With just a week left in the Yukon 2016 territorial election it turns out the real winners so far are those that sell advertising for a living.
The local papers seem to be carrying nothing but paid political copy, and those radio stations that air commercials are drowning their listeners in the audio equivalent.
For example, one of the Friday papers carried advertisements related to the election by the following groups: Public Service Alliance Canada – Yukon Area Council (multiple advertisements), Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Yukon, the Yukon Conservation Society, Council of Yukon First Nations and Trails Only Yukon Association. There are also advertisements from three of the political parties.
Let us not even mention the vitriol that consists of the letters to the editor section in both papers, although they are fun to read. If Grandpa Simpsons letters are getting printed anywhere, it is probably in some Yukon newspaper.
If that was not enough to sate ones senses, the pamphleteers are also out. Most Yukoners are coming home to find their mailboxes and front doors plastered not only with paper copy from the political parties but also from special interest groups.
One of the pamphlets delves deeply into the difference between the Liberals and the Dippers on the anti-fracking stance. To put it in a nutshell, the Liberals would establish a moratorium on it, while the Dippers would ban fracking.
Those of us in the environmental community (and that includes myself) feel that moratoriums can expire or be replaced, whereas bans probably take a lot more effort to overcome. However, it must be recognized that most members of the public probably consider it a bit of an esoteric debate.
Either approach would ensure fracking does not occur, at least in the short term. In certain circles though the rage and passion on this issue is perhaps similar to those alleged medieval debates on how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
Outdoor lawn signs are about average, based just on visual observation and comparing with fading memories of previous elections. Given the lack of accurate polling sometimes gauging who is winning thelawn sign war can give a good indication of which local candidate is in the lead.
There have only been a few reports of minor outdoor sign vandalism, unlike the last Federal election in the Yukon which, well, you would not believe me even if there was a blog column about it. Social media has been inundated with political advertising, plus everyones personal opinions on a huge range of Yukon election issues. This has made Facebook and Twitter on occasion a bit of an ideological battleground.
Let us also not forget that the parties also have their own websites. The Greens make the best use of theirs by constantly referring voters to the policies and platform they’ve got posted.
The other three parties (the Yukon New Democrats, the Yukon Liberals and the Yukon Party) have websites where the insomniac voter can read up on their platforms, press releases and candidates bios.
But fear not, gentle reader, you do not have to subject yourself to all of that. This kind blogger ran their websites through a word cloud generator. All one has to do is peruse the word cloud pictures, find the key words that appeal to your sensibilities, and vote accordingly.
Well, no, do not do that. Go talk to the candidates. Read their pamphlets. Look at their platform. Listen to the party political debates. And then vote. Election day is Monday, Nov. 7th.
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Nick Seebruch, editor
