A Provincial Election Newsletter for OPSEU Members
Issue 4 - September 29
On Oct. 2, every vote counts
OPSEU president Leah Casselman is calling on all members to be sure to vote in the Oct. 2 provincial election.
“It’s hard to believe, but in a normal provincial election, up to one-third of OPSEU members don’t even go to the polls,” she said. “This time has to be different. If we want to save public services and improve public sector jobs in Ontario, we’ve got to get out there.”
Casselman called on members to talk to each and every co-worker about the importance of voting, and to do everything possible to get them to mark a ballot.
“If the person besides you needs a ride, or a baby-sitter for half an hour, lend a hand,” she said. “This chance only comes once every four years. There are very few times when such a small effort can have such a big result.”
Commenting on recent public opinion polls, Casselman said “there is now only one way the Tories can win this election, and that’s if we start to take it for granted that they will lose.
“Opinion polls reflect the attitudes of the people who talk to pollsters,” she said, “but elections reflect the attitudes of people who vote. It’s the vote that counts, not the opinion.”
Casselman urged members to talk to family, friends, and neighbours about voting, too.
“Canadians fought and died in wars to protect our democratic rights. Really, voting is the least we can do.”
Not on the voters list?
To find out how to vote if you are not on the voters list, check the last issue of this newsletter at http://www.opseu.org/pac/newslettersept23.htm or visit
www.electionsontario.on.ca .
OPSEU election coordinators
Region 1: Jayne McKenzie, (519) 671-5852, jaynemckenzie@sympatico.ca
Region 2: Neil Fraser or Brock Suddaby, (905) 527-6122; nopseu@hotmail.com
Region 3: Karrie Ouchas, (905) 579-2658, ouchas@sympatico.ca
Region 4: Rhéal Delaquis, (613) 932-8939, rheal.delaquis@sympatico.ca
Region 5: Maria Rodrigues, (416) 928-2489, tdowney@opseu.org
Region 6: Sue Brown (North Bay), (705) 499-5129, sbrown@opseu.org: Linda Aho (Sudbury/Sault Ste. Marie), (705) 669-7808, linda.aho@sympatico.ca ; Peter Wall (Timmins), (705) 372-3310,
peterw@ntl.sympatico.ca
Region 7: Charlie Faust (Thunder Bay), (807) 887-0328, cfaust@vianet.ca ; James Tocker (Kenora); (807) 626-4884; jtocker@tbaytel.net
For election information, or to get involved in the OPSEU campaign, check the web at www.opseu.org .
Original authorized for distribution by Leah Casselman, president.
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