cfms-fmeq federal election strategy diy toolkit (final)[9] · overall, voter turnout in canada is...

CFMS/FMEQ Federal Election Strategy: “DIY” Toolkit Prepared by: Debbie Brace, Ailish Valeriano, Yipeng Ge, Linda Lam, David Wiercigroch, Helen Teklemariam, Guillaume Roy

08Fall

2 CFMS/FMEQ FEDERAL ELECTION STRATEGY: “DIY” TOOLKIT

Table of Contents

PurposeandObjectivesoftheCFMS/FMEQFederalElectionStrategy.................3AbouttheCFMS.........................................................................................................................3

AbouttheFMEQ........................................................................................................................3Part1:IntroductiontoCanadianFederalElections.....................................................4IntroductiontoCanadianFederalElections............................................................................4WhoCanVoteandHowtoDoIt...................................................................................................5DoestheStudentVoteMatter?.....................................................................................................6

Part2:Engagingwiththefederalelectioninyourcommunity................................9Goalsofcommunityengagement................................................................................................9PossibleActivities.............................................................................................................................9

Part3:HowTo’s.....................................................................................................................12Howtowriteanemailorlettertoanelectedofficial........................................................12Howtolearnmoreaboutcandidates......................................................................................12Howtomeetwithanelectedofficialorcandidate.............................................................12Howtowritealettertotheeditor...........................................................................................13Howtohavethemostimpact.....................................................................................................13

Conclusion...............................................................................................................................14

[CFMS/FMEQ FEDERAL ELECTION STRATEGY: “DIY” TOOLKIT] 3Purpose and Objectives of the CFMS/FMEQ Federal Election Strategy

- Foster excitement, interest, and engagement of medical students aroundvotinginthefederalelection,theelectionprocess,andcivicengagement

- Informing Canadian medical students with objective data to help makedecisionsaboutthemajorfederalpoliticalpartiesandtheirpointsonvarioushealth-relatedissues

- Facilitatingissues-basedadvocacyforCanadianmedicalstudentsonvariouspriority issues concerning the medical student community, the healthcaresystem,andthehealthofCanadians

About the CFMS - TheCFMSwasfoundedin1977byCanadianmedicalstudents,andtoday42

yearslater,theCanadianFederationofMedicalStudents(CFMS)representsover 8,400 medical students at 15 medical schools across Canada. As thenational voice of Canadian medical students, the CFMS are tomorrow’sphysicians leading for health today with the aim to connect, support, andrepresentitsmembershipastheylearntoservepatientsandsociety.

About the FMEQ - The "Fédération médicale étudiante du Québec" or FMEQ was founded in

1974 by the four medical student associations in Quebec, – namely theAGÉMUSof theUniversityof Sherbrooke, theMSSofMcGillUniversity, theRÉMULofLavalUniversityandtheAEEMUMoftheUniversityofMontreal–representingmore than 4,000medical students. The FMEQ has the role ofdefendingandpromotingthecollectiveinterestsspecifictomedicalstudentsin Quebec particularly in pedagogical, political and social matters.Itpromotes communication and collaboration between student associationsandtheirmembers.Itestablishespartnershipstoprovidespecificservicestoassociativeandindividualmembers.


Part 1: Introduction to Canadian Federal Elections

Introduction to Canadian Federal Elections Canada’sParliamentaryandExecutivesystemiscomprisedof:TheGovernorGeneral:OfficiallyrepresentstheQueenThePrimeMinister:LeaderofpoliticalpartyholdingthemostMPsintheHouseTheSenate:LegislativebodyappointedbythePrimeMinisterTheHouseofCommons:Comprisedof338MembersofParliament(MPs)electedbycitizensinthesamenumberofelectoraldistrictsStepsofaCanadianFederalElection

Howoftenarefederalelectionscalledandwhocancallthem?General elections in Canada are called every four years on the third Monday inOctober,meaningthat thenextFederalelectionwillbeMondayOctober21,2019.Thiswill be Canada’s 43rd general election. According to the Canadian Charter ofRights andFreedoms,Members of Parliament canbe elected for amaximumof 5yearsafterwhichtheyneedtobere-electedtocontinueservice.The Governor General calls elections at these times by “dissolving” Parliament.She/he also has the power to call a general election at an earlier date if: 1) theGovernmentlosesaconfidencevoteintheHouseofCommons,or2)atanytimeontheadviceofthePrimeMinister.

