Vancouver — With a fixed election date and the longest pre-election period in history, this federal election could be the most watched ever. But could it also be the one with the lowest voter turnout? To help ensure that's not the case, the Council of Canadians, CUPE, Unifor and PSAC are organizing town halls across the country with one message: Get out and vote! They will launch the tour on Thursday in Vancouver.
"This is a watershed election, one that Canadians will remember," said Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. "After nine years of job losses, health care privatization, falling wages, and environmental neglect, it's time for change. But we'll only achieve that change if we all get out and vote."
WHO:
- Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians
- Paul Moist, National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees
- Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of BC Indian Chiefs
- Itrath Syed, Instructor and activist
- Moderated by Brigette DePape, Game-Changer Youth Vote Campaigner, Council of Canadians
- Territorial welcome from Cecilia Point, Musqueam Nation
WHEN: Thursday, April 30, 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia St.
People will be urged to take a Voter's Pledge to commit to voting in the next election and encouraging at least two others to do the same.
In recent months, as part of the Council of Canadians Game-Changers tour, rogue Senate page Brigette DePape went out to campuses and communities to encourage young people to vote. She visited the University of Winnipeg, the University of Regina, Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Ryerson University in Toronto, Nipissing University in North Bay, and Mahone Bay. More events are being planned for the summer and fall.
The public forum will be followed by a hands-on workshop on how to increase voter turnout in people’s neighbourhoods.
Free tickets at: govote-vancouver.eventbrite.ca
Facebook eventMore information on the national tour: www.canadians.org/govote2015
– 30 –
