Candian Election 2025

I Voted, Now What??

We Canadians have just participated in what feels like the most important vote of our lifetime. Half of the country is distraught. The other half is not exactly happy, just slightly less distraught.

If you’re Canadian and feeling conflicted after this election, you are not alone. But the very fact that you care enough to feel this way is powerful — it means you are part of the solution.

I wasn’t sure who to vote for until I was literally walking to the polls. I had spent days going back and forth between platforms, promises, and visions for our country. I entertained the idea of voting Conservative, Liberal, and NDP.

As I've been researching the platforms of each major party, here’s what I’ve been reflecting on:

• I want to support a party that values body autonomy — whether it's the right to make decisions about our own health or our reproductive choices.

• I want leaders who are committed to making healthy, affordable food and housing more accessible to all Canadians.

• I dream of revamping our education system — creating garden and food prep departments in every school, teaching kids about the land, the wildlife, and their own bodies in a hands-on, empowering way. Physical education and knowledge about health should be daily practices, not afterthoughts.

• I hope to get to the bottom of youth crime -investing in honest investigations, outreach, and rehabilitation that address the root causes of youth crime, not to be punitive, but to help prevent kids from falling into a life of crime because the system failed to intervene when it mattered most.

• I want to see rehabilitation programs for the homeless, real investments into mental health, addiction support, and subsidized housing solutions — rather than criminalizing poverty.

• I want our country to prioritize supporting First Nations communities, ensuring they thrive while honoring their traditions and rights to clean land and water.

• I believe Canada must move away from funding foreign wars that don't serve our people, especially conflicts that harm innocent civilians abroad.

• Finally, I want a government that supports marginalized communities, but also encourages every citizen to contribute meaningfully to the fabric of our society.

Each party had policies that resonated with me, and policies that raised concerns - all of them had pros and cons, and to be honest, none of their leaders were all that appealing to me.

Ever since I moved back home, we’ve been receiving regular mail from Peter Fonseca, the Liberal MP for my riding. During my first year here, I took the time to look him up — to see what he’s been working on and how he’s serving our community. I even discovered that his constituency office is just around the corner from my house. From everything I’ve read, he seems like a grounded, community-focused leader and a devoted family man who shares many of the same values I hold dear.

When it came time to vote, I was still undecided. I had been bouncing between parties, considering Liberal, Conservative, even NDP. But standing in that booth, I went with the name I recognized — someone I had taken the time to research, someone I felt I could actually reach out to and work with: Peter Fonseca. It wasn’t just about party lines anymore — it was about trust, familiarity, and alignment of values. I wasn't voting for the Prime Minister, Mark Carney - my vote was for Peter Fonseca, whose office is literally down the street from my house. Now that the election is over, I don’t see my role as ending with my vote. In fact, I see it as just the beginning.

Casting my ballot made me realize something deeper: voting is only the beginning.

I started looking more closely at how our Canadian government actually works. In the U.S., the President has the power to issue executive orders and bypass Congress to some degree. In Canada, however, our Prime Minister cannot just unilaterally make laws. Changes must be proposed, debated, and voted on in the House of Commons, where all elected Members of Parliament (MPs) have a say. This means that who we elect as our local MP is just as important — if not more important — than who the party leader is.

And that’s when it clicked: we have more power than we think.

If we want change in our communities, we need to know our MP. We need to understand what they’re doing, what they’re supporting, and how they’re representing us. And most importantly, we need to reach out to them, work with them, and hold them accountable to the visions we voted for.

For me, Opulence Vision has always been about creating a healthier, more sustainable, and more empowered society. When I reviewed the Liberal platform this year, I saw real opportunities to align our work with national initiatives — from promoting food security and urban farming to making it easier to buy Canadian-made products. Now, my next step is to reach out to Peter Fonseca and start conversations about launching school garden programs, educational initiatives on sustainability, and physical education reform — right here in Mississauga.

This election made me realize that real change starts locally. It starts with us knowing who our representatives are, what they stand for, and what they're actually doing once elected.

We can't just cast a vote every four years and hope for the best.

We must stay involved. Stay informed. Stay courageous.

A Message to Those Who Voted Conservative:

I know there are many out there who feel disheartened after this election, especially those who voted for the Conservative Party. You may be feeling like the power dynamics remain unchanged, and the system continues to operate as it always has — with familiar promises but little real progress. However, I want to remind everyone that the situation is not as bleak as it may seem. Yes, the Liberals hold a slight majority, but the Conservatives now have a stronger presence in Parliament. This balance of power creates an opportunity for collaboration and compromise — for the first time in many years, there is a real need for the government to work together, not just within one party but across the aisle.

It’s easy to feel like voting for change hasn’t made a difference, but the truth is: it’s up to all of us — regardless of which side we’re on — to ensure that change happens. The current state of politics isn't just something to observe, it’s something we must actively engage in.

Whether we are on the Left or Right, we can no longer afford to simply wait for things to shift on their own. It’s time to work with our government to bring about the change we believe in.

Let’s not get stuck in division; let’s work toward a future where we can all thrive. This is not about ‘winning’ in politics — it’s about making our voices heard in the process. It's time to be a part of something bigger, something that benefits everyone. Now is the moment to step up and collaborate, not retreat into the comfort of frustration. The path forward requires unity, accountability, and involvement from all of us.

Your Call to Action:

• Find out who your MP is.

• Read up on their policies.

• Reach out to them about issues you care about.

• Get involved with local initiatives.

  
  

We are not powerless. We are powerful beyond measure — if we choose to participate beyond election day. Together, we can share what we are contributing to our communities, and use the power of the internet to our advantage to bridge us all together. If you are proud to be a Canadian and would like to see your country remain strong and fruitful, all hands on deck are needed now more than ever.

This is just the beginning.