"On the Campaign Trail"

This morning was my second time "door-knocking". This is a very time consuming exercise, but worthwhile in that it brings you face to face with the voting public, and it is on "their turf". When campaign dollars have to be measured out, this can be an economical exercise as well. For women candidates, it is an opportunity to meet the public, and personally respond to questions they have about issues relating to their Party, and listen to problems, and address them when possible, and get back to them with answers when you can't. Many of the issues to-day related to Health care. Others to what is seen as an inequitable property tax system in Rural Saskatchewan. Walking up and down streets on this very "crisp" Saturday morning, you become aware of the nature of the neighborhood, where the schools are, and the parks. One area was where a shooting had occurred, the windows and doors boarded up. The closeness of this building to the school was surprising, and one can readily understand the concerns voiced at the time, yet no one I talked to in this area mentioned this. At the Women's shelter, the exchange between another volunteer and a resident there was conducted through an open window. All were reminders of the difficult problems faced by people in communities all over the province. All were reminders that life is not often defined by the issues that most political parties are talking about on the radio, T.V. or in the newspapers. In this very humbling experience of encouraging people to share their problems with government or party policies with you, the reality of the lives of ordinary citizens is very much uppermost in one's mind when the canvassing is finished for the day.