(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)
September 15, 2021 - 6:30 AM
As election day looms within the week for Canadians, it can be easy to get lost in the noise of the news cycle — especially for undecided voters.
While voters in Canada technically choose their local candidates when they fill their ballot form, federal elections are often decided by the national conversation.
“Federal campaigns, for a long time now, have been dominated by the national campaign, the national narrative, what people are seeing on their televisions or, increasingly, what they are seeing on social media and their perceptions of the leaders," Hamish Telford, professor of political science at University of the Fraser Valley, told iNFOnews.ca.
"There are three variables here, the party, the leader and the local candidate and, I think, most people agree, the local candidate is usually the least significant.”
While advance voting was already open from Sept. 10 to 13, Canadians are set to take to the polls on election day on Sept. 20.
Here at iNFOnews.ca we have given you information about your local candidates, but we understand that many of you will vote for the leader or party platform that most resonates with your beliefs.
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Instead of reading through every party platform, some national publications have taken the time to analyze each one into stories and guides of their own.
CBC offers an interactive breakdown laying out 19 hot topics in the national campaign and where each party stands on the issue.
Go here to compare how each party stands on the issues that matter to you.
If you need more guidance to determine which party aligns with your values, CBC's Vote Compass can help with an online questionnaire here.
Once you get your results, it will compare your stance on some federal policy issues to the major parties in this year's election.
The Globe and Mail published an "essential reading" list on their website on Aug. 15. They have updated it ever since by comparing platforms, hot topics on the national stage and the state of parliament upon its dissolution.
Go here to read the Globe and Mail's platform breakdown of the Canadian federal parties.
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Along with analyses and federal election coverage, Toronto Star fact-checks party leaders as they head down the campaign trail, like this reporter who fact-checked Justin Trudeau for one week.
Go here to see Toronto Star's coverage of the federal election.
Toronto Star also partnered with Vox Pop Labs to operate their own election poll called The Signal.
The statistical model is updated as the campaigns roll on and can be viewed here.
Another poll tracker is 338Canada, which is operated by political analyst Philippe J. Fournier. As of Sept. 14, the Conservative Party of Canada is projected to take the most seats in B.C., according to 338Canada.
Check the polls from 338Canada here.
The Conversation publishes analytical articles by academics and university professors across Canada. Each article will dive into a specific issue affecting Canadians as it relates to the federal election.
Go here to see in depth articles on The Conversation.
Maclean's has published stories and analyses throughout the election campaign, while they also have a platform guide to help voters, which was published June 23.
The Maclean's guide can be found here.
To get it straight from the horse's mouths...
Here at iNFOnews.ca, our guides are available for each riding in the Thompson-Okanagan regions to help you keep up with whose names are on the ballot for the 2021 federal election.
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