Do you vote in political elections?
Yes, I proudly exercise my civic duty voting in elections. In the Brazilian electoral system, voting is mandatory. So, I grew up knowing it is my responsibility to get up and vote in every election. I brought this with me to Canada and happily voted in two elections already. Here we vote to choose who will represent us in the Parliament Hill. To be sure, if I don’t express my opinion in the voting polls, I have no right to complain.
Brazil and Canada systems
I know, no system is perfect. There are many differences between Brazilian and Canadian voting systems. I’m still learning, mostly in real time, how the Canadian system works. To clarify, there’s below a comparison chart.
| Feature | Brazil | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| System | Presidential | Parliamentary |
| Head of Government | Directly elected President | PM chosen via party majority in Parliament |
| Electoral Method (Lower House) | Proportional Representation | First-Past-the-Post |
| Senate Selection | Elected | Appointed |
| Voting Age | 16 (optional), 18 (compulsory) | 18 (voluntary) |
| Voting Type | Electronic | Paper ballots |
| Party System | Highly fragmented multiparty | Fewer dominant parties |
| Voting Obligation | Compulsory (with exceptions) | Voluntary |
Visiting the Parliament Hill in Canada
In fact, I had the chance to visit the Parliament Hill in Canada back in 2018. Again, I didn’t know at the time that I was going to move to this beautiful country. On this occasion, I got very impressed with their system. I’m going to put some of the pictures we took below with some interesting info.
Grotesques
These sculptures, called “grotesques”, are typical of neo-gothic architecture.
This one is located on the southwest corner of the exterior of the tower and measures 105 cm (42 inches) tall.
I Spy With My Little Eye…
…Canadian flags – everywhere!
How many can you see from here?
You should see at least 15 flags! Why so many ? Ottawa is the Capital of Canada. Many of the buildings visible from here are directly related to Parliament and to Ottawa’s role as the seat of our federal government.
The population of the National Capital Region is estimated at close to one million people. The Capital features parks, waterways, museums, galleries, festivals… Look around you – do you see anything special going on today?
This one is located on the southwest corner of the exterior of the tower and measures 105 cm (42 inches) tall.
What Has Four Faces, Eight Hands and a Voice That Can Be Heard Across a Nation?
Look up… above you on the tower! The most recognized clock in Canada is modelled after the one in the main tower of the British Parliament at London, England. The chime tune of this electric clock is played upon five of the fifty-three bells of the carillon. The largest bell – the bourdon – strikes the hour.
Surely, I know that lately there’s a lot of disillusionment with politics and politicians around the world. I hear you, I feel the same way too. But I still believe in democracy. I hope and wish that liberty will be kept in the world.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.