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frequently asked questions

How does this campaign work?

This campaign uses voter pledges to hold politicians accountable for their complicity in genocide, both in Canada and abroad. By strategically targeting swing ridings, the campaign pressures political parties to take meaningful action or risk losing support in elections.

Here’s how your pledge makes a difference:

  • Collective Action: When you pledge, you join a growing national movement that demands justice and accountability from political leaders. Your voice adds to the collective power of thousands of others who share the same goal.
  • Creating Swing Ridings: The campaign focuses on “swing ridings,” where a small shift in voter support could flip the result to another party. Your pledge helps create or strengthen swing ridings, making politicians fear losing their seats if they ignore the campaign’s demands.
  • Accountability for All Parties: By refusing to vote for parties complicit in genocide (like the Liberals and Conservatives), you’re sending a clear message that no party can take your support for granted. This also pushes smaller parties (e.g., NDP, Green, Bloc Québécois) to take stronger anti-genocide stances to win your vote.
  • Tracking the Impact: A public tracker map shows how pledges influence ridings and highlights areas where voter shifts could challenge political power. This data-driven approach increases transparency and amplifies the campaign’s impact.

By combining individual pledges with strategic targeting, the campaign empowers voters to hold politicians accountable and push all parties to adopt meaningful anti-genocide policies.

How will making this pledge make an impact?

While Votes Against Genocide alone cannot change the election results in 2025, it can certainly spark meaningful political change! Remember, voting is one tool in our toolbox.

Here’s how we can make a difference together:

  • Threatening the loss of power for politicians: When voters publicly refuse to support politicians who are supporting an oppressive regime during its on-going genocide, they send a clear message: if these politicians don’t stand against genocide or continue to support it, they will lose votes, which threatens their chances of staying in power. This is a way to hold politicians accountable by using our votes as leverage in order to have our voices heard.
  • Raising awareness and changing the conversation: By educating voters, we can change how people view political parties and their personal power, creating a more informed nation that is ready to take action. Those of us who can vote can bring important issues like genocide and human rights to the spotlight in Canadian politics. 
  • Mobilizing voters for accountability: Everyone should vote based on their values and withholding support from parties that enable genocide. When we act together we send a strong message to all political parties: adopt more ethical stances on human rights, or risk losing valuable votes in the future.
  • Building a movement together: By uniting voters who care deeply about human rights, we can create a powerful movement that goes beyond elections. Together, we can advocate for change and influence future elections and policy discussions, and continue mobilizing through campaigns, protests, and outreach, inspiring others to join us in making a difference.

Where do the demands come from?

You might recognize these demands—they come from grassroots organizing, international legal rulings, Indigenous-led inquiries, and Canada’s own laws and commitments. This campaign brings together powerful actions already underway into a single plan that uses voter power to make MPs listen.

Some demands align with international laws that Canada, as a UN member state, is obligated to uphold—like imposing sanctions and arms embargoes on states committing genocide. Others come from Indigenous-led frameworks like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the National Inquiry for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), which outline concrete steps toward justice, reparations, and Indigenous sovereignty.

We also focus on Canada’s humanitarian principles, which it claims to champion internationally, like rebuilding Gaza and respecting Indigenous rights under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Finally, we challenge harmful systems like colonial policing and tax loopholes that fund human rights abuses.

Here are our sources: 

Demands for Palestine

Demands for Indigenous Peoples

  • Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC): The TRC’s 94 Calls to Action outline clear steps to address Canada’s historical and ongoing genocide against Indigenous Peoples, including restoring lands and sovereignty.
  • National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG): The MMIWG report calls for systemic changes to address violence, including ending harmful resource extraction and colonial policing on Indigenous lands.
  • UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP): UNDRIP affirms Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination, land restitution, and free, prior, and informed consent for projects on their lands. Canada has yet to fully implement these commitments.
  • Indigenous Leaders, Scholars, and Resistance Movements: Indigenous leaders and grassroots movements continue to fight for land back, sovereignty, and justice. Through legal action, community organizing, and resistance, Indigenous Peoples have reclaimed stolen lands, halted harmful resource projects, and exposed Canada’s ongoing colonial policies. These victories show that transformative change is possible when Indigenous sovereignty is respected.

