Commentary
As citizens, we often focus on the big stories unfolding in national and international politics. And there’s certainly plenty happening in those realms worthy of our attention.
But we pay less attention than we should to local elections. Democracy, however, thrives at the local level. And in the next few weeks, municipal and local elections will take place in five provinces and the Northwest Territories.
Local elections should matter as much—if not more—to us as federal or provincial elections. Municipalities set property tax rates and oversee water, sewage, garbage, and recycling services. They plan and maintain parks and recreation facilities and, in some cases, determine how many police officers and firefighters are hired to protect our streets and homes….