About a week ago I posted about how first-past-the-post was an unfair system and Canada should adopt a form of mixed member proportional. Here's a brilliant example of how ridiculous this is. The NDP had double the popular vote of the Greens, but won no seats. And even so both parties were under represented. What does this mean? 51% of the votes cast in New Brunswick were cast for people who didn't win seats and therefore elected no one. The majority of people who voted achieved nothing. This is a sign that something is wrong with our system.

So, here's the thing. As a young person in this province, and especially a very conservative down like Riverview, I am constantly faced with a massive dichotomy when it comes to elections and voting. I have been told two things each election season, whether I planned to vote or not -  1) It's your obligation to vote for what you believe in 2) What you believe in is wrong, you'll understand when you're older This dichotomy is why, for years, I actively chose not to vote. I felt as though I had no business voting, since clearly my opinions on politics were immature and worthless. It wasn't until a friend actually asked why I felt how I did, listened, and responded to my actual concerns. A little compassion was all it took to turn me from a non-voter into a voter. Now, as Canadians, we have the right to choose to vote. That is, we do have the right to stay home on election day. Each individual is not obliged to vote. However, if you are speaking with someone who expresses a plan to skip voting - do everyone a favor and DO NOT guilt, cajole, threaten, or condescend. Instead, ask them why they have chosen not to vote. Do they just need a ride? Did a voter card not show up in their mailbox? Does the system confuse them? Do they feel insignificant or unrepresented? Offer to help them. Make sure they understand their right to spoil their ballot (undervote: no candidate chosen, overvote: more than 1 candidate chosen). Show them a bit of compassion and make them feel like they matter.

At the final debate of the campaign on Thursday, Alward conceded he is disappointed the Conservatives didn't fulfill all of the promises they made in 2010, including balancing the government's books during their mandate. The NDP, led by Dominic Cardy, 44, is pinning its hopes of a breakthrough on voters' dissatisfaction with the grip the Liberals and the Progressive Conservatives have had on the province, presenting itself as a fresh voice that is badly needed in the Legislature. Cardy became leader of the party in 2011, and his campaign has been bolstered by three high-profile NDP candidates who previously held seats in the house for the Tories and the Liberals. The NDP has never won more than one seat in New Brunswick and was shut out of the Legislature in the last election.