Federal Election 2025
Our kids. Canada’s future.
Our kids are the most valuable resource that we have. Investing in them is critical to securing a strong and prosperous future for Canada. As parents, teachers, and education workers, we know that opportunities are vital to the success of students. That’s why public education is so important.
These are uncertain times – but we can invest in building a Canada that we’re all proud to call home. Now is the time to make choices for the future. Vote for our kids. Vote for Canada’s future.
Learn more about how you can make a difference at the ballot box.
Key Issues
We live in a country that has the potential to be the best place to raise a family. Unfortunately, the reality is that many children in Canada are not getting the support they need in life.
We can’t afford to elect a government that cuts essential programs that families rely on and overlooks the climate crisis.
Vote to end child poverty.
Child poverty is on the rise.
The cost-of-living crisis has forced more families to turn to food banks. No child should go hungry.
The National School Food Program is a life-changing commitment, but we must ensure its sustainability. Vote to keep this program going.
Vote for more mental health support.
More and more children are facing significant mental health challenges and feeling anxious about the future.
Parents and teachers are working together to provide every child the support they need.
However, healthcare systems are already stretched thin –and it can take years to get the help our kids require.
Vote for climate action.
The reality of the climate crisis is evident. From flooding to wildfires to extreme heat – these issues are impacting our kids and our classrooms.
Uncertainty about the future of our planet is causing anxiety for both kids and adults.
We must work to ensure that Canada remains a liveable country, allowing our youngest citizens to thrive well into the future.
The Facts
Child Poverty
- In 2023-2024, nearly 4 million families in Canada received the Canada Child Benefit (Canada Revenue Agency).
- 80% of Canadians support a publicly funded universal school food program (Abacus Data, January 2024).
- According to data from Statistics Canada (2022), one in four children in Canada live in food insecure households.
Mental Health
- According to a September 2023 Statistics Canada report, Canadian youth (aged 12 to 17 years old) reported a decline in mental health. Between 2015 and 2021, the percentage of 12 to 17-year-olds reporting “very good” or “excellent” mental health fell from 78% to 62% (Canadian Community Health Survey, 2015 to 2021).
- In a 2024 CTF/FCE study of over 5,000 education professionals across Canada, 72% of teachers and education workers describe their workload demands as unmanageable. 80% of educators are somewhat-to-barely coping with the stresses of daily teaching.
Climate Change Action
- In a 2023 study commissioned by Earth Rangers, 25% of children said they are “very worried” about climate change and only 32% of children said they are “very hopeful” about the future of the planet.
- While climate change education has increased since 2019, a 2022 Learning for a Sustainable Future study found a large majority (64%) believe the education system should be doing “a lot more” in educating youth about climate change.
Public education is a vital public institution
Canadians of all political backgrounds overwhelmingly agree that public education is an important public expenditure. National public opinion polling, conducted by Abacus Data on behalf of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE), revealed:
- 94% of Canadians agreed that “Public education is a child’s fundamental right” and “Quality public education builds stronger communities and a stronger country overall” (Abacus Data, February 2025).
- 9 in 10 Canadians agreed with the statements: “I consider public education in Canada to be one of most important public institutions” and “High quality publicly funded education is part of our Canadian identity” (Abacus Data, February 2025).
The CTF/FCE’s Calls to Action
As parents, teachers, and education workers, it’s our responsibility to advocate for our children. It’s what we do best!
This federal election, we urge Canadians to vote for our kids and their future.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF/FCE) calls on every political party and leader to prioritize children and youth by committing to the following:
- Continue funding and expanding the National School Food Program to ensure universal access to healthy, nutritious food for all children living in Canada, so no child goes hungry.
- Sustain investments in the Canada Child Benefit to provide financial support to families who need it most.
- Allocate dedicated funding for mental health services under the Canada Mental Health Transfer to address the significant backlog of mental health supports available for students, parents, and teachers.
- Take decisive action on climate change to foster a cleaner economy. This includes applying “green strings” to all federal funding to protect future generations, increasing funding for green infrastructure, and investing in renewable energy and training.
We have a chance to do what’s right for our kids in this election. Let’s elect a government that will invest in kids and social safety nets, making Canada a great place to call home. It’s the best way to protect Canada’s future.
Resources
Take Action
Ask your Candidates
Ways to Vote
To vote, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen;
- Be at least 18 years old on April 28;
- Be registered to vote*
- Prove your identity and address with accepted ID
*You can verify if you are registered to vote via Elections Canada’s Online Voter Registration Service.
Vote on Election Day
Vote at your assigned polling station on election day, Monday, April 28. Polls will be open for 12 hours (hours vary by time zone).
To find your polling station, check your voter information card or use Elections Canada’s Voter Information Service.
Register to Vote
Help make voting easier on election day.
If you’re registered to vote, you should’ve received your voter information card in the mail by April 11.
If you haven’t registered, there’s still time!
Before April 22 at 18:00:
- Register online via Elections Canada’s Online Voter Registration Service or
- Contact your local Elections Canada office to update your voter information, including your name.
You can also register at your polling station when you go to vote.
Vote on Advance Polling Days
Advance polls are open from 9:00. to 21:00 (local time) on:
- Friday, April 18
- Saturday, April 19
- Sunday, April 20
- Monday, April 21
To find your advance polling station, check your voter information card or use Elections Canada’s Voter Information Service.
Vote by Mail
To vote by mail, apply online or at an Elections Canada office by Tuesday, April 22, 6 p.m.
You will vote using the special ballot process.
Once you apply to vote by mail, you can’t change your mind and vote at advance polls or on election day.
