The Poverty Task Force encourages its members and the broader community to question their local candidates on current issues. With a deepening food insecurity and housing crisis happening we are looking for bold action from every political party leading up to the federal election on April 28th.
- Assembly of First Nations: is working with Elections Canada to support First Nations electors to vote by providing information on the federal election process and addressing barriers to participation. 2025 Federal Election – Assembly of First NationsAnd they call for a commitment to First Nations Priorities.National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak Calls on Federal Parties to Commit to First Nations Priorities as Election Begins – Assembly of First Nations
- Canadian Public Health Association: calls on the next federal government to invest in strategies and programs that support strong healthy people in Canada regardless of their economic and social status. CPHA has created a series of factsheets based on the social determinants of health and they have analyzed how the federal political parties stack up in their understanding of public health and investing in disease prevention, health protection and health promotion. Election 2025 | Canadian Public Health Association
- National Right to Housing Network (NHRN): is urging candidates from all parties to recognize that the housing and homelessness crisis and the climate emergency are deeply interconnected, and that approaching both as “stark violations” of human rights will be critical to solving them. Housing, Homelessness Intertwine with Climate, Housing Rights Network Says
- Housing and Homelessness: The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, the Canadian Real Estate Association, Habitat for Humanity and the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association have come together to release a new policy platform that outlines how their next government can both respond to the immediate housing crisis and build resiliency for the future. That plan is called ‘Housing Canada: A Sovereign Plan to Protect Canadians and Build a Resilient Housing System.’
- Community Food Centre Canada: has launched a No More Scraps campaignnomorescraps.ca. Their website includes a campaign kit with lots of ideas and tools to help engage with community and candidates in discussions around food insecurity and poverty; a video to use in discussions, a digital letter organizations can send to candidates in your riding, along with statistics on poverty and food insecurity for every federal riding. Organizations may endorse their open letter to party leaders demanding action on food insecurity and help us get it out through your networks. Organizations can sign-on up to April 9th at 5pm (ET).
- Food Secure Canada: has launched its Eat Think Vote campaign that puts food issues on the table during the federal election via community-hosted events with candidates. This non-partisan campaign brings community members and federal candidates together to discuss Canada’s most pressing food issues. Local organizations or individuals are invited to host events in their electoral districts, inviting all candidates and community members to participate in direct dialogue. https://www.eatthinkvote.ca
- Oral Health: The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a significant new oral health care program that makes dental care more affordable for low and middle-income Canadians who do not have private insurance. When fully implemented in 2025 the program is expected to improve oral health for an estimated 9 million Canadians. Canadian Dental Care Plan – Canada.ca. Voice your support for the Canadian Dental Care Plan to your federal candidate. OOHA – OAPHD
- Facts and All Candidate Debates
- Election Day is Monday, April 28th 2025
- Elections Canada offices are open across the country. You can vote early at any of them by Tuesday, April 22, 6 p.m. Find the Elections Canada office nearest you.
- Advance polling stations are open April 18-21 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Check your voter information card or use the Voter Information Service to find your polling station.
- Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound All Candidates Debate hosted by Grey County Federation of Agriculture on April 17th, 7pm – 9:30pm at Keady Community Centre.
- Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound All Candidates Debate will be held on 560 CFOS and streamed online April 16th from 9am-11am.
- Huron-Bruce All Candidates Debate hosted by Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce on April 10th, 7pm – 9pm, The Plex, Port Elgin.
What’s on BGDISC.ca that supports our Federal Platform discussion:
- Welfare in Canada Report: statistics on the number of people on social assistance in Ontario Ontario – Maytree
- Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Canada: Campaign 2000 breaks down data per province Ending Child Poverty: The Time Is Now
- AMO Municipalities Under Pressure Report: the cost of homelessness in Ontariobgdisc.ca/post/municipalities-under-pressure-the-human-and-financial-cost-of-ontario-s-homelessness-crisis
- Grey County perspective to AMO Report: Grey County is experiencing similar trends to other rural communities across the province. Locally, in 2024, Grey County identified 375 individuals experiencing homelessness. Of these individuals, 65 identify as Indigenous, 80 are children 15 and under, and 45 are youth ages 16-24. Adults account for 252 of the individuals and seniors (65+) 8. 253 of individuals are experiencing chronic homelessness. Grey County also provides subsidized housing and maintains a housing waitlist. The waitlist has grown from 1,517 in 2022 to 2,230 in 2024. Providing a Grey County perspective to the AMO Municipalities Under Pressure Report | Grey County
- Knowing our Numbers Report: A December 2023 Statistics Canada survey found that while childcare is getting more affordable for parents, accessing it is more challenging. More than 60% of parents wanting childcare report difficulties finding it, up from 53% in 2019. As a result, roughly one in three respondents say they had to change their work or study schedules, take on fewer working hours, or delay their return to work. More than 60% of parents wanting child care report difficulties finding it, up from 53% in 2019. bgdisc.ca/post/counties-of-bruce-and-grey-knowing-our-numbers-report
Please let us know what you are doing in your community!