•Parliamentisdissolvedandelectioniscalled•Canada'sChiefElectoralOfficer(CEO)issuesawritofelection foreachfederalriding

•Nominationperiodbegins•Partiesandcandidatescampaign

•Pollinglocationswherevotingwilloccurarefinalized•Voterlistsareprepared(see"Whocanvote"below)

•ElectionDay!•Oncepollsclose,votesarecountedateachstationandresultsarevalidated

•WritisreturnedtotheCEOandthewinnerisdeclared•NewParliamentconvenes

[CFMS/FMEQ FEDERAL ELECTION STRATEGY: “DIY” TOOLKIT] 5RidingsandPoliticalPartiesIn federal elections, citizens vote to elect their local Member of Parliament (MP)whowillthenrepresentthemintheHouseofCommons.Thisindividualrepresentsaparticularfederalelectoraldistrictcalledariding.Thereare338electoralridingsinCanadaandthegeographicaldivisionsofthesearecreatedbasedonaformulasetoutintheConstitutionAct,1867.MostMPsrun in theirridingunder theaffiliationofapoliticalparty,although theydonothave to.Therearemanymoreparties than thefew we usually hear about, but they historically have not wonrepresentationintheHouseofCommons.TohaveofficialstatusintheHouseofCommonsapartymustwinatleast12seats. “First-past-the-postSystem” In every electoral district, the candidatewith the highest number ofvotes in that riding wins a seat in the House of Commons –importantly,theydonotneedtoachievemorethan50%ofthevotesto win! This is known as a first-past-the-post or single-member plurality system.Fromhere, thepoliticalpartywith thegreatestnumberof seats in theHousewillformthenewgovernment.Accordingtotradition,thepartywiththesecondhighestnumberofMPsintheHousebecomestheofficialOppositionparty.Whatareminorityandmajoritygovernments?Ifapartywinsmorethan50%oftheseatsintheHouseofCommons, a majority government forms, which gives theGovernment control over the House by virtue of carryingmorethanhalfofthevotingpower.Ifthewinningpartyhaslessthanhalfoftheseats,aminoritygovernmentwillform.This means that the other parties in the House have theability to block the Government’s bills from passing andhavemorepowertobringdowntheGovernment inavoteofnon-confidence.

Who Can Vote and How to Do It Whocanvoteinthefederalelection?AnyCanadiancitizenwhois18yearsofageorolderonelectionday.Howtovote?There’s a catch though, you must be registered to vote! You’ll know you areregisteredifyoureceivedavotingcardinthemailpriortoelectionday.OnlineVoterRegistration:

- Asof2012,voterscancheckonlinetoseewhethertheyareregisteredtovoteusing theirname,dateofbirth,andaddress. Ifyourname isnot listed,youcanhaveitaddedtothevoterslistupuntiltheTuesdaypriortotheelection.

PoliticalPartiesSomeofthemostwell-knownpoliticalpartiesinCanadainclude:TheLiberalPartyofCanada,TheConservativePartyofCanada,TheNewDemocraticPartyofCanada,TheGreenPartyofCanada,andLeBlocQuébécois

Whathappenstogovernmentduringtheelectionperiod?Upondissolutionofthegovernment,allactivityceases.Thisincludespassingbillsandrespondingtopetitions.OnlyadministrativedutieswillcontinueuntilthenewParliamentisconvenedwithcertainexceptions.


Check to see if you are registered in advance of election day here:https://ereg.elections.ca/orcallanyElectionsCanadaoffice.

Onceregistered,therearemanywaystovote:

1) Usually,voterscastballotsin-personatthedesignatedpollingstationintheridingtheyareregisteredin,usingproofofidentityandaddress.

