Martine St-Victor: Our politics could use a jolt à la Harris-Walz

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We’re less than a month away from the U.S. presidential election. Like many Canadians, I follow every poll, debate, promise and lie. All that comes with a great deal of anxiety, something American electors are all too familiar with.

Anxiety aside, the U.S. campaign has also been marked by a jolt of political enthusiasm. It somehow feels like lifetime ago that President Joe Biden decided to bow out of the presidential race and Vice-President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee. Her entry had many detractors, but mostly Harris has been endorsed by a diversity of supporters. White dudes for Harris, Black women for Harris, Republicans for Harris, Swifties for Harris, and the list goes on, to the tune of a reported $1 billion raised for her campaign.

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I felt the euphoria over Harris’s nomination first-hand when I attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. When I arrived at the United Centre, I wondered if everyone was drunk. Every attendee I interacted with was benevolent and inebriated with happiness — each surfing on enthusiasm about politics. Harris and her running mate Tim Walz injected joie de vivre in the campaign — but not to the detriment of vision, empathetic leadership and fresh policies.

I was envious. For some time now, I haven’t felt any excitement about municipal, provincial or federal elections in Canada, and I write this as a political junkie who couldn’t wait to turn 18 just to be able to vote.

Last week, La Presse published a piece on potential mayoral candidates for Montreal’s next municipal race. The suggested contenders are all accomplished individuals I respect, some of whom I know personally. And all could be wonderful mayors, I’m sure. They’re competent and love our city. So, we are lucky to have options. But once the race starts, we must be swayed to drown our political ennui. Years of lack of decorum and, at times, of civility in the political arena have made us less engaged. Our voter turnout is nothing to brag about. And now, because of what we’ve seen with Harris and Walz, the bar is high for voter engagement.

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But beyond jumping on a bandwagon, perhaps our relationship with political culture needs an upgrade. I can’t remember the last time I saw a political lawn sign in my neighbourhood or someone wearing a candidate’s button on their lapel. In the U.S., political merch is almost de rigueur. Bumper stickers, baseball hats and other apparel all serve as signs of political allegiance.

I’m not suggesting we copy our American neighbours. Their political scene has enough flaws that do not warrant imitation. But I do feel we need to get more committed and excited about our politics. And our elected officials and those aspiring to become one should think about how they will help us get there.

Though I don’t believe all Americana deserves applause, I commend sports leagues such as the NFL and the NBA that have civic engagement and voter registration initiatives — amplified by online and television ads — to increase participation come election day. And it doesn’t hurt that Republican and Democratic campaigns have celebrity surrogates to increase interest and visibility. The goal is to create the largest political tents for as many electors as possible. I understand the word inclusion has become a trigger for many, but it has a raison d’être and it is a must in all successful democratic exercises.

To get us excited about politics, the onus can’t only be on the next star candidate with a dynamo personality and inspiring policies. It really does take a village. We need our own version of Swifties and other big-name efforts to help get electors excited, engaged and lining up at the poles.

Regardless of the election result on Nov. 5, may the Harris-Walz campaign and its supporters inspire us in Canada as we prepare for a series of elections at all levels of government.

Martine St-Victor is the general manager of Edelman Montréal and a media commentator. Instagram and X @martinemontreal

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