On April 28, 2025, Canada will hold a federal election at a watershed moment as we respond to economic attacks from our largest trading partner and tackle the ongoing crises of affordability, housing, climate, political polarization, and international conflicts.
While the campaign period unfolds, we have a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about the co-operative model with candidates and incumbents across the country, and to showcase the movement from the Pacific to the Atlantic and Arctic.
Use the tools, resources and tips below to make your co-operative or mutual voice heard in the lead up to the election:
1. Engage with Canadians
Whether through town halls, door-to-door visits, community events, or campaign meet-and-greets, this is a timely moment to highlight how your co-operative or mutual is making a difference in your community.
Why This Matters:
Sharing stories of local impact reinforces the role of co-operatives, credit unions, caisses, and mutuals in building resilient, inclusive communities. It cannot be emphasized enough how important it is on the campaign trail to make the words co-operative, credit union, caisse or mutual heard – the more they are heard, the more likely they are to resonate post-election.
How You Can Take Action:
Prepare a 2-minute story about your co-operative or mutuals’s impact—who you serve, what you do, and why it matters. Bring it up in conversations in your community during the campaign period. Write a short op-ed (see CMC’s op-ed below) or LTE (letter to the editor) and submit it to your local paper or post it on your social media channels using #CoopsVote and tag your local candidates.
2. Engage with Federal Candidates
This open letter written in collaboration with CMC member organizations puts together our collective voices in asking federal political leaders and candidates to recognize and support the co-operative model as a key driver of sustainable, inclusive growth.
Why This Matters:
Our model’s resilience and community-focus offer vital solutions in today’s most pressing economic and social challenges for the benefit of Canadians and Canada’s economic future.
How You Can Take Action:
Download the open letter and email it directly to your local candidates. Personalize your e-mail message with a short paragraph about your co-operative or mutual and why your local candidates’ support matters. Request a brief meeting or invite them to visit your organization to see the co-operative difference in action.
3. Engage with the Media
Help amplify how co-operatives and mutuals play a key role in driving local economies, creating good jobs, and fostering democratic participation.
Why This Matters:
Letters published in your local newspaper are closely read by candidates who use them to understand what issues constituents are thinking about. These letters also catch the attention of other journalists—if they notice public interest in co-operatives and mutuals, it can raise public awareness and encourage federal leaders to take notice.
How You Can Take Action:
Write an op-ed of 500-700 words and forward it to journalists, editors, or media outlets you’ve worked with or follow. In your message, highlight why the story is relevant to your province, city, and community. Pitch it to your local newspaper or community radio station with a short personal note about a local co-operative or mutual success story.
4. Influence Decision-Makers
Engaging directly with candidates, incumbents, and other decision-makers is one of the most effective ways to champion co-operatives and mutuals. Use our federal government advocacy guide to help you make the most of your meetings and discussions with candidates and incumbents in the lead-up to the election, and well as our other free advocacy resources.
Why This Matters:
Your voice—and your story—can help ensure co-operatives and mutuals are seen as a solution for a stronger, more inclusive Canada. Include data points like how co-ops contribute $52.8 billion towards the Canadian GDP and generate $10 billion in taxes for all levels of government (see CMC’s op-ed for more stats).
How You Can Take Action:
Schedule a meeting, attend a local campaign event, or connect virtually with the candidates in your riding. Use the Advocacy Guide to prepare 2-3 key messages about co-operatives and bring a story from your own organization that shows real-world impact in your community. Follow up after the meeting to keep the conversation going.
5. Meet with Candidates
During the campaign, candidates may reach out for site visits, photo opportunities, or to express interest in learning more about your organization. Be prepared for these requests. Discuss internally how your co-op or mutual wishes to respond, including any decisions around endorsing or hosting candidates.
Why This Matters:
Candidate visits to your co-operative or mutual can be valuable opportunities for visibility and a way to showcase its role in the local economy and community. This kind of visit helps personalize the economic impact, turning abstract statistics into real stories. It also gives you a chance to advocate for policies that support co-operatives and mutuals, and builds a connection that can influence how that candidate, if elected, represents co-operative and mutual interests in government.
How You Can Take Action:
Hold an internal discussion in advance to set your guidelines—decide who will respond to candidate requests, whether you will host visits, and how to ensure non-partisanship. Designate a contact person and prepare a short information sheet about your co-op’s impact to share during a visit. If you choose to host, consider inviting all major party candidates to demonstrate non-partisanship.
6. Share Noteworthy Interactions or Comments
When candidates speak positively or knowledgably about co-operatives and mutuals—whether it be during debates, in speeches, or in one-on-one conversations—those moments matter. Please notify CMC, your provincial association, and sectoral federation and include a clip, a quote, a photo, or a link. These mentions can be helpful for future advocacy and engagement efforts.
Questions or Support?
For more information or assistance, feel free to contact CMC’s Nancy Wanye, Manager, External Affairs at nwanye@canada.coop or Daniel Brunette, Senior Director, External Affairs at dbrunette@canada.coop.
Let’s make certain that the co-operative voice is heard during this important time!
CMC encourages you to actively participate in Canada’s democratic process and exercise your civic duty by casting your vote. Please note that Canada now was 343 electoral districts and that many boundaries and names have changed. You can visit the Elections Canada website for detailed information, including the Voter Information Service, to confirm when you head to the polls on April 28.