Secretary-Treasurer’s Message Kelly Tosato
The impact of politics & getting involved Politics – whether we like it or not – affect most aspects of our day-to-day life. It’s easy to forget that, but it’s an important fact. Too often we realize its impact only when something bad happens to us or our loved ones. The reason we forget is because politics are messy and overwhelming. And, too often, it feels as though the decisions are out of our hands. I know it can be discouraging. When we feel like that though, it’s all the more reason to take a step toward getting involved. Getting involved means speaking up when your municipality wants to allow shopping on Statutory Holidays, or when your school board puts forth a bad budget. It means taking a stand when the provincial government freezes minimum wage. There are many ways to get involved in making positive change. • Find out who your local, provincial and federal representatives are and where they stand on issues that are important to you. Try picking one issue that affects you the most and focus on that. • Attend events or rallies and speak to people about why they’re fighting for a particular cause. • Attend city council or town hall meetings. Get to know the people 4
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in your community who are acting on your behalf. This applies to school boards too. • Volunteer to help on political campaigns, register voters, or work at a polling location. • Help out with your Parent-Teacher association, a sports team, the local food bank or shelter. You’ll meet members of your community and learn first hand about the issues that affect them the most. • Read and watch the news critically, and speak to your family, friends, neighbours, and co-workers with an open mind. • Write letters to the editor of local or larger circulation papers and even online sources. • Take courses that help you get politically involved or prepare you to run for office. Many of these courses aim to help women enter politics specifically. Labour councils can provide resources too. UFCW Canada has an online course free to Members called Politics Matter, Women Matter that you might find helpful. Visit ufcw.ca for more information on this and other courses. I was happy to see many women taking part and running for office in this election. It’s important that women are a real part of the debate when it comes to every issue. In fact, 56% of the NDP’s candidates were women and half of the 40 seats won by the NDP this time around
will be filled by female candidates.
This election saw women win 49 seats out of 124 ridings. That’s 39.5%, or 4.5% more than the previous election and it’s a definite step in the right direction. Having more voices from all walks of life participating in our democracy will help shape a future for our country that better reflects us all. I encourage everyone to be involved in their communities on some level. In fact, municipal elections will take place on October 22, 2018 and it would be a great time to take that first step. Not only is it important to stay informed and active about local politics, but it can be a great stepping stone to provincial or federal office if you decide that being involved in politics is what you are passionate about. No matter how you choose to get involved, the important thing is that you show up, speak your mind, and stand your ground. In Solidarity, Kelly Tosato treasurer@ufcw175.com
