2018 MUNICIPAL ELECTION TOOLKIT

British Columbia & Yukon DivisionBritish Columbia & Yukon Division

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2018 MUNICIPAL ELECTION TOOLKIT

C O N T E N T S

3 Why advocacy matters this municipal elections

4 What is the objective of the toolkit?

5 What do municipal governments do?

6 Who are my local candidates?

7 Sample local issues related to MS —

where does your candidate stand?

8 MS Society provincial priority Issues

9 How to take action

10 Tweeting to your candidate

11 How to Talk to Your Candidate

12 Further information and resources

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Welcome to 2018's Municipal Election Toolkit! Canada has one

of the highest rates of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS)

in the world. Close to 12,000 British Columbians currently

live with MS. The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, BC

& Yukon Division is committed to ensuring that the needs of

people with MS in this province are recognized and addressed by

government, at all levels.

The municipal elections in October 2018 present an

opportunity to be heard on the issues that affect you and the

MS community within your municipality from accessibility and

transit issues, to social services. The election also provides an

opportunity to create new allies out of your local government,

who can advocate on issues surrounding MS at the provincial

and federal levels.

During this election, take the opportunity to be heard on your

concerns, and to make our collective voice continue having an

impact!

W H Y A D V O C A C Y M AT T E R S

T H I S M U N I C I PA L E L E C T I O N S

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This toolkit contains information to help you make the most

of the time that you get with your local candidates. During

Municipal Elections, you may have the opportunity to meet

your candidate when they approach you through door-to-door

campaigning, phone-calls, or through all-candidate meetings.

When this happens it is important to be prepared with as much

useful information as possible in order to get your issue across to

your candidate. In the following pages, this toolkit aims to equip

you with information regarding Municipal Government’s role,

local issues related to MS, the MS Society’s policy priorities, and

steps to take action.

W H AT I S T H E O B J E C T I V E

O F T H E T O O L K I T ?

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In order to be effective at delivering your message to

local officials, it is important to understand what their

responsibilities are – what do they do? Without this

understanding, it can be easy for officials to ‘pass the buck’

when it comes to tackling an issue, particularly when the

issue in concern falls under a higher jurisdiction (at the

provincial or federal levels).

There are currently 162 municipalities in British Columbia.

Municipal governments are responsible for making

decisions and delivering services at the local level, and

they help to plan and shape their communities. More

specifically, the province grants authority to municipal

governments to enact its policy through the creation of

by-laws. Likewise, municipalities collaborate with regional

and provincial governments in order to identify local

priority issues. Municipal Councils, comprised of Mayors

and councilors, serve four-year terms.

W H AT D O M U N I C I PA L

G O V E R N M E N T S D O ?

Local elections provide

an opportunity for the BC

public to directly influence

their local government

and their community. The

official campaign period

for BC municipal elections

officially starts September

22, 2018 and lasts until

election day, which will take

place October 20, 2018.

On election day, voters will

be able to elect their next

mayor, city councilors, and

other city officials.

M U N I C I PA L R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S

Public transit Community accessibility Waste/water Parking

Social Services Emergency services Zoning

Mayor Councilors Aldermen Municipal employees

K E Y P E O P L E

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You can typically find more information about your local candidates

through your municipality’s website (as well as information about

local debates and all-candidate meetings). CivicInfo BC provides

a comprehensive list of municipality websites and contact

information. (See ‘Further Information and Resources’ section for full

links). Global BC/CKNW have also created a comprehensive guide to

the municipal elections, featuring updated candidate lists as well as

municipality and current issue backgrounders.

W H O A R E M Y L O C A L C A N D I D AT E S ?

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Each community’s ability to meet the needs of those living with

MS can vary considerably. Nonetheless, some common local

issues emerge. Below are a few sample questions for your local

candidate in order to engage them about how they can make your

community better for those living with MS!

S A M P L E L O C A L I S S U E S R E L AT E D T O M S :

W H E R E D O E S YO U R C A N D I D AT E S TA N D ?

• What will you do to help increase accessibility in our community? What will you do to help make sidewalks and other public spaces easy to navigate (particularly during winter)?

• How will you engage with major businesses in the community to make sure their spaces are accessible, and ensure they are able to provide services to those with disabilities?

• How would you ensure people with disabilities have a voice in our community? Would you support the formation of an accessibility committee?

• Would you support local transit services such as handyDART, and how?

• How will you work with the disability community to ensure that their needs and concerns are being addressed as proposals for a ban on the use of plastic straws are put forward?

• Do you have a strategy to prepare for the legalization of

marijuana?

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Municipalities coordinate with provinces on local policy, and can be

a valuable entry point for citizens to engage on much broader issues.

Mayors, Councilors, and other local officials can be valuable allies when

pursuing policy changes at the provincial level. Accessibility and poverty

reduction are high priorities for the BC provincial government in 2018,

which makes it even more important to understand how your local

candidate will implement these strategies in your community. The MS

Society has four provincial policy priorities:

M S S O C I E T Y P R O V I N C I A L

P R I O R I T Y I S S U E S

Take immediate action to raise the rate of the Persons with Disbaility (PWD) payment to $1,200 and index the payment to inflation.

