Lesson 5: Municipal Candidates and Local Issues

Political Ideology• People develop opinions about how they believe

things should be run in their community, their province and their country.

• A political ideology is a set of shared ideas or beliefs about how society and government should work.

Where do YOU Stand?Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

• The size of government should be small with limited services so we do not have to pay a lot in taxes.

• The death penalty is wrong and should not be allowed for any crime.

• Companies that pollute our air and water should suffer consequences.

Political Spectrum• The political spectrum is a tool used to compare

different political ideologies. There is a left side and a right side.

• People on the left support liberal views, and a willingness to embrace change.

• People on the right support conservative views and tradition and are more cautious about change and innovation.

Political Parties• A political party is an organized group of people who

share a similar political ideology.• In municipal politics in Ontario, politicians do not

officially belong to or represent political parties, but they still have ideas and opinions about how society and government should work.

Your Own Political Views

• Your political views are developed from your experiences, personal feelings, tastes and opinions.

• Your views are also shaped by talking to people whose opinions you respect, doing research in the media and by thinking about your values.

Getting to know the Candidates• There are many ways to gather information about

your candidates: town hall meetings or candidate debates, radio and television advertising, newspaper and magazines, campaign offices and events, party websites and social media.

• To make an informed decision, it is helpful to do some thinking about your own feelings on the topics discussed throughout the campaign.

Final Thoughts• How should you evaluate candidates?

• What characteristics or qualifications do you expect from your municipal council candidates?

• What local issues are important to you?