Election Day in Ontario is June 12.
Issues that affect low-income Ontarians are important to talk about during provincial election campaigns. That’s because provincial government action can go a long way toward making life better for everyone in Ontario.
We have developed materials to help people in Ontario raise issues during the election campaign that affect low-income Ontarians.
The materials will help you:
- make sure you and/or the low-income people you work with are able to vote
- ask candidates what they will do about these issues if they get elected
- raise these issues at all candidates’ meetings
- send a letter to the editor or use other forms of media to get these issues on the public agenda.
The political parties and local politicians will be hoping to secure your support during the campaign. Low-income people and the groups and agencies that work with them can use these materials to find out what they are going to do to make life better for low-income Ontarians.
Election Kit
The ISAC Election Kit includes information about why it’s important to vote, how to make sure you can vote, accessible voting for people with disabilities, raising issues at All Candidates’ Meetings, and raising issues in the local media.
For those who can’t access Word documents, here’s the Kit in Rich Text Format (RTF):
ISAC Election Kit – RTF
Questions for Candidates
Our Questions for Candidates sheets focus on issues about Ontario’s two social assistance programs, Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), as well as other income security programs and policies, including Poverty Reduction. We’re happy to be partnering with the Steering Committee on Social Assistance and the ODSP Action Coalition on these questions.
Use these questions at All Candidates Meetings or when candidates come to your doorstep.
WORD versions:
- Questions for Candidates on OW
- Questions for Candidates on ODSP
- Questions for Candidates on Income Security
For those who can’t access Word documents, here are the same documents in Rich Text Format (RTF):
- Questions for Candidates on OW
- Questions for Candidates on ODSP
- Questions for Candidates on Income Security
Word versions en français:
- Questions pour les candidats locaux au sujet dOntario au travail (OT)
- Questions pour les candidats locaux au sujet du Programme ontarien de soutien pour les personnes handicapées (POSPH)
- Questions pour les candidat locaux relatives au maintien du revenue
Questions for Parties
We have sent questions to the political parties about these same issues and will post their responses in early June. We hope that this will help people decide which party they want to support.
- Questions to the Parties on OW
- Questions to the Parties on ODSP
- Questions to the Parties on Income Security
And again, here are the party questions in Rich Text Format (RTF):
- Questions to the Parties on OW
- Questions to the Parties on ODSP
- Questions to the Parties on Income Security
CLICK HERE to get to our “Where Do the Parties Stand?” page, where we’ve compiled responses to our party questionnaires and posted the word-for-word responses we received.
Other Resources
Other groups have created candidate and party questions about other issues related to poverty and income inequality. They have also created other kinds of election resources, like lawn signs and brochures. Check the links below. We will be posting as many as possible.
Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario - Questions on HousingAnglicans of Ontario – Resources and Questions on Poverty
Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage – 2014 Election Alert
Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage – 10 Things You Can Do
ISARC – Vote for a Poverty Free Ontario Sign Campaign
Niagara Poverty Reduction Network – Call for Action Brochure
ODSP Action Coalition – 2014 Provincial Election Action Guide
ODSP Action Coalition – Letter to Candidates
Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups – Questions on WSIB