Election 2021 news brief: August 25, 2021

Future of Good members get an in-depth Election 2021 news brief sent right to your inbox 3x a week, giving you the high-level info you need to stay current. Our special coverage equips you with actionable insights to help you and your team understand and prepare for what a new federal government could hold. If you like our content, please consider becoming a member. See a snippet of the brief below.

We’re just over a week into the 2021 federal election, but social policy seems to be leading the talking points of all major parties. At campaign stops across Canada, party leaders are facing questions about the lack of affordable childcare and gaps in the social safety net. These policies are sure to affect how social impact organizations serve their communities. So we dove into the policies of the Conservatives and NDP, as well the past positions of the Liberals, Greens, and Bloc Québécois to see where each party stands. Read our ongoing explainer here. 

Meanwhile, the non-profit, charitable, philanthropic, social enterprise, and social finance sectors are rarely a major focus in federal election campaigns and 2021 is no exception. With the exception of the WE Charity scandal, it is possible the entire 36-day campaign will go by without a mention of the sector on the campaign trail. But — the incumbent Liberals, NDP, Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois, and Green Party all do have a place for the social impact world in their election plans. We’re breaking down all the promises the parties are making to the sector. Read all about them here.

Federal Election 2021: The Latest Updates

We’re sharing the latest links to policy promises and campaign developments twice a week.

• Imagine Canada has released the latest rules of engagement for charities and non-profits during the federal election.
• In Monitor Magazine, S. Ashleigh Weeden discusses how Canada’s political parties can upgrade their policy approaches to tackling the digital divide.
• David Suzuki and Margaret Atwood are among the high-profile Canadians calling for an emergency debate on climate change during the election. 
• The collapse of the Afghan government could play a more significant role in the outcome of the Canadian election by allowing Trudeau’s opponents to attack his international relations record, Robin V. Sears writes in Toronto Star. 
• NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says his government would end subsidies for oil and gas companies if elected. He says he would replace them with direct funding for renewable energy projects.
• Paul Wells considers the possibility of a Conservative minority government in Maclean’s.
• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has proposed billions of dollars to help Canadians buy a home amid a pandemic-fuelled housing boom.
• Post-secondary students are asking Elections Canada to help get out the student vote after it cancelled the Vote on Campus program for the election. The program allowed for students to vote directly on campus.
• Every political party says it can make life more affordable for Canadians. Here’s how each party plans to handle the high cost of housing and childcare in Canada.
• The Liberals have pledged $9 billion to address shortfalls in long-term care. Trudeau said he would also raise the minimum wage for personal support workers to $25 per hour — although this would require cooperation from the provinces and territories. 
• Facebook Canada has released its plan to “protect and safeguard the integrity of elections” with new measures to curb misinformation. That includes removing “posts that violate community standards” and upping security for candidate accounts.
• The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) has created a toolkit to support member organizations in talking about global health and gender equity during the election.
• The scale of the evolving climate crisis will require ambitious leadership and policy. Here’s a guide for what to look for in a party if you’re voting for the environment.
• How do the four largest federal parties compare on climate policy? National Observer breaks down where they stand on carbon pricing, nuclear energy and more.

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