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The power of one: letter writing and personal visits

• Who can I contact?
• What do I say?
• How do I find the contact numbers and addresses for my representative?
• What should I keep in mind when I write, fax, e-mail, or call?

Here's how:

• Styles of address
   
• How to contact politicians
  • Environment Ministers
    • Ontario Minister of the Environment
      • email http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/contact/index.php
      • mailing address http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/about/minister/index.php
    • Federal Minister of the Environment
       
  • Toronto mayor and city councillors
    • city councillor by name, or by ward  (type in your home address)
    • contact the Mayor
       
  • Federal politicians
    • your federal representative (type in your postal code)
       
  • Provincial politicians
    • your Ontario MPP (sort by name or by riding)
       
  • Other political leaders
    • The Senate
    • Governor General of Canada
    • Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
    • Prime Minister
    • Ontario Premier
       
• Educate yourself on the issues
  • primer on global warming
     
• Visit your MP and MPP
  • ideas for making your visit a success
  • scroll down to "How to lobby" for more on how to lobby your politician
  • examples of questions to ask related to green action
    (source: Just Earth  http://www.justearth.net/MP-meeting)

    If your MPP is a Cabinet minister ask him or her to raise in Cabinet.  If not, ask to raise in caucus and the House.

    • Will you support a climate change action plan with firm targets and dates, based on the scientific assessment of need?
    • Will you support a concerted plan to replace the use of fossil fuels with sustainable, carbon-free or low carbon alternatives? to include a carbon tax as an essential element?
    • Will you support effective monitoring and evaluation of efforts on climate change targets? on new programs and major budget expenditures as to their effect on environmental deterioration in general, and climate change in particular?
    • Will you support the review of provincial laws, so as to facilitate action on climate change? Including corporations legislation, planning codes, taxation, advertising?
    • Will you support citizen involvement, such as by holding town hall meetings and special legislative committee hearings?
    • Where there is no vision, the people perish. We need a visionary plan to reduce climate change, to put the interests of all the earth's inhabitants, especially future generations, ahead of our extravagant lifestyles and oil company profits.
       
• Write to politicians and express your passion and concern about the issues
  • Politicians really do pay attention to their mail. Especially the volume of mail. As letters mount up on an issue, it will achieve greater importance. At the national level, one letter is considered to represent thousands of people’s opinions. The ratio declines as you move down the government hierarchy, but at the municipal level, fewer people write, so the letters still have clout. Your letter does not have to be typed. Handwriting is fine. So is word processing. The key is that your letter is original and not recognizable as a pre-printed message. Always sign your letters. Include your address for their response. Your letter does not have to be technical. You do not have to know everything about an issue to write and express your opinion. It does have to be clear. State explicitly what you want the politician to do. Include a specific question requesting his or her response. If the response misses the point or is inadequate, write again.
  • watch for online petitions
    • Remember that the most effective input is a visit, next a personal letter, then an online petition and email
  • write a 'letter to the editor' of your newspaper
  • contact the media, call in to radio and TV shows
     
• Improve your advocacy skills
  • how to be an activist
     
• Get involved in elections
  • educate yourself on the environment and energy policies of each political party and vote accordingly
  • attend town hall meetings and speak up on the importance of green action
     
• Fundraise
  • there are many groups advocating for green action that could use support
     
• Contact Fairlawn Green Action to ask questions and to find out how you can get involved
  fairlawngreenteam@gmail.com

Exercise the Power of One!  Make a difference!

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Last modified: 04-Feb-2012

Fairlawn Avenue United Church
28 Fairlawn Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5M 1S7  
(5 blocks north of the Yonge/Lawrence subway)  map
Phone: 416 481 6848  www.fairlawnavenueunited.ca