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Your Voice is a non-partisan voter education and motivation campaign aiming to inform Canadian Arabs across the country about their right and responsibility to vote, and encourage them to engage in the country’s democratic process.
WHY THIS CAMPAIGN?
AN EMERGING COMMUNITY
In 2010, Arab immigration to Canada reached an all-time high, with the arrival of 34,657 citizens of Arab countries, Arab immigrants represented 12.4% of the total immigration to Canada.
A SENSE OF BELONGING
A large majority of Canadians of Arab origin feel a strong sense of belonging to Canada. In 2002, 88% of those who reported Arab origin said that they had a strong sense of belonging to Canada.
LOW POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
Only 61% of eligible Canadians voted in the 2011 Federal Election, and only 31% of Canadians believe that decisions made by elected officials affect their day to day lives. These percentages are probably even lower within our community.
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ?
Because, your voice CAN make all the difference!
ARE WE ANY DIFFERENT?
The Canadian-Arab community is similar to many other communities. As an important part of Canadian society, every community has a right and a responsibility to be properly heard and represented in the political landscape. The more engaged we are, the more integrated we become into the country’s overall voice. The Canadian-Arab community is growing, between 1996 and 2001, we grew by 27% vs. 4% for the population as a whole. This should give us even more incentive to be properly heard and represented.
CAN MY VOICE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
A lot of people don’t realize just how much policies trickle down to their day-to-day life and affect them. These policies are decided by politicians elected by citizens all over Canada. By voting, YOU decide who you want to represent you in Ottawa. By voting, YOU decide who is best suited to help make your voice heard. By voting, YOU have a direct say in how bills and laws are developed.
CAN I LEARN MORE?
You can start by identifying what issues you care about, and learning what the views of the different candidates and parties are on these issues. This is a first step that can help you in deciding who you believe best represents you. If you are eligible to vote, make sure you go out and vote in this year’s election and get as involved as you can with campaigns and candidates. If you still can’t vote, you shouldn’t exclude yourself; you can still get involved by volunteering and encouraging others to vote and participate.
For more Information about the campaign : Click here
