You've got a right to get involved!

As an Ontario citizen, you’ve got a right to get involved in electing the next provincial government.

You can vote in the riding where you live if you are 18 or over and a Canadian citizen. You can put up a campaign sign on your lawn. You can volunteer on a candidate’s campaign. You can raise money for candidates. You can run for office.

You can also take part in the union campaign around the election.

A few limits on political activity

We live in a democracy. You should feel free to play a part in elections.

Under Ontario law, though, there are a few things that some OPSEU members are not allowed to do. It depends on where you work.

OPSEU members who work for private companies, community hospitals, municipalities, school boards and other non-governmental agencies have the same rights as every other Ontarian.

It’s a bit different if you work in the Ontario Public Service, a community college, or at certain agencies, boards and commissions. Political rights for these “Crown employees” are modified – slightly – by the Public Service Act.

The Act says that Crown employees cannot engage in partisan political activities in the workplace or while in uniform.

Outside the workplace, though, with your uniform hung up in the closet, you can do just about anything. Volunteer on an OPSEU phone bank. Hand out leaflets on the street. Go to a campaign barbecue.

If you are a Crown employee, you can’t make public comments on political issues that are directly related to your job.

Union activists comment on issues related to public services all the time, of course (don’t try this if you are not an elected union representative!). If you are going to speak out publicly, make sure you’ve got your OPSEU hat on and speak about your members’ concerns.

If you have questions about your political rights, contact Tim Little, OPSEU Legislative Liaison, at tlittle@opseu.org .