2) Youmayalsovoteaheadoftimeinadvancedpollswhichopeninridings1-2weekspriortotheelection.

3) IfyouwillbeoutsideyourregisteredridingduringtheElectionDayandthedates of advanced polls, you canapply online for a special ballot ASAPonce an election is called. You can fill this out and either a) deliver it inperson to your local Elections Canada Office if you are somewhere withinCanadaorb)senditbymail(Note:IfyouaremailingfromoutsideCanada,besuretoleaveenoughtimefortheballottobereceivedby6pmonelectionday).

KnowingwheretoVoteElectoral ridings are divided into polling divisions. Your voting card will let youknowwhichpolling locationyoucanvoteat. It’softenapublicbuilding suchasaschool.Someuniversitycampusesholdpollingstationsfortheirstudentssochecktoseeifyoursdoes!NoteforStudents:Ifyouliveintwoplaces(i.e.onewhileatschoolandonewhereyourfamilyresides)youmaychooseeitheroneofthesetovoteinaslongasyoucanprovideproofofaddress.Thenbesuretogoonline(linkabove)toensureyouareregisteredtovoteinyourridingofchoice.AcceptableIDtovote:

1) OneoriginalpieceofIDissuedbyaCanadiangovernmentthatcontainsthevoter’sname,photo,andaddress(forexample,yourdriver’slicense).

OR2) TwooriginalpiecesofID;eachmustdisplaythevoter’snameandonemust

showtheiraddress(forexample,yourhealthcardplusahydrobill)

FindthelistofacceptableIDsandpollinglocationsatwww.elections.ca

Does the Student Vote Matter? It is often said that young adults, and students, are not engaged in the politicalprocess.We’veallheardsomewhereorotherthatourvote“doesn’tcount”,orthatwe’re“apathetic”.Butisthattrue?Doweholdanypowerinthepoliticalprocess?Overall, voter turnout inCanada isnot ashigh as youmight think. In2008, voterturnoutwasthelowestithadeverbeensinceConfederation,withonly56.5%oftheeligible population casting a ballot. That number has been slowly increasing, to58.5% in the 2011 election and 66.1% in the 2015 election, however it has not

[CFMS/FMEQ FEDERAL ELECTION STRATEGY: “DIY” TOOLKIT] 7reachedover70%since1993.Whenwelookattheyouthvotespecifically,in2011onlyabout39%ofvotersaged18-24turnedout,and45.1%ofvotersaged25-34.In2015,thosenumbersdrasticallyincreasedto57.1%ofvotersaged18-24and57.4%ofvotersaged25-34.

Beforethe2015electionitwasgenerallyassumedthatitwasnormalforyouthnottovote,andthataspeopleagetheywillengagemoreinthecivicprocess.Thiswascalledthe“LifeCycleEffect”.However,evidencesupportingthistheoryseemstobeweakening – which could drastically change how the political system works inCanada.A recent study by The Samara Centre for Democracy, a non-partisan charitydedicated to strengtheningCanada’sDemocracy, found thatCanadianyouth (aged18-29)rate11percentagepointshigher,onaverage,thanolderpopulationsacross18markersofpoliticalparticipation.Thisstudylookedatpoliticalengagementinabroaderlens,andexaminedfourvariablesin5differentsectors,and18markers,ofpoliticalengagement;

1. FormalEngagement:includesbeingamemberofaparty,attendingapoliticalmeeting or speech, volunteering for a campaign, organizing a public eventaboutpolitics,etc.

2. Activism:signingpetitions,boycotting,protesting,anddemonstrating


3. CivicEngagement:donatingtoacharity,volunteeringforacharitablecause,beingactive inagroupororganizationandworkingwithothers to solveacommunityproblem

4. Discussion:Discussingpoliticsandpolitical issues, followingapoliticianonsocialmedia,circulatingorrepostingcomments,etc.

