Election 2021 news brief: September 1, 2021

The first debate of election 2021 is set for September 8th — and there’s no shortage of topics to discuss. The final debate topics will be revealed three days before the event, but COVID-19 is sure to take centre stage. The pandemic has spurred discussions about strengthening the healthcare system and boosting childcare to help keep parents in the workforce. It’s also led some party leaders to draw up national mental health plans.

Some of these topics would certainly matter to impact-minded people like yourself — but it’s unlikely that issues directly related to social impact work will ever be mentioned on the campaign trail, let alone during a debate. (As Future of Good publisher Vinod Rajasekaran pointed out on his column, “Since televised leaders’ debates began in the 60s, this country has gone through entire campaigns without even mentioning the sector.”)

So we asked various impact leaders — working in sectors from social services to philanthropy to global development — what’s one question you’d ask all the party leaders to debate? Here’s what they said.

Federal Election 2021: The Latest Updates

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

• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, a non-profit organization representing 65,000 Inuit in Canada, has released a list of 2021 election priorities. It calls for various plans to reduce poverty and food security, implement suicide prevention measures and address the high costs of living for many Inuit families.
• Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole says he would work with the provinces to invest in mental health supports so that an extra one million Canadians could be treated each year. The pledge is part of a larger commitment of $60 billion more in health transfers over the next decade. 
• NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says he will lower cellphone and internet bills if elected. To do so, he says he will work closely with the CRTC to make large telecommunications companies cap fees below the global average.
• Some First Nations people believe the Cancel Canada Day movement could boost Indigenous turnout on election day. The movement to highlight colonialism in Canada’s government could draw Indigenous peoples to the polls after recent revelations about the country’s residential school system. 
• CIC News breaks down the proposed policies of Canada’s four largest parties on immigration. All candidates are rooting for immigration, but each have different approaches for improving the system.
• The Liberals are expected to release their full platform today. The move comes as the Conservatives appear to be catching up with Trudeau’s party in the polls.
• NDP leader Jagmeet Singh says that the federal government is making money off interest on student loans, but a fact-check by CBC News suggests otherwise.
• Experts surveyed by Toronto Star say none of the three major federal have adequate plans for improving Canada’s broken employment insurance program.
• NDP leader Jagmeet Singh spoke to Xtra about the issues that matter to the LGBTQ+ community and why representation is so crucial in politics.
• Xtra breaks down where the largest federal parties stand on queer issues, including conversion therapy, poppers and trans health care.
• Drew Hayden Taylor talks about how the election has stalled important conversations that were taking shape on reconciliation in Canada. 
• The oil and gas industry has released their wishlist for Canada’s federal election. Industry representatives say it shows a clear desire to transition to a lower-carbon economy, but environmentalists say it’s just a business-as-usual approach.
• A new poll suggests one fifth of Canadians say the crisis in Afghanistan will influence their vote in the federal election. It also indicates the majority of Canadians believe the 20-year-long mission in Afghanistan was unsuccessful.
• In The Globe and Mail, Nick Saul writes about why emergency food lineups should be history following the pandemic.

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