As Canadians, it is not only our right, but our responsibility to participate in the democratic process and have our voices heard.  Since its inception 5 years ago, the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC), has helped the Jewish community to have impact beyond its numbers.  Through the engagement of our thousands of community members across Canada within the multi-partisan political process, CJPAC has advanced prospects for a safe and secure environment for Israel and the Canadian Jewish community.

The Jewish community’s voting influence is restricted to 13 ridings across the country - yet there are 308 ridings at stake.  Dozens of ridings are decided by the smallest margins. In the 2008 election, one candidate won by only 2 votes in a riding with a population over 49,000. Therefore, we must engage strategically, and most importantly we must vote.

At stake in this election are issues of concern to all Canadians, in addition to issues of special concern to the Canadian Jewish and pro-Israel community, including the Canada-Israel relationship.  In order to have your say on these issues, it is up to you to get involved.

1. It’s up to you to get informed.
Learn more about where the candidates and parties stand on these issues.  Visit itsup2you.ca to learn about your local candidates, the positions of their respective parties and to read the candidate’s responses to a questionnaire that we have designed.

2. It’s up to you to get involved. 
Volunteering for an election campaign is a great way to build relationships with Members of Parliament and other decision-makers.  These relationships are essential to ensuring our collective voice is heard. It's also a great opportunity for networking, professional development and community involvement. Those who have volunteered in the past know how important and fun it can be.  Fill out our volunteer form at itsup2you.ca and CJPAC will pair you with the campaign of your choice. 

3. It’s up to you to support candidates. 
With election fundraising and spending limits it is easy to support friendly candidates in a significant way.  Every dollar counts and there are generous tax credits for political donations.  Through CJPAC, you can target your support to our community’s friends who need it the most.  We are also able to ensure that every dollar donated is sent with the message, “thank you on behalf of the Jewish community for your support of our issues.”  Call Jonathan Ain at 1.866.929.9552 ext. 238 for more information on how to make your political dollars count for the Jewish community.

4. Most of all, it’s up to you to vote. 
By exercising your right to vote, you have a say in charting Canada’s course on issues of importance to you and the community.  Find out more about voting options at www.itsup2you.ca.    

We can all help to strengthen our community’s voice by being an integral part of the political process, helping to elect candidates who support our community, and by building relationships with leaders and decision-makers who will have an impact on our issues. 

Elections are won and lost on the basis of citizen participation.  We are turning to you to make a difference for our community!

Joel Reitman     Mark Waldman
Chair, CJPAC    Executive Director, CJPAC