North Shore voters emerged from the ballot box Monday relieved that the lengthy and sometimes nasty federal election campaign was finally over.
“I think it took too long,” said Roma Feinstein, who voted at the West Vancouver Seniors Activity Centre Monday afternoon.
Feinstein added even though she voted Conservative, “I don’t like what they wrote about Trudeau, that he’s not ready. I thought it was a very nasty thing. It was uncalled for. ... Who cares if he’s that young if he does a good job?”
Bill Halyk, who also voted at the West Vancouver seniors centre, also thought the campaign was too long. He said it was “sheer luck” politicians were able to keep the public’s attention.
Halyk said he watched the five national debates to help make up his mind to vote Liberal. “You learned about how people handled themselves,” he said.
In North Vancouver, Doug Boyd cast his ballot for the NDP.
“I’m a union guy. I’m all about the working person,” he said. He criticized the negative tone of the campaign. “Each party bashing each other gets out of hand after a while,” he said.
Amanda Huang, who voted Liberal at the John Braithwaite Community Centre, said environmental issues and immigration policy were important to her decision.
Rogan Christopher, who also voted Liberal in North Vancouver, said the election campaign was too long. “I don’t think anyone spends that much time deliberating over and over again,” he said.
“There was a lot of beating of dead horses and the same messages over and over again.”
Christopher said sustainable energy was a key issue for him, along with arts policy and funding.
Deirdre Cowan, who voted in West Vancouver, said the length of the campaign wasn’t that bad – “not compared to the States.”
Cowan said she voted for the Green Party, even though “they won’t get in.”
“I’m not very keen on either the Liberals or Conservatives,” she said. “In the long run I don’t think it matters of the two main parties which it is. They say one thing and do another. I have no faith in politicians. But I vote.”
