The Canadian political landscape has shifted. Voters are more engaged, more informed, and more skeptical than ever before. And yet, despite this change, too many political parties continue to treat candidacy like a last-minute checkbox; rushing to fill names on ballots when the writ drops, rather than investing early in communities and cultivating real, local representation.
It’s not enough anymore to simply have a name on the ballot. Parties must begin the work of engaging voters long before an election. They must foster candidates from within the communities they hope to serve; people who’ve walked the streets, attended the town halls, debated the issues, and built trust with their neighbours.
When Jean Chrétien ran for Prime Minister, he was dismissed by many as “yesterday’s man.” But history proved otherwise. He embodied the right balance of experience and forward-thinking, a leader grounded in the past, yet aware of the future. The same cannot be said for today’s habit of parachuting in former MPs, cabinet ministers, or high-profile operatives to override the will of local riding associations or citizens. That isn’t democracy; it’s desperation disguised as strategy.
Former political leaders and operatives should absolutely play a role , as mentors, strategists, and guides. But they should never become gatekeepers who stifle grassroots voices for the sake of convenience. Candidates anointed from above, without community buy-in, begin their campaigns at a deficit, lacking trust, connection, and often, credibility.
Real democracy isn’t about surprise names unveiled at nomination deadlines. It’s about candidates who’ve earned their place, not been handed it. It’s better to know where your candidate stands, and to decide whether to reward or reject them, than to vote for a placeholder who never bothered to ask for your voice.
If political parties want to win votes, they must first earn respect. That begins not at the ballot box, but in the community, long before the first sign goes up.
Andy Straisfeld is a member of the provincial Brantford-Brant NDP Riding Association Executive.