Why does this campaign focus only on Liberals and Conservatives? What about the other parties?

This campaign focuses on the Liberal and Conservative parties because they hold the majority of power in Canada’s Parliament and have consistently supported policies that uphold genocide and settler-colonial violence. By challenging these two dominant parties, we aim to send a strong message to all political leaders that they cannot ignore their constituents’ demands for justice and accountability.

However, this campaign impacts all political parties:

  • Liberals: They face the direct consequence of losing seats in Parliament if they fail to address their complicity in genocide and refuse to meet the campaign’s demands.
  • Conservatives: Like the Liberals, they risk losing voter support and their seats unless they take meaningful action to address the campaign’s demands.
  • NDP: While they are not the primary focus, their performance on anti-genocide issues is also being evaluated, and they have the opportunity to gain voter support by meeting the campaign’s demands.
  • Bloc Québécois: The Bloc could use the campaign’s demands to attract voters, especially in ridings where they are competitive.
  • Green Party: The Green Party could position itself as a strong alternative by aligning with anti-genocide policies, potentially increasing its influence in targeted ridings.

By focusing on swing ridings and leveraging voter pledges, the campaign holds all parties accountable while prioritizing change in the two dominant parties that have upheld harmful policies.

Is Votes Against Genocides endorsing a specific party?

No, we don’t support any specific party, we’re focused on stripping political power from the current complicit government rather than promoting a specific party. Our goal is to pressure all parties to adopt policies that respect justice and human rights. We are a grassroots movement with a chance to make an impact using our collective voices, acknowledging that voting is just one way we can use our voices.

What are swing ridings and how do MPs get seats in Parliament?

A riding is an electoral district, and Canada has 343 ridings as of April 2024. In each riding, voters elect one Member of Parliament (MP), who represents their riding in Parliament. A majority government happens when a party’s MPs wins more than half the seats in parliament – in other words, the Party gets the most votes from at least half the ridings in Canada. A minority government occurs when a party has the most seats but less than half. 

Swing ridings are areas with competitive support for multiple parties or where recent elections were closely contested. These ridings are important targets for political parties because winning them can help a party win a majority government.

By making these pledges, are we diluting our votes and paving the way for a Conservative win in 2025?

Don’t let the Liberals scare you into voting for them. Their poor poll numbers are because they’ve failed us all by not taking action on issues like genocide and reconciliation. Every major poll already predicts a Conservative win in the 2025 election, so withholding your vote from the Liberals won’t help the Conservatives—it just means you’re not giving your vote to a party that doesn’t share your values. Choosing the “lesser of two evils” keeps things the same, allowing both the Liberals and Conservatives to take advantage of this thinking, and they get worse with every election.

To take back our political power, we need to vote for parties that stand for what we believe in. This sends a strong message to all parties, forcing them to change their policies to win back our support. It gives us, the people, more control over the future political landscape.

My Liberal MP is pro-Palestine. Why would I hold back my vote for this MP?

There are still reasons you might withhold your vote from their party:

  • The party’s broader position: Your Liberal MP may be pro-Palestine, but the party as a whole shows support to the settler state of israel as it commits war crimes and human rights violations. Voting for any MP in this party still supports these harmful policies.
  • Party loyalty: Liberal MPs are required to follow the party line, even if they personally disagree. For example, on March 18th, 2024, when the NDP introduced a motion to the House of Commons promoting peace in Palestine. Over 80 Liberal MPs wanted to support the original motion but were forced by the Liberal Party to vote for a diluted version instead.
  • Demanding action: We want more than just statements and signatures from our MPs. We want real changes, like the party changing its foreign policy, cutting military ties, or holding other countries accountable.

An individual MP’s good intentions are not enough to favour a party that supports an oppressive regime during its on-going genocide. Withholding your vote sends a clear message, it’s a way to hold the whole party accountable and push for meaningful change that opposes genocide.

My Liberal MP supports Reconciliation. Why would I hold back my vote for this MP?

