Endorsements

Cooperate for Canada endorses candidates

Cooperate for Canada has been calling for cooperation amongst progressive parties and advocating for a fairer electoral system since 2021.  In 2023 with upcoming Provincial and Federal elections, we recognized that a change in the way Canada conducts elections will only occur if voters are successful in electing as many representatives as possible that support electoral reform.  We know the Conservatives at both the provincial and federal levels oppose a change from our first past the post (FPTP) system.

In two of the Provincial byelections happening on September 3rd, C4C is endorsing the Liberal candidate, Heino Doessing, in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek and the NDP candidate, Fatima Shaban, in Scarborough Southwest.  We have no endorsement for the riding of York-Simcoe. 

Rationale for Provincial byelection endorsements:

  • In the 2018 election, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek switched from an NDP riding to a Conservative one.  The most recent election and the 338 projections (https://338canada.com/ontario/1037e.htm) show the Liberals are most likely to defeat the Conservatives. The projection only shows the change due to provincial polling and it doesn’t show the impact of Heino Doessing’s continuous campaign since 2025.  Heino is also a strong supporter of proportional representation.  Therefore we support the Liberal candidate, Heino Doessing.
  • From 338 projections (https://338canada.com/ontario/1096e.htm) for Scarborough Southwest, we see that the riding has been a strong NDP seat for the past three elections and is projected to continue. (This is the riding where the NDP member, Doly Begun resigned her seat and ran successfully for the federal Liberals.)  We support the NDP candidate, Fatima Shaban.
  • For York-Simcoe which is a strong conservative riding, the polling analysis does not show that any of the progressive parties have a possible win over the conservatives.  Therefore we will not make an endorsement here.

Please exercise your right to vote.  September is a busy time and with school starting again voting may not be high on the list of priorities.  But the progressive representatives we elect will make and impact in Ford’s government.  Make it an opportunity to socialize and bring along friends.   Vote at any advance voting location from Wed, August 26 to Fri, August 28 from 10 AM to 8 PM for the Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, Scarborough Southwest and York—Simcoe by-elections.  Find out where to vote at https://www.elections.on.ca/en.html

In the three Federal byelections, scheduled for August 31st, we will not announce endorsements.  For more information about each of the byelections, advance polling and polling station locations check out:

https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=ele&dir=2026&document=index&lang=e

Rationale for the decision regarding the Federal byelections:

  • Whatever we do would have very little effect.  Time and C4C members on the ground are limited. 
  • The Liberals campaigned on the left and have been governing on the right, adopting many of the CPC positions.  We need to rethink our federal strategy because the Liberals seem to be so far to the right.  The NDP has a new leader and the Greens are in the process of electing a new leader and it is not yet clear which of these parties might have a chance in any of the Federal byelections.  Mike Morrice is running for the Green Leadership and is pro-PR. Avi Lewis is also pro-PR and they have both said that if they are in a position to prop up the Liberals, PR is the one and only requirement they will demand.
  • In Quebec, both the Bloc and Liberals are competitive with the CPC in a toss up situation.  In Beaches–East York and North Vancouver–Capilano the polling analysis predicts Liberal wins. 
  • C4C efforts this year have been focussed on Ontario, since most of our members reside in Ontario.  Legislation from the Ford PC government continues to escalate destruction of our farmlands and natural environments, increase gas powered electricity generation, further privatize our public health care, education and water utilities.  More recently with the loss of Freedom of Information access to government records and government appointment of Regional chairs, we are experiencing an erosion of our democratic rights.

From Unlock Democracy Canada:

“In our latest blog, we lay out exactly why the case for electoral reform has never been stronger:
  In three of the past four federal elections, parties formed government with less than 50% of the popular vote Millions of Canadians are pushed into strategic voting rather than voting for who they actually support A majority of Canadians want stronger action on housing, climate, and inequality — yet our governments consistently fail to reflect that”   Read the Full Blog Here