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
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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 ?