Interestinglyenough,youthwerefoundtohavethehighestratesofparticipationinallmarkersofactivism,anddiscussion.Furthermore,youthweretiedwithseniors(aged>56 years) in partymembership, anddonatingmoney to a candidate. Theyalso faroutperformedseniors inattendingapoliticalmeetingor speech, givingapoliticalspeechinpublic,andorganizingevents.Finally,itisimportanttonotethatyouthoutperformedadults(aged30-55)inall18markers.So ifwe’retobelievethesestatistics,wecannotendorsethenotionthatyouthareapatheticanddisengagedfromcivicandpoliticalprocesses.Sowhyisvoterturnoutso low?Well the same study from Samara Democracy also states that one of themost importantvariables inpredictingaperson’s likelihood tovote iswhetherornotthey’vebeencontactedbyacandidate.In2014Canadianswereaskedaboutfivedifferentmethodsthat federalparties,candidates,andMPshadusedtoreachout;mail,phone,email,inpersonandonasocialnetwork.Responsesshowedthat75%ofpeopleovertheageof56,58%ofpeopleaged30-55,and55%ofpeopleaged18-29werecontactedbyoneormoremethods.Thestudyconcludesbysayingthatamajor reason youth don’t vote is because the system itself doesn’t reach out andincludethemintheprocess.Anotherhypothesisastowhyyouthturnoutislowisbecauseofglobalization.Thistheory, postulated in a position paper by Elections Canada, states that as theeconomybecomesmoreglobal, there is a sense that federal governmentsbecomemoreirrelevant.Thesamepaperalsostatesthatyouthhavedifferentperceptions,attitudes and values that do not necessarily alignwith one or another party, andyouththereforedonotdevelopattachmenttoanyoftheparties,donotidentifywithapartyandthereforehavenoclearpreferenceorincentivetovoteforoneovertheother.Regardless of themyriad of hypotheses aboutwhy youth traditionally don’t vote,whatisclearisthatwhilewemightbebelowthenationalaverageinthepolls,weareanythingbutapathetic,disengaged,andpowerless.Hence,theveryreasonwhywe have created this DIY toolkit to encourage CFMS/FMEQ medical students toharnesstheircivicengagementskillsandtogoouttovoteintheupcomingelection!

[CFMS/FMEQ FEDERAL ELECTION STRATEGY: “DIY” TOOLKIT] 9Part 2: Engaging with the federal election in your community

Goals of community engagement Givenwhatwenowknowaboutyouthengagementintheelectionsprocessandthelackofcontactbetweencandidatesandyouthvoters,theCFMS/FMEQwouldliketoencouragemedical students to reachout to candidates in theirhomeandmedicalschoolridings–tohaveconversations,toengageinthevariousissuesthatmattertoyouandyourcommunity,andtoencourageotherstodothesame!The CFMS/FMEQ are non-partisan organizations and we welcome constructivedissenting views and respectful debate. We hope to encourage the sharing ofresourcesandideastoharnessthepowerofourcollectiveandindividualvoicesinputting health and healthcare back onto the political agenda. We also hope toempowerstudentstovoteandengageinthepoliticalprocessinanymeanstheyfeelmostcomfortablewith!

Possible Activities Thereareanynumberofwaystoengagewiththeupcomingfederalelectionatyourmedicalschoolandinyourcommunity!Somesuggestionsinclude:

1. Hostatownhalldiscussingcommunityissuesoradebatewithcandidates• In order to focus the conversation, it can be helpful to outline a

particular theme/topic or have particular questions inmind to helpframe the conversation – this could be something health andhealthcare related! Please keep an eye out for the CFMS federalelectionprimeronavarietyofissuesandareasforconversation.

• Be sure to set some guidelines with those who confirm to attend,including reminding them that the intention is for a non-partisaneventtoexploreavarietyofcommunityissues.We’dalsorecommendhaving a moderator who is skilled or prepared for moderatinginappropriate questions or comments, and who can keep theconversationproductive.

2. MeetwithanMPintheirofficetodiscussissuesandpublicpolicy• MeetingwithyourhomeorschoolridinglocalMPisawonderfulway

togettoknowyourrepresentativeinOttawaandshareyourthoughtsaboutlocalissuesinthecommunity,andrecommendationsrelatedtofederalpublicpolicy!

