What is participatory democracy? It is engagement in the political process, which can include efforts to influence public opinion on a matter of public policy. This includes: voting in elections, meeting with and writing to elected representatives to discuss issues, engaging with elected representatives and parties to develop goals and directions for our society, and engaging with other citizens in shaping the goals and directions of our society....click for more info

Find your riding and other election information see Elections Canada:
http://www.elections.ca.

For The United Church of Canada federal election kit: www.united-church.ca search: federal election kit. 

It's KAIROS Time at the Ballot Box! Federal Election Toolkit Online! This resource provides tools to ask questions, discover more, and challenge candidates in your riding. It includes: Ten Tips for Electoral Action, Fact Sheets (with election questions) on the Cultivating Just Peace campaign, Links to other resources and organizations. Access the KAIROS election kit at: www.kairoscanada.org/e/action/election/index.asp.  

 Vote for a Change is a nation-wide voter education campaign.  It speaks to the issues you care about: social justice, peace, human rights, poverty, education and environmental protection. Visit www.voteforachange.ca to read about the issues and download or order campaign materials in a variety of formats including buttons, postcards, stickers, lawn signs, posters and billboards.  The campaign is sponsored by a national coalition of the major churches, unions, student, anti-poverty and equity-seeking groups including: Anglican Church of Canada, Campaign 2000, Canadian Auto Workers, Canadian Council of Refugees, Canadian Federation of Students, Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Peace Alliance, Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Canadians for Equal Marriage, Centre for Social Justice, Centre for Urban and Community Studies, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, DAWN - Disabled Womens Network Ontario, Equal Marriage for Same-Sex Couples, HOME - Housing Ontario Means Everyone, National Anti-Poverty Organization, National Association of Women and the Law, National Housing and Homelessness Network, Ontario Coalition for Social Justice, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, Public Service Alliance of Canada, Science for Peace, Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, United Church of Canada, Urban Alliance for Race Relations. Organized by the Centre for Social Justice.

Citizens for Public Justice bulletin on the Federal Election. Federal bulletin online: http://www.cpj.ca/topics/election/fed04.pdf. Order copies for FREE by emailing bruce@cpj.ca or by phoning 416-979-2443,
ext. 26 (1-800-667-8046, ext. 26)

To view bulletin inserts related to the Ontario provincial election, including questions on issues and background information (more)

Why SO VOTE!
Over the past several years, fewer and fewer Canadians have been voting. The last federal election had the lowest turnout in 75 years. The last Ontario election had one of the lowest rates of any province - only 56.9% of eligible voters. And turnout is often worse among groups who are poor, disadvantaged and marginalized. SO VOTE! aims to remind people that elections can directly affect the things that matter most to them. This non-partisan project tries to highlight issues that are of vital concern to low-income people, and others who are disadvantaged or marginalized. 

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a statement regarding the federal election Election 2004: Responsibility and Discernment (more)