Participation Guide for Alberta’s provincial election
How to contact your candidates
The April 23rd Alberta election is your chance to raise provincial issues that affect your business with candidates in your riding. There is no better time to approach a future MLA with your issues than when they’re seeking election.
Look up your riding and candidates
To find out information about individual candidates in your riding, please visit the party websites below. Each site allows you to enter your postal code to find out information about your local candidate:
Alberta Liberal Party
www.albertaliberal.comAlberta New Democratic Party
www.albertandp.caProgressive Conservative Party of Alberta
www.albertapc.ab.caWildrose Alliance Party
www.wildrose.ca
To find out the name of your riding, visit the Elections Alberta website (www.elections.ab.ca) and enter your postal code in the form provided. This will identify the name of your riding.
Meeting your candidates
To contact the candidates in your riding, call directory assistance and ask for the campaign office for each candidate.
- Call your candidate's campaign office and request a 15-minute meeting.
- Explain that you live in the riding and/or employ people in the riding.
- If appropriate, invite candidates to meet in your restaurant to see how your business operates.
- Familiarize yourself with industry information by reading CRFA’s vision for the restaurant industry in Alberta.
At the meeting
- Tell the candidate about your business and the number of people you employ. Explain with pride your business accomplishments.
- Highlight the size and scope of the restaurant industry in your area and the important role your business plays in the community.
- Listen respectfully and thank the candidate for his or her time.
Tips
- Don't worry about knowing everything about the industry or the issues. What is most important is that the candidate knows who you are, what you do, and the impact you have on the local economy and employment.
- Be respectful but insist on getting a sense of where the candidate stands on the issue(s) that matter most to you and your business.
Follow up
- Follow up the meeting with a letter, thanking the candidate for his or her time and reiterating any concerns you may have.
- Call CRFA at 1-866-300-7675, ext. 1 or email mark@crfa.ca and let me know how your meeting went.
- Send, fax 604-685-9633 or e-mail CRFA a copy of your letter and/or meeting highlights.
All Candidates Meetings
- Attend an all candidate forum or debate and ask the politicians about issues facing your business.
By tracking industry contact with candidates, CRFA can serve you better in the years ahead. Good luck and remember: Your vote matters, so make it count!