This week’s Take Action Tuesday is about the Canadian federal election and was written by Heather Slinn and Ashley Shaw

We’re almost there! The Canadian federal election will take place on Monday, October 21st. Most advanced polls closed yesterday (Monday, October 14th) at 9PM. Polls are predicting that both the Conservatives and the Liberals have about an equal chance of taking a minority government. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Green leader Elizabeth May, round out the 4 major parties in the Canadian federal election.

If you haven’t made a decision yet on who you may want to vote for, don’t worry! We’ve made a small comparison list that could help you on your way to making a decision. While there are many articles summarizing election promises by the 4 main parties, we’ve reviewed 5 of the most important topics relevant to the purpose of 500 women scientists. This is not an extensive or overly detailed list of platform points and commitments listed by any of the four major parties. For a more extensive comparison, take a look here or visit the links below. Note the Conservatives released their official party platform on Friday, October 11th and some articles that we cite are missing their information.

Climate Change and the Environment

For a critical review of these promises, read this article.

Conservative Party:

· Emphasizes the role of green technology in tackling climate change.

· Create Green Investment Standards to regulate the amount of greenhouse gas emissions companies are allowed to produce. If they exceed the limit, they will need to invest a certain amount of money in green technology research, which is dictated by the amount of excess emissions they produce.

· Reduce tax rate to 5% for companies doing research in green technology in Canada on the income that is generated by green technology in Canada.

· Initiate a Green Technology and Innovation Fund that will use 1 billion dollars to support green technology in Canada.

· Stop dumping sewage into waterways.

· Invest in wildfire technology to detect fires earlier – no value listed.

· Create a standardized recycling program to improve efficiency.

· Use recycled plastics for other purposes, such as chemicals and fuels.

· Reinstate the National Wetland Conservation Fund and the Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnership Program – no value listed.

· Among other promises, see the party’s official platform.

Green party:

· Emphasizes regulations, public spending and taxation on pollution to combat climate change.

· Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2005 emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

· Increase protection of marine habitat from 10% to 30% by 2030.

· Stop dumping sewage and industrial waste into waterways.

· Install high speed train transportation between Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec City and between Edmonton and Calgary.

· Provide funding to improve energy efficiency of homes and change the national building code by 2030, so that new buildings will have to be net-zero – no value listed.

· Re-establish the Canadian Environment Assessment Act.

· Support Indigenous initiatives in land stewardship by spending 100 million dollars, every year, for 4 years.

· Ban single-use plastics by 2022.

· Stop the exportation of solid waste to other countries.

· Among many other promises, see the party’s official platform.

NDP:

· Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep global temperatures from rising above 1.5oC by 2030.

· Declare a climate emergency.

· Make new buildings energy efficient while retrofitting pre-existing buildings.

· Make public transit more affordable while increasing investments within electric transit.

· Move towards zero-emissions vehicles.

· Cut out big oil and gas subsidies.

· Invest in carbon-free electricity by 2030.

· Progress towards 100% non-emitting electricity by 2050.

· Create Canadian climate bank that may increase clean energy investments.

· Ban single-use plastics.

· Protection of oceans and marine life.

· Revitalize forests.

· Guarantee health of lakes and rivers.

· Among many other promises, see the party’s platform

Liberals:

· Reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

· Ban single-use plastics by 2021.

· Incentivize purchases of electric cars i.e. $5000 on new vehicles under $45,000, as per the 2019 budget.

· Invest in sustainable infrastructure.

· Increase investments in green infrastructure by approximately $6 billion over the span of the next four years and approximately $20 billion over the next 10 years.

· Provide national leadership and collaborate with provinces and territories to fight climate change.

· Put a financial price on carbon.

· Reduce carbon pollution by partnering with leaders from provinces and territories to create real climate change solutions.

· Among many other promises, see the party’s platform.

Indigenous Peoples

For a critical review of the promises to Indigenous peoples see this article.

Conservative party:

· Remove water and boil advisories on reserves.

· Create a National Action Plan to address missing and murdered women and girls.

· Consult with Indigenous stake holders on projects.

· Modernize Indigenous governance.

· Review the Indian Act.

Green party:

· Remove water and boil advisories on reserves by implementing proper infrastructure.

· Increase food security in northern communities.

· Improve healthcare services for women and infants as well as facilitating traditional health practices.

· Enable affordable housing.

· Fulfil the suggestions made by the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

· Discontinue the Indian Act and work with Indigenous peoples to improve their self-governance.

· Allow for full accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

· Among many other promises, see the party’s official platform.

NDP:

· Co-develop a national action plan for reconciliation.

· Ensure equal status rights and self-determination for communities.

· Promise to honor Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited individuals.

· Respect for Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous sovereignty.

· Partner with Indigenous peoples as full and equal partners in the decision-making process towards tackling climate change issues.

· Create a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

· Address and recognize Métis and Inuit self-determination.

· Develop new fiscal relationship to increase Indigenous employment opportunities and economic development.

· Create Northern Infrastructure Fund.

· Among many other promises, see the party’s platform

Liberals:

· Launch an immediate national public inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

· Work towards a full partnership and consultation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

· Prioritize needs identified by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

· Respect Indigenous self-determination.

· Support Indigenous economies.

· Improve services available and used by Indigenous communities.

· Among many other promises, see the party’s platform.

