By Emily Stonehouse

I like choices. Options.

They’re nice to have.

We all like a little variety in our day-to-day. Some say it’s the spice of life; keeps things fresh. Choices and options are what allows us to figure out what we really want, to select something that we really need.

But as I watched the candidates debate on a snow Sunday last week, I thought that perhaps we have too many options.

I have seen a few all candidates meetings in my time. And while I appreciate the hard work that went into organizing (and then pivoting) the format of the debate, the whole meeting was very tame.

Most of the time, the three representing parties – Green, NDP, and Liberal – were entirely aligned on every platform. If anything, I think they sometimes tried to shuffle a little bit to create some differentiation in their answers.

I won’t get into how Laurie Scott and the Progressive Conservatives were absent. There’s room for that in another editorial (maybe check out this week’s Minden Times if you are interested), but the three left-leaning parties made sure to show up.

And split the vote.

When we have so many choices, so many options that align with our politics, how do we pick?  And does our vote matter when there are multiple other parties who share the same ideologies? Or worse? So many other parties who do not.

Now don’t get me wrong, I do not think that the situation they have in the United States is the answer. When there are only two options, the distance between the platforms is stretched further and further, with the folks in the middle feeling the tension of the tug, the stress of the impending snap that will slap the wrists of everyone in between. Polarization of politics has never been more noticeable.

But I do wish there was some foresight for political parties to band together.

During that snowy debate, all candidates agreed on environmental sustainability, on access to mental health resources, on prioritizing healthcare funding, on improving economic stability in rural communities.

And most importantly: on voting the PCs out.

With the importance of this election and the future of Ontario at risk, this is an important time to endorse, to collaborate, to unify.

And the values of the left-leaning parties seem to be so similar, this time around. Even as someone who has meticulously followed every step of this election, I still feel unsure about who is most aligned with the specific needs of my family, my colleagues, my community.

But what I do know, is that maybe this is a time to think strategy. Maybe we put some consideration into who has the best shot, without splitting the vote.

Because choices, options, they’re nice to have.

But it’s time for a change in our riding.