Fall is in the air in Ontario, which means the turning of leaves, brewing of hot cider, and peak campaign time for the municipal elections!
We are within a month of election time, and I have decided to run as councillor in my local government in West Grey. I’ve put up a fair bit of signs on people’s lawns, but the part of campaigning I like the most is the door knocking. There is nothing that feels more like local representation than going door to door, asking people what their issues are with the government.
As a landowner, I especially enjoy driving down those long laneways into the rural properties that often get overlooked by candidates. Towns are naturally more dense, which means you can reach more people in less time. If you’re pressed for time, towns are the logical place to focus your campaign.
But there is a special satisfaction when you meet a landowner who has lived there for 25, 40, or even 50 years, and you are the first municipal candidate to ever knock on their door.
This is what rural representation looks like, and is exactly why we often get overlooked at the municipal level. We are spread out in far off areas, with not many centrally located institutions for us to gather at collectively.
When I’m handing out my brochures in person or in the mailbox, I also give an OLA business card. This lets people know where I stand with regards to property rights, but also introduces people to an avenue to collectivize their voice.
The OLA is one of those few places for landowners to collectivize their concerns, issues, and voice in a way that is legitimately impactful.
This election, I wish the very best to any OLA member running for office and taking the next step to bring landowner rights to the municipal table. It can be daunting, but I can assure you there is a lot of support for us in the outskirts of towns, down the long laneways in the countryside.
Good luck, and we’ll see you on the other side of the campaign trail!