Casa Federal Election Strategy 2009-2010 Final

CASA Federal Election Strategy 20092010

Strategic Goal: If an election is called during 2009-2010, CASA will use its appointed resources to maximize the number of CASA policy positions that are adopted into PSE platforms and ultimately, into legislation. Tactics Required to Achieve CASA’s Strategic Goal: Advocacy Operations 1. CASA will lobby each of the major federal political parties – including party staff members – during the pre-writ period and during the election campaign 2. CASA will conduct satellite lobbying of federal candidates in ridings containing member schools (priority), as well as ridings adjacent to member schools (secondary) 3. CASA will hold on-campus all-candidate debates during the federal election campaign period Tasks: • Home Office will create a federal election lobby document • Home Office will conduct lobby training with the RCs • Home Office and RCs will set up regional meetings to review federal election strategy and conduct lobby training with member schools • Home Office and RCs will work with members schools to arrange lobby meetings with candidates in each member school riding • Members will engage in satellite lobbying with local candidates • Members will organize on-campus all-candidate debates, ensure that post-secondary education is one theme of the debate, and promote post-secondary issues at debate • Home Office will provide members with a general format template to help them create debate structure

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Home Office will prepare example questions for members to work from prior to the debates. Home Office will provide members with a checklist of ‘tips for organizing’ a candidates’ debate

Media Messaging 1. CASA will develop different media formats to generate interest in CASA’s ideas, spread CASA’s message, and reinforce CASA’s brand identity Tasks: • Home Office will create an election-specific website and related social networks to connect viewers to CASA election content • Home Office will develop video Q&A sessions on topics ranging from advocacy priorities to emergent issues • Home Office will attempt to record leader PSE videos • Home Office will create advocacy information in formats that can be printed, for member schools who desire print materials • Home Office will develop responses to each party’s platform • Home Office will work with the partnership to help spread CASA’s media messaging • Home Office and RCs will work together to create leader debate video questions • Home Office and the RCs will work to create “student story” content • Home Office will work with the RCs to develop packaged media stories Voter Participation 1. CASA will work to increase voter participation amongst students at member schools Tasks: • • • • • •

Home Office will attempt to partner with Rick Mercer (or similar celebrity) to promote ‘support and promote “most voter registrations” contest Home Office will compile detailed ‘how to vote’ instructions (including how to vote absentee) and making that information available on the CASA election website, and to each member school in digital format Home Office will lobby Elections Canada to expedite the switch to online voter registration Home Office will train the RCs in Election Canada regulations regarding conduct of elections, specifically elections on campus RCs will work with members to contact Elections Canada Returning officers in their ridings and arrange pre-election meetings to discuss student registration operations Members will conduct class visits on their campus to inform their students about how to vote and other election related resources

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Members will work to identify the off-campus residential locations of their students

Review of Roles and Objectives Home Office will: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Create a lobby document Conduct lobby training with the RCs Prepare example questions for members to work from prior to the debates. Provide members with a checklist of ‘tips for organizing’ a candidates’ debate Provide members with a general format template to help them create debate structure at the week of September Create an election-specific website and related social networks to connect viewers to CASA election content Develop video Q&A sessions on topics ranging from advocacy priorities to emergent issues Attempt to record leader video discussions with CASA on PSE issues Create advocacy information in formats that can be printed, for member schools who desire print materials Develop responses to each party’s platform Work with the partnership to help spread CASA’s media messaging Attempt to partner with Rick Mercer (or similar celebrity) to promote ‘support and promote “most voter registrations” contest Compile detailed ‘how to vote’ instructions (including how to vote absentee) and making that information available on the CASA election website, and to each member school in digital format Lobby Elections Canada to expedite the switch to online voter registration Train the RCs in Election Canada regulations regarding conduct of elections, specifically elections on campus

Home Office and the RCs will: • • • • •

Set up regional meetings to review federal election strategy and conduct lobby training with member schools Work with members schools to arrange lobby meetings with candidates in each member school riding Work together to create leader debate video questions Work to create “student story” content for the website Develop packaged media stories

Members will: •

Engage in satellite lobbying with local candidates

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Organize on-campus public debates, ensure that post-secondary education is one theme of the debate, and promote post-secondary issues at debate Engage students on campus and advertise CASA’s web communications and disseminate information to student body and community Conduct class visits on their campus to inform their students about how to vote and other election related resources Members will work to identify the off-campus residential locations of their students

Partners will: 1) Help advertise CASA’s web communications and disseminate digital information

CASA Federal Election Advocacy Priorities: 1. Investing in Early Outreach/Intervention 2. Investing in Affordable, Accessible Childcare 3. Lowering Student Loan Interest Rates & Separating Public/Private Interest Rates 4. Amend Need Assessment/Spousal Contributions 5. Increase funding to support the Indirect Costs of Research 6. Increase CST funding for PSE 7. Lift the cap on PSSSP 8. Establish a Needs-Based Grant for Graduate Students 9. Measure success/Pan-Canadian Data set