Now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we work together to amplify the importance of maintaining and strengthening our country’s commitment to foreign aid. By speaking up, we align ourselves with like-minded individuals and organizations who are making Canada a force for good in the world. The 2025 Federal Election offers a critical opportunity to remind candidates that investments in international development — especially education and literacy — are key to breaking the cycle of poverty and creating opportunities for millions of children around the globe.
“Canadians – regardless of province, age, political affiliation or gender – say investing in education and basic literacy internationally is more likely to advance global peace and security than other investments.”
– Study commissioned by CODE by Nanos Research, 2024
QUICK ACTIONS WITH BIG IMPACT
There are several ways that you can get engaged in the political process and ask candidates to take a position on issues that are important to you. We hope you will help champion cost-effective foreign aid investments to ensure that children in low-income countries can become literate and productive global citizens.
1. MEET AT THE DOOR
Your local candidates and their representatives will be door knocking as soon as the election is called! This is the easiest way to engage the candidates because they literally show up at your doorstep.
BE PREPARED:
Place a couple of post-it notes on your door with key messages and “the ask” so that you’re ready to go when the door-bell rings.
2. ATTEND AN ALL-CANDIDATES’ DEBATE
These events provide a great opportunity to get direct access to multiple candidates in a very public forum. By attending a debate, you can compare the positions of different candidates in real-time and hold candidates accountable for their public commitments.
BE PREPARED:
Understand the process for asking questions. Sometimes questions need to be submitted in advance, in other cases it’s a first-come first-serve at the microphone. Draft a short preamble and question on a queue card to help keep yourself focused when your time comes.
3. WRITE AN EMAIL OR LETTER
The candidates’ campaign teams are keeping track of issues raised by constituents in the riding they are seeking election in. Your email doesn’t need to be long, only persuasive. Key messages are included in the Election Advocacy Guide and supporting statistics can be found here.
BE PREPARED:
Make your email clear and to the point. Begin by identifying yourself as a resident in the riding where they are seeking election. Incorporate some of the key messaging above, and don’t forget “The Ask”. Feel free to reference CODE and our website www.code.ngo.
WANT TO DO EVEN MORE?
Use our social media assets on your platform(s) of choice and help your message go further by tagging like-minded friends or the candidates in your riding. Also, check out the amazing election resources available through RESULTS Canada available here: Results Canada Election 2025 Toolkit
Illiteracy rates are staggering
0%
In sub-Saharan Africa, alone, 88% of children (ages 6 -14) – or 202 million – are not meeting minimum proficiency levels in literacy
(Source: More than Half of Children not Learning, UNESCO Institute of Statistics)
0
MILLION274 million primary school children worldwide are not learning basic foundational skills necessary to lead productive and healthy lives
(Source: Calculated based on data in The Learning Generation, Education Commission)
Reaching all children requires a global vision
0%
Only 3% of humanitarian aid was invested in education in 2021
$0
BILLION$39 billion annually is the financing gap to achieve quality primary and secondary school for all children in the developing world