Student Parallel Election Program

Elections Canada has identified a long-term requirement for the services of a contractor to develop, implement and report on a large-scale, national, in-school student parallel election (SPE) program for two general elections, which will likely be the 43rd and 44th general elections, provided that they occur during the regular school year. An option to provide the same services for a third general election is also included in this requirement.

Elections Canada requires the development and implementation of a non-partisan SPE program that enables participating elementary and secondary students to experience the federal election process. Such an experience is offered through a simulated election that runs in the students’ school or classroom using the federal electoral system of the day. Students will vote for an actual candidate running in their school’s riding, play the roles of poll clerks and deputy returning officers and use authentic materials such as Elections Canada ballot boxes and voting screens. Results of the SPE program will be collected, tabulated and publicly disseminated.

Prior to the election and as part of the SPE program, students will learn about the electoral event, electoral process and key democratic principles through pedagogical resources and activities developed by the contractor and taught by teachers.

The objective of the SPE program is to increase students’ awareness and understanding of Canadian democracy, elections and voting at the federal level by providing them with an opportunity to experience the federal election process through a parallel election run in their school.

During the last general election, over 6,000 schools and 900,000 students participated in the SPE program. It is anticipated that the SPE program referred to herein will reach similar or greater numbers.

The target program outcomes are:

1. A student parallel election program is available in both English and French to schools in every electoral district.
2. Participation rates increase in underrepresented areas.
3. Educators are well prepared to teach and administer the SPE.
4. Program participants (educators and students) are satisfied with the quality of the learning experience provided.
5. Student participants demonstrate an interest in future electoral participation.
6. Student participants demonstrate an understanding of the electoral process.

1.1.Minimum Essential Requirements

Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a statement of capabilities that it meets the following requirements:

Sustained experience planning and implementing education programs in both official languages on a national scale

a. “Sustained experience” means that the firm’s experience includes:

1. One project that has been implemented for at least five years;
2. Several projects that have been delivered for at least a total of five cumulative years.

   b. “National scale” means that the programs were conceived to be relevant to all provinces and territories and implemented in at least five provincial jurisdictions.

   c. “Education programs in both official languages” refers to learning experiences – which include material available in both official languages – for elementary and secondary students (and their equivalent) provided within a formal school system.

   Expertise in the field of civic education

   a. “Civic education” means the study of the institutions, practices and behaviors that support democratic life in Canada and the systematic effort to prepare young people to undertake their role as citizens.

   Experience securing participation from at least 1,000 educators or education administrators in a program implemented in at least five provincial or territorial jurisdictions

   a. “Educators” means Canadian teachers at the elementary (grades 4 to 8) and secondary (grades 9 to 12) levels and their equivalent.

   b. “Education administrators” means principals and principal associations, school boards and school board officials, ministries of education and ministry of education officials, as well as any other professional association involved in making decisions about school curricula or the operation of education systems in Canada.

   Experience delivering a program with concurrent hands-on activities in at least five provincial jurisdictions and at least one territorial jurisdiction

   a. “Concurrent” means occurring in at least five hundred program delivery locations within a 30 day timeframe.

   b. “Hands-on activities” means that program participants were provided with physical program materials.

   Experience developing online pedagogical resources in English and French

Certification of compliance with the requirement to avoid political partisanship (Article 19)