From the beginning, this third federal election in four years was wanted only by political insiders and the business and governing elite, not by the average Canadian. The maneuverings were about one thing only: crass political power – not the day-to-day issues that affect ordinary families across the country.

Even now, the candidates themselves are struggling to discern the defining issue of the moment. With the hottest debates of the opening weeks of the campaign centering around Stephen Harper’s sweater vest, a dirty puffin and the insensitive comments of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, there has been little to stir voters to action at the polls.

To fill the political void, all manner of interest groups have been clambering to get their issues on the political agenda, whether it’s infrastructure funding for cities, bailing out Ontario’s dropping finances, high gas prices or lax food inspection practices. At the local level, despite two new names on the ballot, the Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale candidates appear to be rolling out their parties’ scripts from the 2006 election.

Canadians deserve better. We are spending millions of dollars on an election that was forced upon us (not to mention the $14 million that was wiped away in September, when byelections were cancelled because of the federal election call). All we’re getting for our money so far is attack ads and party blather.

In 2004, voter turnout in Canada hit an all-time low of 60.9 per cent, while the numbers were only slightly better in 2006, at 64 per cent. This time around, there would have to be a major development to roust Canadians and Hamiltonians from their apathy long enough to cast their ballots.

And why should they vote for such campaign spectacles? Why should they trust a candidate to represent their wishes when they happily hit the campaign trail at their party leaders’ whim?

If an election was really critical, shouldn’t it be about something, such as protecting Canada from the ballooning economic disaster south of the border? Or saving the 18 per cent of Hamilton’s citizens living below the poverty line? How about addressing the need for affordable, accessible health care for all Canadians?

Canadians can understand the battle for political power, and even the sniping that goes on between parties. But to have an election about essentially nothing, to elect a Parliament that will look pretty much the same after the October 14 vote, is asking too much. An election call without a mandate from citizens or the confidence of Canadians is troubling to say the least.

And while it may be okay to centre a television sitcom around a plot based on nothing, à la Seinfeld, it’s just not enough to inspire voters. It’s time to tell our political leaders we want something more.