Criteria for selection of candidates for endorsement

In keeping with the objective to elect Members of Parliament who support the PSAC’s priority issues, the following criteria must be met in order for a candidate to be eligible for the union’s support.

• The candidate must be familiar with the PSAC’s priority issues, at a minimum.
• The candidate must sign a written commitment to actively support the PSAC’s priority issues. Active commitment means more than simply speaking out in the House on the issues but also includes taking an active role in promoting the issues in the party’s caucuses; promoting, defending and voting for pro-active legislation on the issues; speaking out and voting against legislation which is in opposition to these issues and detrimental to the welfare of our members; and working with PSAC members to advance these issues.
• While it is preferable that the candidate have a positive track record on these issues, this may not be feasible in all cases depending on the candidate’s previous experience.
• There should be some reasonable potential for the candidate to win the seat.

Priority Issues

Human Rights

• maintaining the current equal marriage legislation;
• introducing and supporting proactive pay equity legislation based on the federal Pay Equity Task Force recommentions;
• improving the conditions and rights of Aboriginal peoples;
• revoking the regulations restricting political activity by federal public sector workers.

Accountable Government

• abandoning privatization and P3s;
• improving whistleblower protection
• ensuring public control and delivery of health care;
• settling the lawsuit to reclaim the $30-billion pension surplus and making the federal government subject to the Pension Benefits Standards Act;
• ensuring that any child care program is based on not-for-profit principles;
• commiting to increase foreign aid to .7% of Gross National Income by 2005;
• increasing the level of child benefits going to low income families in Canada.

Labour Rights

• introducing and supporting anti-scab legislation that will cover all workers in the federal sector.