United Way Centraide 2019 Federal Election Tool Kit
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United Way Centraide
2019 Federal Election Tool Kit
Introduction
One of the three key priorities identified through the Future State process is a vision for the future of
United Way Centraide (UWC) to be an impact leader in Canada, built on the foundation of our social
expertise. A key component of this priority is for UWC to influence—and to be seen as influencing—
public policy on major Canadian social issues.
As part of our efforts to be a leading voice, United Way Centraide Canada (UWCC) has developed a
suite of tools and resources to support UWCs that choose to engage on public policy issues at the local
level in the lead-up to the October 21 federal election.
This toolkit provides:
• positioning of UWC as social experts
• strategic considerations when deciding to advocate
• clarity on the Canada Revenue Agency rules about political advocacy by charities;
• quick Tips on remaining nonpartisan
• guidelines for UWC staff and board members supporting candidates or running for office
• common key messages on our network’s federal public policy priorities;
• ways to talk about UWC
• questions for candidates at events and at the doorstep
• practical information for voters
Very soon, we will be sharing:
• template letters to facilitate outreach to all candidates in your ridings
• a sample op ed that can be personalized for your local paper
• social media shareables
UWC as social expert
UWC is Canada’s national network of local social experts. We are a bridge between local realities and
lived experience and governments at all levels. We have deep local knowledge, relationships and
presence. We are part of Canada’s social contract that strives to create equality of opportunity and
makes our communities work—empowering and mobilizing Canadians, organized labour and corporate
partners to contribute their time, resources and influence to build strong, inclusive communities. We
provide nonpartisan leadership. We have grown over our 100 years, and been at the forefront of social
change, social innovation and community building.
We are well positioned to make a significant contribution to public policy dialogue and outcomes.
Raising our voices, locally and nationally, will help bring poverty and social exclusion into focus during
the 2019 federal election campaign.
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Strategic considerations about advocacy
Why advocate?
More and more charities are engaging in public policy dialogue. If we don’t, we forgo the opportunity to
demonstrate our expertise and leadership on putting #UNIGNORABLE issues onto the radar of all
parties. Our track record, commitment and expertise make our nonpartisan perspectives on public
policy even more powerful in raising the bar for support for communities.
Engaging in advocacy may be new to your UWC or you may be active already. If you are new to
conducting advocacy, take some time to weigh the pros and cons given your unique local context and
donor environment.
If you have any questions or need advice, please contact Anita Khanna, UWCC’s National Director,
Public Policy and Government Relations via akhanna@unitedway.ca
Rules for nonpartisan public policy engagement
As charities, UWCs must follow the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) rules regarding public policy
dialogue and development activities, known as PPDDA and formerly as ‘political activities’.
There is no longer any time or budgetary limits on charities’ advocacy activities. However, while the
time limit has been lifted, we must continue to ensure the public policy issues clearly relate to our
charitable purpose and that our efforts are strictly nonpartisan.
According to CRA:
“The Income Tax Act permits a charity to fully engage without limitation in PPDDAs that
further its stated charitable purpose, provided they never directly or indirectly support or
oppose a political party or candidate for public office. In other words, under the Income Tax
Act, a charity is free to advocate for any change to a law, policy, or decision of government
that would further its stated charitable purpose.”i
New rules on third-party advertising
There are new Elections Canada rules related to election advertising by third parties. These rules apply
only to paid advertising of $500 or more when you are taking a position on an issue associated with one
or more of the parties. This includes spending on Facebook and other social media ads.
According to Imagine Canada, fundraising to generate donations for your regular donor appeal can
proceed during elections, as can general messaging such as ‘think about the arts when you vote’.
Given these are new rules, many questions remain about what enforcement will look like. For this
reason, UWCC recommends avoiding payment for election advertising and avoiding registration as a
third party. The tools and activities offered below do not constitute third party advertising so you will not
need to register if you utilize them as outlined/intended.
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Quick tips on remaining non-partisan
Ensure you talk
about the merit or
effectiveness of
policies proposed by
parties, not about the
merit of the parties.
Do not recommend
or endorse a party
while representing
UWC.
Ensure any letters,
social media or other
correspondence
addresses the
candidates of all
parties in your riding
or region.