Provide timely access to all Health Canada-approved MS therapies for all British Columbians affected by MS.

Invest in comprehesive home and community care by providing greater access to supports that ensure people with MS live with dignity and independence.

Improved Home and Community Care Income Employment Disability Benefits

Access to Approved MS Therapies Support for BC Disability Legislation

Join other provinces in taking a leading role in accesbility and including by enacting a provincial Disability Act sets standards that are enforcable, removing the onus from individuals to challenges these inequalities.

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Here are a few helpful steps to help prepare you for advocating the

issues effectively with your local candidates:

H O W T O TA K E A C T I O N

After identifying a key issue, it is important to begin collecting

information on that issue. Not every candidate is an expert on every

policy, meaning you must educate them. Where possible, support your

concerns with facts and statistics, knowledge of public commentary

on the issue, knowledge about possible opposition commentary, and

personalized anecdotes to add a human element to the issue.

Collect Information

In the leadup to elections, municipalities may hold local debates or

all-candidates meetings, which serve as opportunities for the public

to meet their candidates. Candidates will also likely reach out to you,

through their door-to-door campaigning or campaign phone-calls. In

either scenario, it’s important to be prepared with a quick elevator pitch

which both introduces your concerns on specific issues and which

helps you understand your candidate’s position on those issues.

Engage

The first step to effectively engaging with

your candidate is to identify a specific key

issue. it is important to avoid generalities

and to be as specific as possible, thereby

making it more apparent for your

candidate to understand what it is exactly

you want to change, and also making

it easier for them to propose specific

solutions.

Identify the Key Issue

G E N E R A L P R O B L E M

K E Y I S S U E

My town is not very accessible

The sidewalks downtown are too high and narrow to accommodate people with wheelchairs and walkers

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If you use Twitter, you can also send a tweet to the candidates in your

municipality. Use the hashtag #LifeWithMS and tag us @mssocietybc

You can link to our campaign priorities at our website

T W E E T I N G T O YO U R C A N D I D AT E

Sample Tweets

People with MS face barriers in our communities everyday. Tell your

local candidates about the need for Accessibility legislation in BC this

election! #bcpoli #bclocalelections #LifeWithMS

https://bit.ly/2nXajot

How will (@YourCandidatesTwitterHandle) make poverty reduction

a reality in our community for people living with disabilities?

#LifeWithMS https://bit.ly/2nXajot

How will your (@YourCandidatesTwitterHandle) represent people

living with disabilities like multiple sclerosis and ensure our voices are

heard in our community? #LifeWithMS #bcpoli

Support action for people with multiple sclerosis & write to your local

candidates this #bclocalelecitions in 2018 #LifeWithMS

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Before you speak to a local candidate, spend some time thinking

about your issue and how you can promote your message as clearly

and concisely as possible. In about 30 seconds, you want to:

• Introduce yourself (and those you represent)

• State your concern

• Ask about your candidate’s position on the issue and discuss

possible solutions

H O W T O TA L K T O YO U R C A N D I D AT E

“Hello [Candidate’s Name], it’s a pleasure to meet you.

My name is John. One issue I am concerned about is our municipality’s

proposed ban on single-use plastic straws.

I have been a downtown resident for 25 years and am an active member

of the MS Society X chapter and the Accessible Community Coalition

(ACC). There are at least X people in this city affected by MS, many of

whom face accessibility barriers in our community everyday.

As someone who already faces accessibility issues, the proposed ban

on straws is a concern. Some people who live with MS have severe

mobility restrictions, and rely on plastic straws in order to eat out at local

restaurants or participate in community events. Proposed alternatives

to plastic straws (i.e metal, bamboo) may not be appropriate for some

people, and may even be harmful in other cases. Generally speaking,

a ban on straws would reduce accesbility across our community, and

threatens to further isolate already vulnerable people.

What is your stance on banning plastic-straws, and how will you work

with the disability community and local businesses in order to implement

a meaningful solution?

• run through a mock meeting with

your candidate

• find more information on issues

• share briefing documents

Contact us

Charles Aruliah

Specialist, Government Relations

103-4720 Kingsway,

Metrotower II, Burnaby, BC V5H 4N2

Phone: 604-602-3229 x 7229

charles.aruliah@mssociety.ca

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Support is always available from the

government relations team at the MS

Society. We can help you to:

Elections BC:

https://elections.bc.ca/political-participants/local-elections-campaign-

financing/2018-general-local-elections/

Government of British Columbia’s Guide to Municipal Government:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments

Government of British Columbia’s Guide to Local Elections:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/

governance-powers/general-local-elections

CivicInfo’s Municipal Website Listings:

https://www.civicinfo.bc.ca/municipalities

Global News/CKNW’s Listing of Local Candidates and Issues:

https://globalnews.ca/news/4289036/global-news-launches-b-c-municipal-

election-profiles-in-lead-up-to-october-election/

W H E R E T O F I N D M O R E

I N F O R M AT I O N A N D R E S O U R C E S

N E E D S U P P O R T F O R A D V O C A C Y W O R K ?