Advocating for Co-operatives – Your Voice Matters

In today's fast-paced and often impersonal economic landscape, co-operative businesses stand as pillars of collaboration and shared prosperity. Advocating for co-operatives is not just an exercise in supporting local business; it's about championing a philosophy of mutual benefit, sustainability, and grassroots empowerment. In Canada, co-operatives have become vital pillars of communities, offering innovative solutions to shared challenges.

Advocacy efforts are particularly timely as elections approach, providing a unique opportunity to emphasize the significance of co-operatives to decision-makers. However, Co-operative Advocacy is something that can and should be done throughout the year as a way to keep co-ops top of mind; it doesn’t start and stop with elections!

Here's some considerations on why your voice matters and how you can actively support co-operative businesses leading up to the election, and into the future. (Please note: the term “candidate(s)” used below can be used interchangeably with “elected official(s)”.

Engage with Candidates to Shape the Conversation

Election campaigns offer a powerful platform to engage with candidates and their teams. Through town halls, door-to-door visits, and other campaign events, advocates can highlight the transformative impact of co-operatives in local communities. By making co-operatives a part of the conversation, candidates will better understand their importance—and the potential for policy change becomes more likely post-election. Just imagine how impactful it could be for politicians to hear the words "co-operative" or "credit union" echoing throughout their campaigns.

Prepare for Candidate Interaction Opportunities

Another essential aspect of advocacy is preparing for interactions with candidates. Site visits, tours, or photo opportunities at regional events are great ways to showcase the strengths and uniqueness of co-operative enterprises. It’s important to build advocacy opportunities into your strategic plan; by thoughtfully creating and managing these engagements, co-operatives can maintain their integrity while building valuable connections.

Celebrate Noteworthy Interactions

When candidates express support for co-operatives—be it through speeches or visible actions—it’s crucial to document these moments. Sharing such insights with your provincial and national associations and sectoral federations can fuel future advocacy strategies. Advocacy is often a long-term strategy, and every positive interaction builds momentum that can make a vital difference in the end.

Cross-Border Tariffs and the Power of Local Purchase

Cross-border tariffs remain an election issue that affects trade and economic conditions. In light of these barriers, buying locally produced goods and services from co-operatives is a powerful decision. Supporting "Made in Canada" products helps strengthen domestic economies, preserve jobs, and reinforce the importance of co-operative values. Consider taking this a step further by purchasing products and services from co-operatives in your community! Check out Choose Co-operative—Together We’re Stronger! - a comprehensive listing of co-operatives across Canada, to get you started on this journey.

Leverage Advocacy Tools for Maximum Impact

To assist and amplify your advocacy efforts, there are several resources and sources of information that can help enhance the visibility of and narrative around co-operatives businesses. Here’s some you may want to check out:

• The Ontario Co-operative Association (OCA) has tons of free digital resources about co-operatives and our Advocacy page has information about the ways co-operatives can help solve key issues facing the province, and the types of government support we are seeking.

• Earlier last month, the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHFC) released their 2025 Budget recommendations to Ontario’s new provincial government, outlining four key approaches to scaling up co-op housing and preserving existing co-op homes.

• Also last month, the Canadian Worker Co-operative Federation (CWCF) released their proposal to maintain jobs and businesses through co-operatives.

• Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) has a number of free tools, such as their 2025 Advocacy Guide.

And Finally - Exercise Your Civic Duty!

Alongside our national counterpart CMC, we strongly encourage all Canadians to participate in Canada's democratic process by casting their vote at the upcoming Federal election on April 28. Elections are an opportunity to influence decisions that impact the future of co-operative businesses. With 343 electoral districts across Canada and new boundaries and names in place, it’s essential to stay informed. Visit the Elections Canada website for voter information and make your voice heard.

By advocating for co-operative businesses, you're contributing to a more resilient, inclusive, and community-centered economy. Every interaction, vote, and conversation brings co-operatives closer to achieving their potential as leaders in sustainable and mutual prosperity. Let's make sure the co-operative voice resonates—today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Submitted by Audrey Aczel, Communications Manager