Let’s get poverty on the agenda! Election updates and resources.
The federal election is just over a week away and it comes amidst a trade war that is hurting low-income individuals and families the most.
In March, Campaign 2000 released a statement calling for the federal government to put people living in poverty at the centre of their response to the trade war. But federal parties have largely remained silent on the issue. National Director of Campaign 2000, Leila Sarangi, spoke to Global News yesterday about the lack of attention to people living in poverty during the 2025 federal election campaign.
Watch the segment on Global News.
Let’s get poverty on the agenda. We’ve compiled a list of open letters, campaigns, and election resources to support your advocacy.
Open Letters & Statements
Campaign 2000 has also signed on to the following open letters and statements:
- For a Canada as welcoming as we are: Canadian federal party leaders must uphold the rights of refugees and migrants during the 2025 federal election campaigns. Canadian Council for Refugees, Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and Amnesty International Canada: https://ccrweb.ca/en/open-letter-party-leaders
- Open Letter Urging Federal Action on Food Insecurity. Community Food Centres Canada: https://cfccanada.ca/CFCC/media/assets/Food-Security-Open-Letter-Lettre-ouverte-sur-l-insecurite-alimentaire.pdf
- Canadian Government Eliminates Minister for Women and Gender Equality Amid United Nations Women’s Rights Summit. Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/news/2025-03-14-canadian-government-eliminates-minister-women-and-gender-equality-amid-united-nations-womens-rights
- Joint Statement: Canada’s Children and Youth Deserve Dedicated Leadership and Protection of Their Rights. Children First Canada: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oWLxQVEFDcypg0BkTx7lu51DQLD96m3I/edit?tab=t.0
- Employment Insurance (EI) and Canada’s Response to New US Tariffs. Interprovincial EI Working Group. https://nupge.ca/2025/employment-insurance-ei-and-canadas-response-to-new-us-tariffs/
Campaigns
- Demand Better. A coalition of feminist organizations, including Campaign 2000, launched the Demand Better campaign to call for strong investments in public systems and policies to create an economy that benefits everyone. https://demandbettertoday.ca/
- Vote For Rights. Amnesty International Canada, Oxfam Canada, the National Right to Housing Network, among others, launched the Vote for Rights campaign to call on the next federal government to have justice, dignity, and equality as its foundational principles: https://amnesty.ca/vote-for-rights/
- Stand on Guard for Child Care. Child Care Now launched a campaign for the next federal government to extend and defend $10 a day child care: https://childcarenow.ca/stand-on-guard-for-child-care/
- No More Scraps. Community Food Centres Canada launched a campaign for the next federal government to address food insecurity and protect the right to food: https://www.foodsecuritynow.ca/
Resources
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Platform Crunch 3 (by David McDonald):https://www.policyalternatives.ca/news-research/platform-crunch-3-every-party-is-promising-tax-cuts-and-cash-transfers/
- Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition’s Questions for Candidates: https://yapc.ca/assets/documents/Actions_for_Affordability_-_Questions_for_Federal_Candidates_-_April_4%2C_2025.pdf (note: some questions are Yukon-specific, but can be adapted to any context).
- Citizens for Public Justice Election Bulletin 2025: https://cpj.ca/2025-federal-election/
- Oxfam Canada Federal Election Guide 2025: https://www.oxfam.ca/publication/oxfam-canadas-election-guide-2025/
- Amnesty International Canada Human Rights Platform for Election 2025: https://shorturl.at/D9Q78
- Imagine Canada Party Platform Monitor: https://shorturl.at/Cxqs8
- CBC Platform Monitor: https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/features/2025/federal-party-platforms/#federal-2025-border-security
Please share widely! For information on the election process and how to cast your ballot, visit the Elections Canada website.