What does it mean to vote informed?

A picture of a beaver breaking through ice
A beaver (Castor canadensis) breaks through an icy Canadian pond.
Photo by Tony LePrieur

You’re being asked to vote in the coming weeks and months and many groups like The Fur-Bearers won’t tell you who to vote for – but we will encourage you to vote informed. With an Ontario election is taking place February 27, 2025, and a federal election expected to be called for this spring, we wanted to make sure you know the basics on voting informed.

What does it mean to vote informed?

The concept of voting informed means that an individual has taken time to research party platforms, engage with their local candidates, and has weighed what issues are most important to them and how their vote can impact those issues.

Party Platforms

In most Canadian federal, provincial or territorial elections there are several political parties vying for seats in the legislature. The overarching goals or priority issues of each party is represented in their Party Platform. Most political parties will have their platforms available on their respective websites well ahead of an election; simply search for the political party’s name and the jurisdiction to find it (Liberal Party of Ontario or Federal NDP, as examples). As the federal election has not yet been called, party platforms and candidates may not yet be available. Stay tuned as we’ll update this blog and others as more information is available.

There are two things to look out for that can be misleading in a political party platform:

  • Party Platforms do not automatically become legislation. It’s not uncommon historically for political parties to indicate they’ll take action on an issue in their party platform and drop it if and when elected. Check the party’s history on the issues and even look at how elected members voted in the past to help create an understanding of the authenticity of their promises.
  • Beware of Greenwashing. Greenwashing is when an organization markets themselves to the public and focused on the environment or being ecofriendly, even though their practices are not. Using buzz words like “environmentally friendly” or “eco conscience” can give the impression of action without ever being specific – and if it sounds too good to be true, it very well may be (one action to “fix” a major problem like climate change or the economy, are good examples).
Image of an ermine
An Ermine (Mustela erminea) pokes their head out from a den on a snowy day.
Photo by Jean Landry / Getty Images

Get to Know Your Candidates

You can find out who’s running in your riding for a federal election (once it’s called) with Elections Canada (click here) or your provincial/territorial election at their respective election websites (Ontarians can click here). Federal candidates may not yet be registered – stay tuned to get updates on the upcoming federal election. Many candidates will have websites or social media profiles you can browse, but reaching out directly to them is a great way to engage and ask specific questions. We encourage you to ask about:

  • Their commitment to protecting the environment, animals, and public health by ending fur farming in Canada (get the facts on fur farming at FurFarming.ca).
  • Their commitment to updating trapping regulations to protect wildlife, pets, and families.
  • Their commitment to solutions to protecting local and large-scale biodiversity and wildlife, mitigation of climate change and emission reductions, and other environmental issues like sustainable resource management or pollution reduction.
  • And how they’ll achieve these and other goals.

Not all candidates will respond – and that’s okay. If there are local Town Hall debates or meetings, we encourage you to take part and get to know the local candidates.

Beware the Spin

It can be difficult to find just the facts these days. Between aggressive online marketing campaigns, international misinformation campaigns, and the fact-check-less nature of social media, there is a lot of misleading information – and sometimes it’s more accessible than reliable news sources.  We encourage you to use local mainstream media sources and compare that information with party platforms and voting histories to paint a realistic picture of your candidates and choices. Just like in party platforms – if it sounds too good to be true, it very well may be false.

The Impact of Voting

Just one vote feels small some days – but in many cases, entire ridings (and ultimately elections) come down to a handful of votes. Governments are making it easier than ever to vote, too. Register online with Elections Canada to ensure you receive up-to-date information about election day and voting locations; remember that early voting is available to fit in your schedule.

The Fur-Bearers encourage you to participate in the electoral process and help make an impact for wildlife, the environment, and ultimately, all of us who call this place home. Make sure you sign up for our eNewsletter as we’ll be sharing more information about voting informed as the electoral process continues.

Help Make A Difference

Join The Fur-Bearers today and help us protect fur-bearing animals in the wild and confinement. To become a monthly donor (for as little as $10/month – the cost of two lattes) please click here and help us save lives today. Your donation is tax-deductible.

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