Let’s vote!

It’s been quite the intense lead-up to this election and I think everyone’s pretty exhausted by it all. It’s so emotionally draining because we all know what’s at stake.

People have been very vocal and committed to the leader they want to see. I haven’t always appreciated the tone some have taken, tearing others down instead of building up what they believe in, but I’ve really appreciated the civic, civil engagement, the thought, and the care it takes to show up and participate. That genuinely matters.

In the final stretch, the noise has practically been deafening. Bots, trolls, and bad actors have been working overtime to cloud the conversation. We’ll probably never know the full extent of foreign interference, but pretending it isn’t happening would be naive. For certain, it is.

So how do you cut through it?

You stop letting the noise do the thinking for you and keep trusting your own eyes, your own values, and your own ability to see what’s real.

Your vote counts because it reflects you. Not the loudest voice online or the angriest comment. Not the bots or trolls trying to divide or influence us. It reflects your values, your hopes for this great country, and your belief in what Canada can and should be.

And that matters so much because right now, around the world, democracies are under enormous pressure. Leaders who once stood for fairness are being replaced by those who stand for fear and personal gain. The rule of law is being traded away for power and control.

It’s taken only 100 days for many millions of Americans to realize the consequences of voting with anger instead of vision or of not voting at all.

Regret hasn’t taken long to arrive and damage doesn’t take long to settle in.

Canadians are better than that and stronger than that because we’re capable of seeing beyond the noise, the fear, and the division. And we have the benefit of seeing what’s happening elsewhere to understand what could happen here.

I’ve declared my candidate, as many others have. That doesn’t matter. You and your vote, however, do. This election is about what kind of country we’re building and what kind of future we’re willing to fight for.

On Tuesday, no matter who wins, we can’t forget that democracies don’t fall all at once.

We can’t lose Canada’s soul after the votes are counted or hand over who we are to anger, apathy, or fear. How we continue to protect our democracy after the ballots are cast will ultimately define us.

Vote. Not just because it’s our right, but because it’s our responsibility.

Vote like Canadians always have, with hope in our hearts, strength in our hands, and for a future worth building together.

❤️🇨🇦