Why the Freedom Convoy Reinforced My Belief in Voting
Those who rarely question authority are also the ones most likely to vote, which makes disengagement a losing strategy.
I’ve voted in most Canadian elections throughout my adult life, though not all of them. I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that, before COVID, I regularly cast my ballot — usually for the Green Party and sometimes for the NDP. Yet I’m increasingly frustrated by the growing claim that choosing not to vote is a principled way to withhold consent from the system. I believe this idea is deeply mistaken. Not voting doesn’t remove your consent or meaningfully protest anything; it simply leaves more power in the hands of those you oppose. Voting still matters, even when the choices are imperfect. What frustrates me most is the trend that treats abstaining as an effective form of resistance.
During COVID, my political views changed dramatically. I concluded that the only party I could support long-term is the Conservative Party. Ideally, though, I’d prefer a system without any political parties at all. That’s why I was excited to discover IndependentNS1 — a grassroots movement in Nova Scotia that argues political parties themselves are the core problem in our democracy. As I explained in a recent post, IndependentNS believes parties act as “guardrails” that force elected representatives to follow the party line instead of their conscience or constituents’ wishes. Their motto — “The party is over” — captures that spirit perfectly. The group encourages citizens in every riding to recruit trusted local independents who would have a free vote on every issue, be accountable to their community, and even face recall or loss of pension if they lie to voters. Unfortunately, recent changes to Nova Scotia election law have made it much harder for independents to even appear on the ballot.
But this post isn’t really about party preferences or IndependentNS. It’s about the misconception that refusing to vote somehow removes your consent. I don’t believe that’s true. The more impactful approach is to vote — and then, regardless of who wins, to stay active and hold those in office accountable. Participation doesn’t end at the ballot box.
One recent example shows why voting still matters in Canada. During the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa — a movement that I believe had global resonance, even inspiring movements like China’s “blank paper” protests — Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act. Courts have since ruled that decision unconstitutional, twice. Yet the Liberals, now under Prime Minister Mark Carney, continue to fight the ruling in court, spending taxpayer dollars on repeated appeals.
During the Convoy, it became clear that heavy-handed pandemic policies may never have had real public support — only the illusion of it. Social media, manipulated by algorithms and elite interests, created a distorted sense of consensus. The Conservatives seemed to recognize this reality and adjusted their stance accordingly. That’s why it would have been far better if Conservatives had won enough votes to form government. Because they didn’t, Canadians are still dealing with lingering pandemic-era policies and remain exposed to the more radical agendas of the hard left. Social media creates the illusion of popularity, but it’s largely engineered by technocratic billionaires. Actual public sentiment is often very different.
Compliant people vote — which is why abstaining only gives them more influence. Refusing to vote doesn’t starve the system of legitimacy; it starves you of impact. The more powerful and principled response is to show up, cast your ballot, and then stay engaged: demand accountability, challenge bad policy, and push for change no matter who holds office. Voting alone isn’t enough, but refusing to vote is worse. It doesn’t reject the system — it quietly empowers whoever shows up on the other side.
It almost doesn't matter which party gets into power, it's the leader that makes the difference. You don't need someone who travels the world to make deals that will never come to fruition. You need a leader that deals with the issues at home. Listening to Blarney when he is in Parliament (which is a rare event) you would think we were doing well, but he doesn't realize how bad it is for most Canadians. He ignores youth unemployment which is caused by the Temporary Foreign Workers Program and Foreign students. He ignores the homelessness which is caused by confusing permitting, building restrictions and inflation which is caused by government over spending and greed. He ignores food insecurity caused by unemployment and inflation. Taxation in Canada is punitive, excessive, confusing and obstructive to business. Change these policies and you will make the lives of most Canadians better. Make a deal with Trump and forget about the hair-brained idea of becoming part of the EU.
Leslie
I think if you vote get involved (not just on polling day) and thereafter try and influence decision making or if you don't vote 'do not consent' then that is equally as valid because you may not agree with ANYTHING those up for election stand for. Personally i think 'do not consent' would be most effective and return power to the people BUT ONLY if there were enough 'voters' serious about it which is unlikely to happen.