Some argue that American elections have more impact on Canadians than Canadian elections. Perhaps in the long run, what with George W. Bush's destabilizing foreign policy and lemming-like approach to climate change. So we can all rejoice that Bush's wings have been clipped.

But here in Ontario, on Monday November 13, we have the chance to vote on issues that have a direct and immediate impact on our lives. Sprawl. Water. Libraries. The quality of our communities. Municipal elections aren't sullied by party politics (though they are by the huge influx of developer dollars -- which is why it's especially important to counteract that by electing people who don't accept such donations). We don't have to agonize over whether or how to vote strategically. We can vote for the person we think best reflects our views.

Problem is, often fewer than 40 percent of eligible voters vote in muncipal elections (over 60 percent vote federally). So, please, where ever you live, get out and vote on Monday. If you are in Guelph (my hometown), go to guelphcivicleague.ca to get informed.

10 Years Ago This Week
The second of this four-part series, in which then-Ontario Premier Mike Harris stars as the ring-leader of a group of politicians who get sexual thrills out of spending cuts -- strangely similar to the car-wreck fetishists to David Cronenberg's Crash. FYI, the woman under Harris is his wife (not everyone knew who "Janet" was -- at the time, they were still together). And no, this cartoon didn't elicit a single email of protest. The benefits of obscurity.