OTTAWA – With a fixed election date and the longest pre-election period in history, this fall's federal election is promising to be the most watched ever. But with voter turnout on a nearly 30-year decline, especially among young voters, how will this translate into real change?
The Council of Canadians has teamed up with the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Unifor, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, and the Directors Guild of Canada to host a series of public forums across the country with one message: Go vote!
"This is a watershed election that could be a real fork in the road for Canadians," said Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. "After nine years of job losses, health care privatization, falling wages, environmental neglect, and austerity, it's time for change. But that will only happen if we get out and vote for it."
As part of the tour, Canadians are urged to take a Voter's Pledge where they can commit to vote in the next election and encourage at least two others to do the same.
Hot on the heels of rousing forums in Vancouver, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Bridgewater, and Moncton, the tour returns to Ontario for three forums in Scarborough, Toronto and London.
SCARBOROUGH: Monday, June 1, 7 pm
University of Toronto Scarborough, IC130
Free event tickets at govote-scarborough.eventbrite.ca
- Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians
- Paul Moist, National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
- Joanna Kerr, Executive Director, Greenpeace Canada
- Rajean Hoilett, Chairperson, Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario & National Racialised Representative, Canadian Federation of Students
- Sudz Sutherland, Film and TV director & Member, Directors Guild of Canada
The public forum will be followed by a hands-on workshop on how to increase voter turnout in your neighbourhood
DOOR-TO-DOOR DEMOCRACY: CANVASSING WORKSHOP
Tuesday, June 2, 6 pm
University of Toronto Scarborough, IC220
http://canadians.org/GoVote2015
———
TORONTO: Thursday, June 18, 7 pm
OISE Auditorium, 252 Bloor St W
Free event tickets at time4change-toronto.eventbrite.ca
- Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians
- Jerry Dias, National President, Unifor
- Jim Stanford, Author, Economist & Founder, Progressive Economics Forum
- Ritika Goel, Family physician & health justice activist
- Michael Blais, President and Founder, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
- Annie Bradley, Award winning film and television director
The public forum will be followed by a hands-on workshop on how to increase voter turnout in your neighbourhood
DOOR-TO-DOOR DEMOCRACY: CANVASSING WORKSHOP
Saturday, June 20, 11:30 am
United Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St.
———
LONDON: Monday, June 22, 7 pm
Details to follow!
Maude Barlow and the speakers are available for interviews.
For more details, go to: www.canadians.org/govote2015
-30-
