By Emily Stonehouse

One of my favourite things to do at those elementary school holiday concerts is to watch little faces scan the crowd. You can see them looking, looking, until they land on a face they recognize. And instantly, their whole demeanour changes. They’re lighter, they’re more confident, they’re happy. Just because someone showed up for them. It’s what we do for our friends, for our colleagues, for those we care about. 

Maybe no one has explained that to Doug Ford. That it means something to show up. And not just for a photo opportunity wearing a “Canada Not For Sale” token ball cap. 

Actually show up. Fight the fight, walk the talk.

Apparently each Progressive Conservative candidate had been given specific direction to not make any public appearances over the duration of this snap election. Now I will admit, this has not been confirmed or denied. I have posed this specific question to a few PC candidates and they seem to have skirted around it. 

But the point is that they’re not here. We haven’t seen them. They didn’t participate in our candidates debate, they’re not making local television appearances. They’re not showing up. Imagine having such an inflated sense of self that you do not feel the need to show up and fight for your cause. 

Because that’s entirely what an election campaign should be. Parties battling it out over the betterment of their people; sides clearly taken, prerogatives clearly spoken. 

In this election, there has been a whole lot of left-leaning representation, with some occasional noise from the very far right, who have wandered so far from the centrefold it makes people wary of their intentions or legitimacy. 

But the Conservatives have stood their ground, and refused to show up. The worst part of all of this, is that if you take their lead and choose not to show up on election day, they’ll win. The highest prize going to the laziest contestant. And how is that fair? 

We teach our kids that grades aren’t important, that winning games doesn’t always happen, that sometimes mistakes are made. But none of that matters, as long as they show up. Put their best face forward. Try, try, try. 

This election never should have happened. This power-trip Doug Ford is on is coming at the expense – financially and emotionally – of Ontarians. The very least he could do, is show up.

If the Conservatives aren’t showing up for you during a chapter where they should be putting their best faces forward, when do you think they will show up? Right now, they are dependent on your ambivalence to win. But we’re smarter than that. We have to be. 

So with the advance polls behind us and election day happening this week, put your best face forward, and show up. Cast your vote. Speak your truth. 

Because in our very core, we need people who show up for us. 

And the top prize shouldn’t go to the laziest contestant. 

That’s just not how life works.