If you are involved in a local all-candidates’ debate, ensure all candidates are invited. If you have many
candidates, you can limit the number of participants but you need to have clear rationale that is applied
consistently. Learn more here.
If a candidate contacts you to speak at your event and you are inclined to accept, you must invite the
other local candidates as well. If any cannot attend, you should publicly mention that all candidates
were invited to speak before introducing the candidate(s) who will be speaking.
Remember:
Charities can
communicate
about policy
issues.
Charities
also can
inform the
public of the
policy
positions of
political
parties and
candidates.
* Graphics on this page are from What are the rules, anyway? A guide for nonprofits to engage and advocate in
elections from Imagine Canada and the Ontario Nonprofit Network.
3/7Guidelines for UWC staff and board members involved in elections
According to CRA:
The Income Tax Act prohibits a charity from directly or indirectly supporting or opposing a
political party or candidate, but this requirement does not apply to representatives of a charity, in
their own personal, private capacity as individuals. That is, a representative of a charity, such as
a director, is not prohibited by the Income Tax Act from being involved with an election, political
campaign, or any other political process in their own personal, private capacity as individuals,
whether during an election period or not.
However, a charity must not use its resources, such as office space, supplies, phone,
photocopier, computer, or publications, and human resources such as employees or volunteers,
to support that individual’s personal political involvement.
UWCC also has specific guidelines on this for UWC employees and board members—see the 2018
Issue Note “Direction to Members on Federal, Provincial and Municipal Elections regarding Political
Neutrality” here. Please review and share with staff and board members to ensure UWC remains
nonpartisan throughout the election period.
Key messages
These key messages offer facts on what’s needed to build strong communities that keep the door open
to collaborations and partnership with all federal parties, no matter which comes into office this fall.
How UWCC is talking at the national level
UWCC’s federal election strategy is focused on the eradication of poverty. We are urging all parties to
adopt a more ambitious orientation on poverty in their election platforms.
• We welcome Canada’s recent progress toward reducing poverty and recognize the federal
Poverty Reduction Strategy as a Canadian social policy milestone upon which we can all build.
• Given our progress so far, we call on all parties to make the eradication of poverty in Canada a
policy priority.
• Tackling poverty is about building hope – a belief in the potential of all Canadians.
• The billions of dollars spent today on treating the effects of poverty are better spent lifting
people out and preventing it tomorrow.
• UWC is unequivocally committed to working with all federal parties in the next mandate to
ensure everyone in every community has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
• We are second only to government when it comes to funding vital community supports.
• We need a federal partner ready to roll up their sleeves and dig in to the roots of poverty
through investments that accelerate progress on poverty reduction and affordable housing
strategies.
4/7Examples of commitments all parties can make
Strong federal policy is foundational to every Canadian reaching their full potential. We believe that all
parties have a responsibility to build anti-poverty commitments—progress towards eradication—into
their platforms. UWC’s policy priorities provide a roadmap to guide the way to building stronger
communities. They include:
• vital investments in affordable housing and childcare, health and community services, training
for stable jobs, and strong, modern income security programs to make poverty a distant
memory;
• investing in the Poverty Reduction Strategy to put Canada on the path towards poverty
eradication.
• demonstrating strong federal leadership on affordable housing and ending homelessness,
including through the rollout of the portable housing benefit, upholding the right to housing, and
ending homelessness in Canada by 2030, in accordance with the United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goals;
• upholding clear and firm commitments to reconciliation with First Nations, Metis and Inuit
peoples by advancing the Calls for Action from Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the
Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and
Girls;
• recognizing that diversity, inclusion and opportunity for all are Canada’s strengths and that we
all benefit from the many contributions immigrants and refugees bring to our communities and
our country;
• creating pathways to good, stable employment, including through accessible employment and
training supports and through community benefit agreements, which can leverage infrastructure
investments to provide employment, training and apprenticeship opportunities for local
residents;
• supporting easy access to information and referrals across the country by funding national 211
services so all Canadians can find help when they need it—federal investment to expand
beyond the two-thirds of the country currently served would mean millions more people would
benefit; and
• partnering with the charitable sector to enable positive community change across the country,
including through the recommendations in the recent Senate report outlining a Roadmap to
Stronger Charitable Sector.
