We, the undersigned, urge the Liberals, Greens, NDP, and Bloc to cooperate during the next federal election in order to prevent the possibility of the Conservatives from forming a majority government.

Specifically, we urge the Parties to identify ridings where the Conservatives are likely to win but not guaranteed – and only run one candidate in opposition (as opposed to 3-4 other candidates, as in the past). This “unity candidate” approach will reduce the risk of vote-splitting, giving the best opportunity of defeating the Conservative candidate, and therefore helping to prevent a Conservative majority government.

Canadians urgently need a unified progressive choice in the next federal election. To make this happen we need the Bloc, Greens, Liberals, and NDP to devise a cooperative approach – rather than their traditional competitive tactics. Why?

It is highly likely that the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) could win the next federal election and Pierre Poilievre become Canada’s prime minister. The dangers Canada will face if this happens – politically, economically, and environmentally – are frightening.

A Conservative Party of Canada majority government would mean loss on many significant policy fronts. A CPC majority would cut taxes to corporations and the wealthy while cutting social programs to ‘reduce government spending’. Support programs such as child care, dental care, pharmacare, affordable housing, potentially public pensions, sustainable jobs support, and environmental protections could disappear. Democratic rights would be weakened.

On the climate front, it may mean irreversible and irreparable loss. The next ten years are critical if we are to minimise and adapt to the looming climate emergency. This requires strong political commitment and leadership. But the CPC denies the climate emergency and supports fossil fuels over renewable energy. A CPC government during these crucial years will be disastrous.

The CPC will have a governmental majority despite being supported by a minority of voters. The CPC doesn’t so much win elections as the competing progressive parties lose them by refusing to work together. Our first-past-the-post electoral system too often splits our votes amongst the progressive parties whose policy distinctions are negligible in comparison to the Conservative alternative.

Our desire is to see Canada’s democratic majority by-pass our broken first-past-the-post system to make sure the values and policies supported by the majority of Canadians are those enacted by our federal government. It’s about preventing a minority of Canadians from forming a majority government. It’s about closing the structural loopholes and path dependencies which make this happen. It’s about changing the system so it can become more democratic than it already is.

But to do this we need the Liberals, Greens, NDP, and Bloc to cooperate during the next federal election. We therefore reiterate our call for the Parties to identify ridings where the Conservatives are likely to win but not guaranteed – and only run one candidate in opposition.

This is not a “normal” ask but these are not “normal” times. We are living in the midst of escalating, converging, multiplying crises that our systems are not designed to handle. We cannot afford a ‘business as usual’ approach. The next election is critical and calls for great courage – individually and collectively.

Sincerely,