EFC Election Kit 2008: Tips for Electoral Action

Five ways to engage yourself, your faith community, and your riding’s candidates:

1. Know the landscape

Discover who is running for election in your riding – and what they stand for.

See the 10 EFC fact sheets (listed below and at right) for questions you can ask in person or over the phone. 

Learn the names of the various candidates, research their websites and find out what they promise to do.

Explore more about your federal riding at www.elections.ca.

2. Find the Facts

Educate yourself about social justice and moral issues. The EFC has developed 10 fact sheets on current issues:

• Respect for Human Life
• Family Integrity
• Religious Freedom in Canada
• International Religious Freedom
• Prostitution and Human Trafficking
• Refugees
• Poverty and Homelessness
• Global Poverty Reduction
• Environment
• National Unity & Reconciliation

Use these fact sheets (there are hyperlinks to the right of this page) to give yourself basic background information and talking points for discussions with candidates. Each fact sheet includes questions you can ask your candidates to better understand their positions on these issues.

3. Talk about the kind of Canada you want

Consider the vision you have for Canada, and share that vision with the candidates. Find out when all-candidates meetings are, and attend them. When candidates campaign at your door, take the time to talk to them about their positions. Engage candidates in conversations about issues that are important to you as a Christian. Ask candidates how they will address injustice, and how they will commit to justice and equity for all peoples, including the unborn.

Engage with media by writing letters to the editor, getting involved with community radio or talk shows, and seeking a balanced perspective on all the news you hear. Let your opinions be measured by a broad range of reporting.

4. Link with other groups

Get your congregation or faith community involved with election issues. Invite them to pray for the candidates, and consider how they can respond to God’s call to social justice issues through the election process.

Share information about all-candidates meetings and encourage people to vote.

Your congregation can also hold their own all-candidates meeting. See how to do it.

5. Vote!

Remember that your vote matters. The number of people who vote in a federal election has been steadily declining because most people do not think their vote matters.

Encourage family, friends, and colleagues to exercise their democratic right to vote, and to speak up for issues they are passionate about.

After the election, continue to follow the political process to make sure your elected candidates fulfill the promises they made. Remind them of their commitments, and foster accountability regarding the biblical issues, morals, rights and freedoms that are important to you.