Why vote in local elections on North Shore?

In the Montreal area riding of Terrobonne, in the 2025 Federal election, a single vote separated the winning Liberal candidate Tatane Auguste from the defeated Bloc Québécois incumbent Nathalie Sinclair Desgagné.   In that election, in that riding, 32% of the population failed to vote.  This means 28,604 eligible voters did not vote.  Given that the current Carney government requires this seat (along with two others currently in by-elections) to secure a majority government, the fact is that any one of these 28,604 non-voters could have decided the majority in our current Parliament.

Let it never be said that a vote doesn’t matter.

Closer to home, meanwhile, in the 2022 District of North Vancouver Council elections, only 23 % of eligible voters cast ballots, the lowest in a North Vancouver District election since 2011, meaning that 48,802 eligible voters failed to exercise their right to vote.  This is a poor rate of participation even compared to our neighbours, North Vancouver City (29%) and District of West Vancouver (55%), or the turnout in the 2024 Provincial election (58%) and 2025 Federal election (69%).   In the District, a clear majority of voters are letting others decide for them who will represent their community on Council.

What are the duties of the Mayor and Council?  In the District, we have one Mayor and six councillors.   We each represent the community.  We each get one vote on Council.  On our Council, 4 votes out of 7 decide an issue.

What issues are decided by the Council?  We set tax rates, determining the amount paid and the rate of increase.  We decide who pays user fees, for what, and how much.  We decide how your tax dollars will be spent.  We will never have sufficient funds to pay for all our priorities, so we must decide what comes first and what comes last.  Do we fund roads or bike lanes, parks or policing, fire halls or recreation centres?

We also decide on land use.  Can a property be used for residential, commercial, or industrial development?  How do we plan our communities?   Put simply, we decide if you will have a grocery store or a liquor store at your closest shopping district, and whether (if you drive there) you will be able to find parking, and if that parking will be time-limited, pay parking, or free.   We decide whether our recreational amenities will cater to younger soccer players or older pickleball enthusiasts.  We decide whether to build libraries or swimming pools.

In 2022, the 48,802 souls who did not vote in the District let others decide all this for them.

In 2026, make your vote count.   Familiarize yourself with the issues and the candidates, and vote for a council that reflects your values.   This is your community.  Take ownership.

Voting in the District is easy.  Anyone over the age of 18, Canadian citizen, who either lives or owns property in the District is eligible.   On election day, October 17, 2026 (Saturday), you will be able to vote at one of over 20 polling places in the District.  You can also vote by mail, or in advance polls, which open before October 17th.  In the District, a very simple and efficient way to vote is at the advance poll at District Hall (355 West Queens Road), which is open many days in advance of election day. The District website (DNV.org) will provide simple directions as to when and where to vote.

It matters.  It’s easy.  Without it, your values will not be counted, and your community will grow without your input.   Please vote in our upcoming Local Government elections.  Our democracy literally depends on it.

Jim Hanson is a lawyer, a three-term District of North Vancouver councillor, and the chair of the Chair of the North Shore Standing Committee on Substance Use. He is also a member of the  Metro Vancouver Indigenous Relations Committee.