On April 28, Canadians will vote to elect Members of Parliament who will form Canada’s next federal government.
This election is critical for our union and for all working people across this country. Given the extremely challenging economic times we live in, there is no doubt that the stakes couldn’t be higher.
I have heard from so many of you over the past few months. Unifor members are worried about the impacts of an escalating trade war initiated by the United States on our jobs, our families and our communities.
This is why we have launched our national Unifor Votes member-to-member campaign to connect with Unifor members, to engage you on our union’s top issues, and to encourage you to get out and vote. Unifor member organizers are already working the phones and knocking on doors to reach out to our members in every region.
Together, we’re going to demonstrate the political power we can have when we organize.
In this election, just like in previous federal elections, Unifor has not endorsed any political parties.
But this election is too important for us to sit on the sidelines.
Our union is putting forward demands to build a strong and resilient economy in Canada. We’re calling on all candidates and political parties to support the interests of working people this election by endorsing our plan to protect Canadian jobs.
Unifor is calling on all parties to commit to the following:
- Protect Canadian jobs with bold industrial policies, to build economic resilience, strengthen our nation, and reduce dependency on the U.S.;
- Strong supports to mitigate job loss, keep workers on payrolls and expand Employment Insurance for those who need it;
- Stand up for equality and the things that make us Canadian by keeping health care public, expanding $10-a-day child care, and taking real steps to end intimate partner violence, and
- Tackle the high costs of living and housing that are holding families and young people back.
This federal election will decide who represents us on the international stage. We need to consider who the best leader is to take on the local and global role of making our economy less reliant on the U.S., and who is ready to take on Trump.
For the next month, our union will work tirelessly to ensure the interest of workers are front and centre.
Our entire economy – and indeed our livelihoods – are depending on it.
Please be sure to engage with our Unifor Votes team when they reach out to you in your community, or virtually.
Third Party Obligations and Paid Advertising
Some local unions sometime choose to pursue their own advocacy through paid advertising during an election campaign. Unifor is registered as a third party for this election, which means that paid advertising by local unions, including issue-based advertising, could expose Unifor and individual locals to significant obligations and risks. Please contact Josh Coles, Unifor Director of Membership Mobilization and Political Action with any questions before making plans to purchase paid advertising at josh.coles@unifor.org.
For Québec, please contact Hugues Perreault, Unifor Quebec’s Political Action and Mobilization Officer, at hugues.perreault@unifor.org with any questions before planning any paid advertising or other election-related expenses.
- Vote in person at any Elections Canada office up until April 22 at 6 p.m.
- Vote at any advance voting location in your electoral district from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 18-21.
- Vote at your assigned voting location on election day, Monday April 28.
To read our Union’s priorities in this election visit uniforvotes.ca
To learn more about how Unifor is fighting for a strong and resilient economy in Canada visit the national campaign to Protect Canadian Jobs.
I look forward to connecting with our local unions during this critical federal election.
In solidarity,
Lana Payne
Unifor National President