacts of climate change.
Strategic Voting:
It is often not strategic to use up all your votes. In Vernon you will be electing one mayor and six councillors, which means you can place one vote for mayor and six votes for councillor.
However, if there is a smaller number of councillors that you actually want elected, you are better advised to vote for only those ones, to avoid diluting your vote. For instance, if there are two candidates you really support, voting for another four candidates you are not that enthusiastic about will reduce the chances of your two favoured candidates being elected.
Pre-election Information:
An Environmental All-candidates Forum was held September 24 at the Performing Arts Centre. The Sustainable Environment Network Society (SENS) and Climate Action Now! (CAN!) co-hosted the event. Watch the September 24 livestreamed evening on SENS fb here: https://fb.watch/fLBTl9gRJV/
Pre-Forum Question:
CAN! and SENS created just one pre-forum 3 part environmental question for all readers to peruse and compare for responses. Candidate answers are at www.sensociety.org Enjoy the read!
Vital Vernon Questions:
Also, for even more information on each candidate (on key local economic, social, health, culture, environment issues), check out the non-partisan website: https://www.vitalvernon.com/ which the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan (CFNO) has created using ideas from local experts. All candidates have been asked to respond to a series of pertinent questions on this site. By September 23 the CFNO will have uploaded all candidate responses to https://www.vitalvernon.com/
Vital Vernon is a research booklet put out by the CFNO every 2 years that rates how we, locally, are doing in 5 different areas: economic, health, social, cultural, and environmental. All candidates were asked to provide their thoughts on questions from these 5 areas.
www.greenokanagan.org a sustainability non-profit, will also provide Q &A from candidates living in other areas of the Okanagan, available on September 26. Let your Okanagan friends not from Vernon know! Click on ‘election’ on their home page for the responses.
Vernon & District Chamber of Commerce Forum:
October 4, 6:30 – 8 p,m Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. For Mayoral candidates only.
School District 22 Trustees Forum:
October 3, 7pm, Vernon Secondary School