Opinion250  has invited Ning Ma, a Chinese student studying English at UNBC, to  write a weekly  article for  us.   We thought this would be helpful  to Ning as he strives to  improve his English skills, and  helpful to us  as we can see how others view Prince George, B.C. and Canada.    Consider this an educational opportunity for  all involved, and that is why we won't be inviting comment on this weekly submission. We are interested in  your thoughts on things Ning should  experience  and write about.    We are also  providing  the same article in Mandarin as an opportunity for Ning's family and friends to learn more about us.

Please send your ideas to  talk@opinion250.com and we will be certain to pass them along to Ning.

-Elaine Macdonald 

 

Call a spade a spade (I am studying idioms at UNBC), I feel Canada has the higher degree of political democracy than China. In Chinese cities we do not have a public vote for mayors, and people do not have the opportunity to make demands of the mayor for money or other things every week or in a public way. This example really made me feel that the Canadian political system reflects the will of people and is a direct channel of expression.

 

I remember when I first came to Canada I went to the "Let's get started" assembly for rebuilding the downtown. I saw BC's former premier, Mr. Mike Harcourt, and was very astonished that he strolled in the street and talked but there were no police around to protect him. I even shook hands with him, and he used Chinese language to say "How are you" to me. This made me think there is equality between government officials and the public. In China, I never saw a mayor strolling on the street, but five or six years ago I saw an important person wanting to go somewhere. The policemen closed the street for more than five minutes and when the troop of cars was gone the traffic went back to normal. Therefore, I admire for the residents of Prince George because they have a very mature democratic system and can express their political will.

 

I learned from newspapers that the election turnout rate was only 32 percent, the second highest rate in history. On "Remembrance Day" a lot of people marched on the street and remembered the dead soldiers who wanted freedom, but I can not understand why people attach great importance to democracy but then gave up their rights to vote.

                          对乔治王子城选举的个人感想