Equality

Conservative party:

Note: The Conservative party is missing a formal section on improving equality in their platform.

· Platform states that they take equality seriously, but no plans are listed.

Green party:

· Create a plan and generate funding to eliminate violence against women and LGBTQI2+ – no value listed.

· Improve funding to fight against human trafficking – no value listed.

· Support the Shelter Enhancement Program by raising 40 million dollars over 4 years to increase accessibility.

· End laws and policies that discriminate based on sexuality.

· Generate funding to assist community programs that support the mental health of LGBTQI2+ youths – no value listed.

· Prohibit conversion therapy.

· Among other promises, see the party’s platform.

NDP:

· Commit to advancing gender equity.

· Support #balanceforbetter.

· Pro-gender equality.

· Progress towards stronger social programs that may help women thrive i.e. affordable housing, healthcare, pharmacare.

· More than half of candidates for the NDP are women.

· Support pro-choice.

· Commit to upholding and furthering LGBTQI2S+ rights i.e. addressing employment discrimination, banning conversion therapy, providing aid to LGBTQI2S+ refugees, and promising gender confirming healthcare.

· Tackle discrimination in gender based violence.

· Support more options for women to build careers in the trades, innovation, research, and STEM.

· Safe, accessible abortions and the availability of a range of prescription contraception and reproductive healthcare.

· Reforme the electoral system to address women’s political participation i.e. introducing new legislation to encourage political parties to have more women candidates run.

· More details listing the NDP’s various commitments to equality may be found in their platform.

Liberals:

· Commit to ensuring an equal number of men and women in Cabinet.

· Ensure that federal departments are conducting gender-based impact analyses.

· Create a new department for Women and Gender Equality.

· Establish new federal LGBTQI2S+ secretariat.

· Prioritize the use of gender-based analysis plus when developing federal policies.

· Commit to proactive pay equity legislation.

· Move forward with protections for gender identity and expressions.

· Progress with disability rights, and over the past 4 years, made the most significant advancement of disability rights in 30 years.

· Initiate a Feminist International Assistance Policy, giving access to a large range of sexual reproductive health services and encouraging women empowerment.

· Among many other promises, see the party’s platform.

Science Funding

Conservative party:

Note: The Conservative party is missing a formal section in their platform on science.

· Support research on the recovery of fisheries through the Department of Fisheries and Oceans – no value listed.

· In order to be eligible for government research funding, post-secondary institutions will be required to formally commit to free speech and academic freedom.

Green party:

· Raise funding for research on the recovery of fisheries and endangered species

· Increase science funding to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – no value listed.

· Re-establish Climate Change and Atmospheric Research funding to NSERC – no value listed.

· Maintain funding for the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory – no value listed.

· Uphold NSERC’s values on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and remove barriers to enable better participation from minorities and people with disabilities.

NDP:

· Unmuzzle Canadian scientists.

· Restore long-form census.

· Make government information more publicly available for the betterment of society.

· Commitment to evidence-based decisions founded on science and facts.

· Invest $105 million in post-secondary research.

· Among many other promises and potential financial investments, see the party’s platform.

Liberals:

· Invest $40 million every year for the creation of co-op job placements for students in STEM and business programs.

· Respect evidence-based policies.

· Appoint Chief Science Officer who will ensure government science is publicly available.

· Unmuzzle scientists.

· Commitment to evidence-based decisions founded on science and facts.

· Restoration of long-form census.

· More promises and potential financial investments may be found on the party’s platform.

Childcare

Conservative party:

· Employment insurance for maternal and parental care will become free of federal income tax.

· A 15-week employment insurance for adoption will be implemented and structured to follow maternal employment insurance.

· The Adoption Expense Tax Credit will be raised to $20,000.

· Initiate a Children’s Fitness Tax Credit which will allow families to claim $1,000 per child, every year, from physical activities and an additional $500 for children with disabilities.

· Among other promises, see the party’s official platform.

Green party:

· Implement universal childcare.

· Increase federal childcare funding to a minimum of 1% of the GDP per year and add 1 billion dollars every year until there is an acceptable early learning and childcare system.

· Remove GST on construction costs for childcare spaces.

NDP:

· Invest in affordable child care.

· Invest $1 billion dollars by 2020 and which will grow by annual increments.

· Work towards inclusive care with licensed provides that make a fair wage.

· Introduce legislation that may embrace Canadian’s commitment to high-quality, public care in law.

· Among many other promises, see the party’s platform.

Liberals:

· Create more accessible and affordable child care spaces.

· Move forward with more flexible parental leave.

· Commit to making new investments in before and after school programs for school-age children.

· Introduce Guaranteed Paid Family Leave, a plan that is working towards giving parents the ability to afford to spend the first year at home with their new child(ren).

· Among many other promises, see the party’s platform.

What you can do:

1. Read through the initial platforms and policies provided by each party:

· Liberal party platform

· NDP party platform

· Green party platform

· Conservative platform

2. Read other platform comparisons:

· https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/election-2019/federal-election-2019-platforms-guide-liberals-conservatives-ndp-green-platform-promises

· https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/federal/2019/party-platforms/

· https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/2019-federal-election-platform-tracker-where-the-major-parties-stand-so-far-1.1308714

3. Check out this vote compass provided by the CBC to determine which party your values align with: https://votecompass.cbc.ca/canada/