There are still reasons you might withhold your vote from their party:

  • Slow Progress by the Party: Since the TRC’s Final Report in 2015, the Liberal Party has completed fewer than 15 of the 94 CTAs. This slow progress is concerning, as no CTA has been completed without the active involvement of Indigenous advocates and NGOs, indicating a reliance on community-driven efforts rather than government initiative. These delays raise urgent questions about the political will to address the needs of Indigenous communities and hinder meaningful reconciliation.
  • MP Accountability: Consider if your MP is genuinely working to implement the CTAs or if their support is just for show. Look for specific actions and measurable results. Are they holding their party accountable for delays in advancing Indigenous rights and reconciliation?
  • Demanding Action: Supportive statements from MPs are not enough. We need real actions, such as implementing all 94 CTAs, reallocating resources, and breaking down oppressive systems instead of just making empty promises.

Ultimately, withholding your vote sends a strong message that as long as the party puts Indigenous rights and reconciliation on the back burner, they will face consequences at the polls.

What are the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls To Action?

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) issued 94 Calls to Action (CTA) in 2015 as a roadmap to repairing the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. The TRC was established to document the history and lasting impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous Peoples in Canada. 

The Calls to Action outline specific steps for governments, institutions, and individuals to take in order to address the harm caused by residential schools and work towards meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

The Calls cover a wide range of areas, including:

  • Child welfare: improving outcomes for Indigenous children
  • Education: promoting Indigenous history, culture, and language in schools
  • Health: addressing health disparities and respecting Indigenous healing practices
  • Justice: reforming the legal system to better serve Indigenous communities
  • Commemoration: creating memorials and supporting events that honor survivors
  • Economic reconciliation: ensuring economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples

As of October 2024, only 13 out of the 94 calls have been fully implemented. At this rate, it is estimated that the remaining calls will not be addressed until 2081​.

We highly recommend reading the TRC’s 94 Calls To Action for yourself, as well as Indigenous perspectives about reconciliation. 

What is MMIWG2S and the Calls for Justice?

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) released its final report in 2019 after years of documenting the systemic violence faced by Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirit in Canada. The report concluded that Canada’s colonial systems and policies have resulted in genocide.

The final report includes 231 Calls for Justice, which are legal imperatives aimed at governments, institutions, and Canadian society as a whole. These Calls for Justice provide clear steps to end the ongoing violence and address the root causes of systemic discrimination.

The 231 Calls for Justice cover key areas, including:

  • Human and Indigenous Rights: Full implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
  • Justice System Reform: Addressing failures in policing, investigations, and legal support for Indigenous families and communities.
  • Healthcare: Ensuring culturally safe healthcare and eliminating discrimination against Indigenous patients.
  • Education and Awareness: Teaching the true history of colonial violence and systemic racism in Canada.
  • Social and Economic Policies: Addressing poverty, housing, and employment inequities that disproportionately affect Indigenous communities.

Since the release of the report, progress has been slow and uneven. Many Indigenous advocates have criticized Canada’s commitments to the Action Plan as vague and lacking clear timelines, funding, or accountability measures.

As of 2024, very few of the 231 Calls for Justice have been fully implemented. Key issues, like reforming colonial policing structures and providing adequate funding for Indigenous-led solutions, remain unaddressed. Reports show that systemic failures persist, particularly in addressing violence, policing, and access to resources for Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirit.

We highly encourage reading the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and listening to Indigenous leaders, families, and communities who continue to call for urgent action.

How can I help the Votes Against Genocide campaign?

We are a non-profit organization with a dedicated group of volunteers working to make a difference in the fight for human rights. You can support our grassroots movement by helping us spread our message and create meaningful change.

If you want to do more than spread the word, you can support us in these two ways:

  • We are currently looking for volunteers to join our outreach and social media teams. Contact us for more information.
  • Donations help us run the website and run ads. To donate, please contact us. As per the Canada Elections Act, donations may only be accepted from Canadian citizens, permanent residents, corporations formed or organized within Canada or trade unions that hold bargaining rights for employees in Canada.

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