• A largecomponentof theroleofanMP is tomeetwithconstituentsandhearabouttheissuestheycareaboutandthatareaffectingthem.Makebestuseof thisopportunityto learnmoreabouthowtheycanbestrepresentyourviewsandideasonbehalfofyourcommunity.


• Ameetingcanbescheduledeasilybysendinganemailtotheiroffice,andyoucangotothemeetingasagrouptodiscussavarietyofissuesifpreferred!

• Ifyouwanttospeakwiththemaboutaspecifictopic,itcanbehelpfulto email them a summary of the issue and your points beforehand.This will help their office make sure the MP is prepared for aproductivediscussion.

• IfyouhappentobeinOttawa,youcanalsooffertomeetwithyourMPonParliamentHillandgetatouroftheHouseofCommons!

3. Asktomeetwithcandidates• Don’tbeafraidtoaskthemwhattheirviewsareonissues,whatthey

cando for you andyour community, andhow they supportmedicalstudentsandhealthandhealthcarerelatedissues.

• As candidates for various political parties are nominated andconfirmedforyourcommunity,lookoutfortheircontactinformationonsocialmedia,andconnectwiththembyreachingoutviaemailorvisit an event or talk they are attending to learn more about theirplatforms!

4. Socialmediacampaign• Socialmedia(Twitter,Facebook,Instagram,etc.)isapowerfulformof

communication, especially for sharing updates related to theupcomingfederalelection.

• IfyoushareamessagetoyourMPonvarioussocialmediaplatforms,chances are theywill reply to give an answer or offer to follow-up!EngagewithyourMPsandcandidatesonsocialmedia,andaskyourfriends and peers to also share messages about an issue that isimportant to them, and remember to tag your MP and politicalcandidatestoengagethemintheconversation!

• KeepaneyeoutfortheCFMS/FMEQFederalElection“WhyWeVote”Social Media Campaign – and participate by using the hashtag#IVoteCanand#JeVoteCan!

5. Watchadebate• Before every federal election there are often debates in your

community and across Canada and streamed online. Participate bywatching,hostinganelectiondebatewatchingparty,andsubmittingquestionsforthedebate!

6. Prepareforthefederalelectionday!• Shareonsocialmediathatyouwentouttovoteandencourageothers

to do the same!Track howmany students are voting, to sharewithelectedofficialsthe%ofCFMSmembersthatvotedintheelection!

• Havediscussionswithyourmedicalschooladministrationandfacultytoseeifaccommodationscanbemadesothatvotingisaccessibleformedicalstudentswithabusyacademic/clinicalschedule.

[CFMS/FMEQ FEDERAL ELECTION STRATEGY: “DIY” TOOLKIT] 11

• Consider how patients in the hospital and how other healthprofessionalscanhaveaccessiblevoting,includingexploringifvotingstationscanbeplacedinhospitallobbies!


Part 3: How To’s

How to write an email or letter to an elected official • Writinganemail/lettertoyourMPoraMinisterresponsibleforaparticular

portfolio thatwould be best suited to address your concern or issue, is assimpleasitsounds!

• Address the letter professionally (i.e. Dear MP/Minister [last name],) andmakesureyousigntheletterwithyournameandprofessionalsignature.

• Withinthebodyofthetext,outlinethebackgroundontheissueyou’dliketoexploreandsharewiththem,explainhowitimpactsyouoryourcommunity,and provide possible recommendations or solutions on means to moveforward.

• Askotherstosharesimilarletterstostartalargerconversationontheissue,orcollectsignatures(individualsororganizations)tosignontoyourlettertobringforwardtoaMinister,iftheissueaffectsmultiplecommunities/ridings.

• Dependingontheissuediscussed,remembertocc’otherrelevantMinistersandcriticsonthoseportfoliosfromotherpoliticalparties.

