The rules for how unions can participate in an election are different depending on whether the election is federal, provincial or municipal. At the federal level, regulations are set up in the Canada Elections Act and they encompass advertising, contributions, partisan activities, and election surveys.
This document will help you identify ways for locals and divisions to participate in the upcoming federal election and in the National Union’s CUPE Votes campaign during the election period. That is, after an election has been called (i.e. the writ drops).
Political activities are not regulated outside the pre-election and election periods. Locals and Divisions, therefore, do not have to register or report any partisan activities until either an election is called, or the official pre-election period starts on June 30th (whatever happens first).