Ways to talk about UWC
Through the Future State process, UWCs came together to develop a shared strategy narrative. We
now have a vision and a common mission statement across English and French Canada. We now have
common language to tell our story in a different way. The orientation is squarely on the community and
the individual, empowering people to have a direct impact where they live through UWC. It provides
clarity on who we are and what we stand for, whom we serve, and why people should give to us. Here
are some ways you can use the strategy narrative to tell the UWC story to party candidates.
United Way Centraide is:
• the national network of local experts through which community issues get solved.
• a movement of people who want to ensure that everyone in every community has the
opportunity to reach their full potential.
• Canada’s local community builder, serving more than 5,000 communities across Canada.
• working to alleviate the conditions of the most vulnerable today and build stronger, more
prosperous communities for all.
5/7By working together with community partners (governments, organized labour, progressive agencies,
caring Canadians), United Way Centraide:
• builds on our deep local community knowledge, relationships and presence to empower people
to make lasting social change.
• makes important social issues like poverty and exclusion in our communities #UNIGNORABLE.
• provides inspiring opportunities for people to get involved in and support issues and
communities they care about through giving, volunteering and advocacy.
• helps Canadians show their local love by connecting their desire to make a difference with real
impact on local lives.
• annually engages more than a million individual donors, businesses and labour partners,
volunteers and staff to help raise over half a billion dollars to support vital social programs and
services.
Outreach to all candidates
Questions for candidates at events or at the doorstep
These questions can be personalized to your local context and priorities. We recommend asking open
ended questions to learn the candidate’s position and to then follow up with your expectations.
Question 1: Eliminating poverty and homelessness in our community is my top priority – what is your
party’s plan to address these two issues?
Your follow up: Thank you for sharing your ideas. Given Canada’s wealth and progress to date on
poverty, I believe we should strive to end poverty and homelessness by 2030. Investing in a strong
Poverty Reduction Strategy and homelessness prevention strategy is good for our economy, our
communities and all of us.
Question 2: Finding affordable, quality housing is a big challenge for people in our community. What is
your plan to maintain and expand affordable housing options?
Your follow up: Thanks for letting me know. Federal leadership on housing is essential to building
strong communities and should be a priority for all parties. Discussions of housing prices and low
vacancy rates and people going hungry because they spend most of their money on rent are all over
the news – housing is a burning issue in this country.
Question 3: I believe the federal government should demonstrate clear leadership and respect in
pursuing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. What will your party do to address the social and
economic inequities Indigenous communities face?
Your follow up: Thanks for your answer. The findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and
the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls were jarring but had clear calls to
action for all of us. I am looking to the federal government to take meaningful action on those
recommendations.
Question 4: I work, volunteer and support nonprofits and charities as a donor. The sector is part of all of
our lives and it is there for Canadians when we need it most. What will your government do to support
the charitable and nonprofit sector?
Your follow up: I am happy you share my commitment to charities. The Senate Special Committee on
the Charitable Sector released a report after extensive consultation on how to create a stronger sector.
The recommendations are very balanced and I would like to see the next government act on them.
6/7Practical information
Election day is October 21, 2019. The date, hours and address of your election day poll will be
available through Elections Canada’s website, on your voter information card or by calling Elections
Canada.
Ensure you are registered to vote through a quick search on Elections Canada’s website
To vote, you’ll need
• ID or a piece of official mail that proves your name and address
• the voter registration card you received in the mail.
Need to vote early? Advance polls will be open from 9am to 9 pm on:
• Friday, October 11
• Saturday, October 12
• Sunday, October 13
• Monday, October 14
Want to know who’s running in your riding?
Enter your postal code here and click on “Who are the candidates in my electoral district?” The final
and complete list will be posted as of October 2, 2019 as candidates can register until September 30th.
Contact
Anita Khanna
National Director, Public Policy and Government Relations
United Way Centraide Canada
akhanna@unitedway.ca
1-800-267-8221 x2268
i
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/charities-giving/charities/policies-guidance/public-policy-
dialogue-development-activities.html#toc0
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