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Municipal elections: Our civic right to vote
10-08-2014
As many of you know, in less than a month, we will be afforded our civic right to vote in the municipal elections, choosing our representatives for city council and Mayor. More than any other level of government, the municipal level affects its residents more directly. We are affected by the decisions at City Hall on the regular; throughout the entire year.
Alhumdulillah, I get great joy when I visit our mosques across the lower mainland. They are increasingly full at prayer times and definitely at Jummah Salaat every Friday. Some mosques even have two Jummah Salaat’s. This speaks to the continued growth of our community. It’s something to be proud of. I want to honour all those pioneers of our Muslim community who helped build, nurture and support the growth of our community here in British Columbia; particularly the Lower Mainland. Without your efforts, we would not have the social infrastructure to learn and practice our Islamic religion.
You don’t have to look any further than Surrey to witness the growth. Muslims from all across the world are choosing Surrey and other parts of the Lower Mainland as there home. Muslim businesses and restaurants are popping up everywhere. Mainstream supermarkets are starting to cater to our community by carrying Halal products. Political aspirants are showing up at our mosques and functions to meet and celebrate with us.
Let me circle back to the start of this piece. In less than a month, we will be afforded our right to vote in the civic elections. People will beg us to vote, offer us rides, and provide heated seating areas at polling stations (elections are in November after all), among other things. Don’t take this lightly brothers and sisters; compare this to the participation you or your family members are afforded in your country of origin. Recently, we had a show of solidarity in Surrey where approximately 10,000 members of the community prayed Eid al Fitr across an open soccer field under the umbrella of British Columbia Muslim Association. It was tagged as a show of strength. Politicians were invited to show that the Muslim community has arrived; our actions suggested they take notice because we have numbers.
Now to the point. What good are those numbers if we don’t participate in an election? What value do we lend to the right to vote and participate? And if we don’t participate, what right do we have to complain after the fact. Please remember, whether we vote or not, these people will still take decisions on our behalf. Please vote and encourage your family members to vote. Take them with you. Take your civic responsibility seriously. Because, if we do, it won’t be long before we have a Muslim councilor, MLA or MP.
Vote your conscience. Educate yourself about those who put there names forward. Find out about there platforms. Invite them to meet with you, your family and friends. I also want you to notice who comes to seek your support at our mosques. This is important because it shows they know you exist. Of the current group of council and Mayor, I have to thank and recognize our friend Councillor Tom Gill. He stays in touch with respect to community needs and always shows up to support and celebrate our events. At the very least, we should support these types of people. In shaa Allah, my family and I will.
However, I am disappointed that Surrey First Mayoral candidate Linda Hepner believes that our community doesn’t matter. She has not shown up to a single event at any of the mosques during this extended campaign period and since she was appointed the mayoral candidate for her party. She was invited to attend the City’s own sponsored “Open Door’s” event. She didn’t show up. She didn’t show up to participate and lend her support to the Eid al Fitr event and just recently didn’t show up to celebrate Eid al Adha with our community.
If this is the way we are being treated just prior to an election, please ask yourselves how we would be treated after an election she wins. Are you okay with the complete disregard she has shown for our community? Why would she encourage Muslim candidates when she doesn’t even want to associate with them. This is a serious cause for concern.
On the flip side, I have heard form brothers and sisters that another mayoral aspirant Doug McCallum has been showing up at mosques seeking support and talking about community concerns. I was pleasantly surprised by this action of his. You wont know where candidates stand if you don’t have an opportunity to interact with them. Whether he wins or not, I salute Mr. McCallum for recognizing our community exists, have multiple mosques across the city and has taken the time to visit them and talk to our people. That’s how you gain the community’s support.
Brother and sisters, please think before you act upon your right to vote. Make a decision that benefits the most, not individual causes. And please do not let others divide and conquer us; we don’t need intermediaries from other communities to liaise between us and our elected representatives. We are growing, but we are sophisticated enough to deal directly with our governments. Unity is demonstrated over a significant period of time, not at single, one time events. Let’s make an effort to work, consult and trust one another. No doubt Allah will bless the path that’s taken with unity and sincerity.
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