There is a lot going on during this Federal Election! With the ongoing threat of – and real consequences arising from – US tariffs, it would be easy to lose sight of ongoing issues like the affordability and housing crises, and longstanding problems with our social safety net.
During this Federal Election, we continue to advocate for income security programs that:
- are easy to access
- have straightforward and fair appeal processes
- provide enough income so that people who rely on them are not forced into poverty or kept in poverty
- are not overly complicated
- are considerate of the intersecting experiences of people who use them, and
- are actively being improved in order to remove barriers to income security due to discrimination
Though our focus is on Ontario, with a population of nearly 15 million people in this province alone we know that whatever the federal government does will have a major impact on people in Ontario.
Every year ISAC submits detailed budget recommendations to the federal government on funding and policy priorities for federally administered income security programs.
Based on these priorities, we’ve been watching closely for statements and promises being made throughout the election about the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) and Employment Insurance (EI).
To add to our general recommendations, we recently wrote about temporary Employment Insurance measures here, outlining what needs to be done immediately and in the long term.
We have also sent a questionnaire to the four major federal parties running candidates in Ontario on our major issues of concern. Check out the questionnaire here, and feel free to use these questions when you are talking to the candidates in your area. We will post the responses we receive closer to Election Day.
Other campaigns have highlighted intersecting and equally important issues – here are just a few ways to learn more and get active during this election period:
If you want to learn more:
- Use whose.land to look up the First Nations in your area and look into what asks they have put forward to the Federal government.
- Read through the Assembly of First Nations’ Federal Election Priorities Prosperity For All. Find out what other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit governments, advocacy organizations, and people are asking the federal government to do, including organizations like the Native Women’s Association of Canada, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, and Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (LMFO).
- Sign up to attend the Yellowhead Institute’s event “A Full Ballot Box Full of Rights” on April 15, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (ET)
- Tune in to the official Federal Leaders Debates happening this week on the CBC or any other news channel. The official French Leaders Debate is taking place on April 16, at 8:00 p.m. ET. The official English Leaders Debate is taking place on April 17, at 7:00 p.m. ET. The details on how to tune in (via TV, radio, online, live-streamed, or recorded and re-broadcast afterwards) to both debates can be found on this CBC website.
- Check out Maytree’s Social Assistance Summaries to get into the deep data on social assistance programs in each province and territory
- Read the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) “Platform Crunch” posts:
- Platform Crunch: Tax cuts are alive and well in this federal election, but who benefits? (Hint: Look up, way up) (March 25)
- Platform Crunch 2: Comparing four parties’ tax cut and cash transfers promises (March 28)
- Platform Crunch 3: Every party is promising tax cuts and cash transfers (April 3)
- Review OCASI’s Vote for Equity for All Campaign, which includes calls for access to justice, action on climate change, equity in employment, health and well-being, housing and homelessness, immigration, racial equity, poverty elimination, end gender-based violence
- Watch AODA Alliance’s Federal Debate on Disability Issues (Youtube link here)
- Read through ACORN’s National Platform on Housing which includes related issues such as fair banking and internet for all
If you want to get active:
- Check out the Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC) No More Scraps Campaign to find ways to talk about food insecurity during the election, and to email your local candidates about improving access to income benefits and food security.
- Join the Justice for Workers: No One Left Behind Campaign. Read the latest update here, plan to join the next Pan-Canadian meeting on April 22 (details here), and send a letter to the Prime Minister and other Ministers about the immediate need for better supports for workers here.
- Send a letter of support for permanent residents, migrants, and refugees using Migrant Rights Network’s letter-writing tool here.
- Look into becoming a community advocate with Disability Without Poverty – start now and keep going after the election!
- If you belong to a community or advocacy organization, support the Demand Better Campaign, organized by Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights. The campaign calls for a strong public healthcare system; affordable, accessible childcare; safe, affordable housing; and expanded employment insurance.
- Reach out to your local community legal clinic and ask if they know about any local candidate debates happening in your area. To find your nearest community legal clinic, enter your postal code into Legal Aid Ontario’s website here.
- Join CBC’s Cross Country Check-Up Town Hall event “What’s your debate highlight? Who should be the next Prime Minister?” after the English Leader’s debate on April 17 at 9:00 p.m. Details here.
Simply looking for details about voting?
Election Day is April 28, but you can vote in advance from now until 6:00 p.m. on April 22, at any Elections Canada returning office, as long as you can prove your identity. For more information on what ID is needed to vote, how to figure out where to vote, and more, check out our Federal Election quick facts at this link or you can download a PDF version by clicking here.
You can also vote in Advance polls, which will be open on Friday April 18, Saturday April 19, Sunday April 20, and Monday April 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Enter your postal code at Elections Canada’s website here to find this information.