• Make sure to also follow-up on your letter to ensure you get a reply! It issometimesdaunting to knowhow long towait before sending a followup.We’drecommendgivingtheMPoffice1-2weekstorespond.Rememberthatitistheirjobtorespondtoconstituents,sodon’tbeafraidtoberespectfullypersistent!

• Remember that you don’t need to put a stamp on the envelope if you arewritinga letter toyourMPat theirofficeonParliamentHill.Theiraddresscanbefoundhere:https://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members

o Whattoaddresstheletterto,andtoputontheenvelope:o [NameofMP]

HouseofCommonsOttawa,OntarioCanadaK1A0A6

How to learn more about candidates • On researching candidates and what their priorities and issues they are

focusing on, once again use social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), visitpolitical party websites for party platforms, and useful resources such aswww.openparliament.ca for incumbent MPs (useful to find out how theyhavepreviouslyvoted,andwhatstatementsthey’vepreviouslymade).

How to meet with an elected official or candidate • Beknowledgeableontheissuesinyourcommunityoraffectingyouandyour

peers,medicalstudents,andmedicalschool• Beprompt,polite,professional,andprepared

[CFMS/FMEQ FEDERAL ELECTION STRATEGY: “DIY” TOOLKIT] 13

• Beresponsiveandfollow-up(i.e.sendfollow-upemails/letters,keepintouchwiththeirofficeforadditionalmeetings,attendcommunitytownhallevents)tobuildalongitudinalrelationship!

• Remembertokeepitlocalandhowissuesimpactcommunitymembers

How to write a letter to the editor • Write to national, regional, and/or community newspapers and medical

journalstogetanopinionouttothepubliconanissuethatmatterstoyou!• If responding to an article, try to write something in response within 48

hoursofthearticlebeingpublished.• Keep to a concise and clear message, providing new information, opinion,

andreflections.

How to have the most impact • Impactcanbemeasuredandachievedinsomanydifferentways.• If you wanted to share a message or highlight a specific issue, consider

reachingouttootherpartnersandlocalorganizationsthatmayhavesimilarviewpoints (i.e. local nurse’s union, local Indigenous groups, homelessshelters,physiciannetworks).

• Speak or attend local rotary club as an opportunity to discuss local issueswithinacommunitygroup.Orattendandspeakatlocaltownhallsoreventsheldbyelectedofficialsorcandidates.

• Have conversations and discussionswith friends, family, peers, colleagues!Askwhatothersthinkaboutaparticular issueandencourageotherstousetheirvoicetogooutandvoteonelectionday!


Conclusion • Wehopethisisausefulresourceforyoutoengageintheupcomingfederal

election!• It is incredibly exciting and inspiring to see all of thework that the CFMS

Government Affairs and Advocacy portfolio engages in at the national,provincial, andmunicipal levels!Weare tremendouslyproudandhumbledbytheadvocacyworkthathappensyear-round,andwanttoencouragethisenergy and passion during the lead up to a federal election – as it is anopportune time to highlight health and healthcare issues at the nationallevel!

• Please do not hesitate to reach out the CFMS Government Affairs andAdvocacy team and your local Government Affairs and AdvocacyRepresentativeshouldyouhaveadditionalquestionsandwantedsupporttocarrythroughyourideasandwork!Visitushere:https://cfms.org/what-we-do/advocacy/our-team

• Additionalresourcesandreferencesthathelpedsharethistoolkit:o InspireDemocracy,ElectionsCanada:http://inspirerlademocratie-

inspiredemocracy.ca/index-eng.aspo OpenParliament:https://openparliament.ca/o MessageNotDelivered:TheMythofApatheticYouthandthe

ImportanceofContactinPoliticalParticipation:https://www.samaracanada.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/samara-messagenotdelivered-g.pdf?sfvrsn=2

o YouthElectoralEngagementinCanada:https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rec/part/youeng&document=why&lang=e

o NationalYouthSurveyReport:https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rec/part/nysr&document=index&lang=e

o YouthVoterTurnoutinCanada:https://bdp.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/2016104E

cfms-fmeq federal election strategy diy toolkit (final)[9] · overall, voter turnout in canada is...

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