CJPAC, the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee, wants you to vote in the Oct. 19 British Columbia provincial election. But they want you to do more, too.
“Yes, you should vote,” said Kara Mintzberg, CJPAC’s director for BC. “But you should also remember that volunteering will give you potentially even more impact than your one vote in the ballot box.”
CJPAC is a national, independent, multipartisan organization with a mandate to engage Jewish and pro-Israel Canadians in the democratic process and to foster active political participation.
“CJPAC is here to make it easy,” Mintzberg said. That includes giving people who have never volunteered on a campaign before the lay of the land and identifying activities where they can use their interests or skills to help the candidate of their choice.
“There’s really something for everyone,” she said, whether one prefers getting out and meeting people or working in an office.
Matt Woods Baum, director of marketing and communications for CJPAC, said that, whether it is hammering lawn signs in the ground, phone banking, organizing events or canvassing door-to-door, it is important for Jewish voters to get involved in the process.
“Now more than ever, it’s critical that people take action to get involved,” he said.
CJPAC has a designated volunteer sign-up page for the BC election at cjpac.formstack.com/forms/bc24. Mintzberg also urges people to opt in to CJPAC emails, as there is a range of online briefings, webinars and other opportunities around this and future elections.
CJPAC will be present with an information table at an election town hall, Sept. 22, 6:45 p.m., at Beth Tikvah Synagogue. Richmond election candidates will discuss issues of relevance to Jewish voters in a forum moderated by Shane Foxman. Pre-registration is required at bethtikvah-ca.shulcloud.com/event/townhall. For more information and to submit questions for the candidates, email communityawareness@btikvah.ca.