Contacting your MP is an effective way to take action and be heard, and change the world for better.
We have provided you with three effective ways to communicate with your MP and present your thoughts and ideas to those who influence international policy and foreign aid.
- Write a letter to your MP or the Prime Minster
- E-mail your MP
- Set-up a meeting with your MP
Don't know your member of Parliament? Visit the link below for details on contacting your MP.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?Source=SM
Before you contact your MP about an issue it is a good idea to learn your MP's platform, what are their views on the topics that you want to speak to him/her about, and what kind of policies has he/she supported?
To research your MP's position you can check out their voting records at www.parl.gc.ca
The CCFC website provides you information on topics you can address with your MP.
In addition to these topics, there are several cross cutting themes that you can address with your MP:
- Self Sustainability
- Gender equality
- Environment protection/development
- Child rights
- Development relief
- International poverty
1. Writing a letter to your MP or the Prime Minster
Don't know your member of Parliament? Visit the link below for details on contacting your MP.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?Source=SM
Write a letter to the Prime Minister.
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
CIDA
CIDA reports to Parliament through the Minister of International Cooperation.
The President of CIDA advises the Minister on policy, program, and management issues.
Canadian International Development Agency
CIDA President, Robert Greenhill
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0G4
Tel: (819) 997-5006
Toll free: 1-800-230-6349
Fax: (819) 953-6088
The Honourable Josée Verner is Canada's Minister of International Cooperation and the Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages.
Letter writing tips:
- Include your full contact address details. This will show your MP that you are a constituent of his/her riding.
- Keep your letter concise. One page, single spaced should be enough.
- If possible, type your letter so that it is easy to read and looks more professional. Don't forget to sign the letter by hand.
- Make sure the font, font size and spacing between the address, paragraphs, and before the signature are visually appealing. Using block paragraphs, where there are no indents and spaces between paragraphs, makes the letter easier to read.
- If you have had previous contact (written or verbal) with your MP or another member of his/her office staff you should remind your MP.
- If you are writing as part of a campaign, explain this in your letter.
- Focus on one main issue and make sure that your opinion on the issue is clear. Include documented facts that support your opinion.
- Ask specific questions and make sure you are clear about what you want your MP to do.
- Give the letter a personal touch by using your own words and including any personal experiences that relate to the issue. For example if you lived in one of CCFC's program countries, and experienced or witnessed poverty first-hand, you could talk about this.
- Outline the consequences of not having this issue addressed.
- Check spelling
- Follow up with a phone call to the office to make sure your concerns are being dealt with.
- Thank your MP for their reply.
2. E-mailing your MP
Some MPs welcome e-mail correspondence from their constituents. Check with your MP's office at the House of Commons, or in your constituency, about whether it is appropriate to send an e-mail.
If you send an e-mail to your MP, include your full name and address to show that you are a constituent.
3. Call or set up a meeting with your MP
Calling or meeting with your MP at their constituency office can be a very positive and rewarding experience and it is a great way to have your thoughts heard.
By calling or meeting with your MP, you have taken the first step to having your voice and the voice of poor children heard. Raise the issue of poverty and international development. Speak about the important role the Canadian Government plays in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Before you call or begin the process of setting up a meeting with your MP, be sure you know your goal. What do you want to achieve?
MP's meet with a number of people on a number of issues/topics so be sure you know what you want to address with him or her.
You should have at least a few hard facts about the issue you want to discuss with your MP. Simply having an opinion is not good enough - you need to be able to support your position with verifiable facts. This will make your concerns seem more legitimate to the MP and you will be more persuasive.
The MP's assistant or researcher will be someone close to the MP who could provide you with information and relay your concerns to the MP. If your MP is a Cabinet Minister ask to speak to the Chief of Staff, Executive Assistant or Communications Advisor.
If you have been successful in setting up a meeting with your MP, be sure to inform the MP's office if you will be bringing anyone. Provide the office with their name, the date and time you will be meeting the MP, and if there is anything you need to bring.
Make your phone call on time and be on time. Don't go over the allotted time, unless the MP or Parliamentary aide has asked you to continue with your meeting.
When you begin your conversation, start by thanking the MP or aide for having taken time from their busy schedule to meet with you and discuss this important issue. Remember to tell the MP the purpose of meeting and stick to the topic.
Be brief and to the point. If there are two or more individuals at the meeting, you should decide who will be the spokesperson to handle the main points and make your case.
Make sure you support your argument. Your goal is to address the issue of poverty around the world in hopes the MP will address this issue. Create a lasting impression by using a personal child sponsorship story. Tell how your money has made a difference in an impoverished community.
If the MP asks a question about CCFC that you can't answer, say you don't know the answer but will find out.
If your MP asks: "What would you like me to do about this issue?" Simply state that you want more funding/support for organizations like CCFC who are helping to break the cycle of poverty.
Express that you want them to be aware of the work CCFC is doing and to put pressure on key Canadian ministries to show their support as well.
Leave your contact information so if the MP has any further questions they can contact you. Leave behind some CCFC promotional material and ask the MP to contact CCFC directly.
Send a thank you letter after your meeting.