The outcome of an election has never had a more direct impact on our members and our industry. The past year-and-a-half has been the most challenging period the IATSE has ever gone through, particularly for our live performance members. The IATSE lobbied successfully to ensure that our unemployed members were able to get income supports such as the CERB and the CRB, as well as an expanded EI program. As the CRB nears its termination date, the IATSE will continue to push for support for our members – so it’s imperative that we elect a government that is willing to hear us and work with us.
Which party should you support?
We are not going to tell you who to vote for. That’s up to you. But we do want to make sure you’re aware of where the parties stand. We have sent a set of industry-related questions out to the major federal parties. Once the parties respond (or don’t), we’ll be promoting their answers on IATSE Canada Facebook and Twitter, with links to the full responses on the new IATSE Canada website.
We all want a government that values the things that we do. And you probably won’t agree with everything that any party stands for or has done. As the analogy goes – Voting isn’t marriage, it’s public transport. You’re not waiting for “the one”. You’re getting on the bus. And if there isn’t one going exactly to your destination, you take the one that’s going closest to where you want to be.
So what you should do? Read the answers we’ll be posting to the IATSE Canada website and review the party platforms. Consider looking into party and candidate voting records. Use all that information to determine how each party will support you, your family, your industry, and your union sisters, brothers, and kin.
The party websites can be found below.
*There are a number of registered political parties in Canada, so in an effort to keep the list manageable we have only listed those that currently hold seats in the House of Commons.
How, when, and where you can vote:
Entertainment industry schedules are always changing, so make things easy on yourself – vote early! Though Election Day is September 20, advance polls run from September 9-13, you can vote by mail, or you can vote at any Elections Canada office until September 14! If you’re not already registered, it’s okay. You can still vote at your polling station – even on Election Day.
To vote in the federal election, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen
- be at least 18 years old on Election Day
- prove your identity and address. Here’s where you can find a list of acceptable ID.
Complete info on where and how you can vote is available on the Elections Canada website.