WRITING AN EFFECTIVE LETTERTO YOUR POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVE

Sure, they’ll know I’m angry,

but will they answer me?

Laura Kirby-McIntosh, O.C.T. ©For classroom/training purposes onlyDo not reproduce without permission

TARGET YOUR LETTER Each level of

government has a website

Take time to surf around the site to find out who’s responsible for that issue

NEVER send a letter “To whom it may concern”

TARGET YOUR LETTER

Try to target your letter to the political staffers who surround the person in charge

Take the time to CALL the person’s office in advance and get advice about who to send the letter to

FOR LOCAL ISSUES, TARGET YOUR TOWN OR CITY COUNCIL

For Provincial issues, use INFO-GO to find out who works in the Minister’s office or the Regional offices!

To track down someone in the Federal Government, use GEDS!

FORMAT THE TOP OF YOUR PAGE PROPERLY

Your nameYour full address

Phone number, e-mail

DateName of officialTitle, position, departmentFull address

Dear (appropriate name / title),

BEGIN YOUR LETTER Identify yourself:

name, age, city of residence

State the purpose of your letter . What is the issue or problem?

If it is about a specific law, bill, or agreement, make reference to it or state its name and number.

EXPLAIN WHY YOU’RE UPSET

Express your feelings in respectful language. Tell the politician what you think about the issue. Explain why this cause is important to you. If you have a personal connection to the issue, say so.

Give insightful and valid reasons why you feel this way about the issue. Remember, your reasons must be convincing because the official will be aware of pros and cons of the issue or may even side against you. Be persuasive.

SHOW THEM THAT YOU’RE ONE STEP AHEAD OF THEM

Show the reader that you’ve done your homework. Tell them what you know about what’s already been done about this issue.

That way, they can’t brush you off with a form letter that tells you all the great things they’ve done so far.

DO MORE THAN JUST COMPLAIN Offer strategies,

recommendations, and solutions for your issue in terms of how Canada should proceed in the future.

What is it that you want the government to do? Create a law? Change one? Get rid of one? Increase/decrease funding? Create a new program? Get rid of one that isn’t working?

ENDING YOUR LETTER

Thank the official for their time and state that you are looking forward to hearing from him or her at their earliest convenience.

End with “Yours truly,” “Respectfully” etc.

Type your name five lines below, and then hand write your signature in pen

FUN FACT—SENDING MAIL TO PARLIAMENT HILL IS FREE!

FUN FACT (cont’d) That’s right--if you send a letter to your MP in

Ottawa, you don’t have to pay postage!

It doesn’t matter how big the package is either...

This also applies if you’re writing to the Prime Minister or a member of the Cabinet

Sadly, this doesn’t apply to letters to your provincial or municipal representative.

Um, what’s an “auto-pen?” It’s a machine used by governments

when it’s not physically possible for a public figure to sign EVERY letter they send out.

Even if your letter makes it to the right office, you still may get a response that was signed by a machine, like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SEj9Foye0w&feature=related

LET’S REVIEW:

Target your letter Format your letter properly Explain what you’re upset about, while

remaining respectful Show them that you’re one step ahead of

them & that you’ve done your homework Do more than just complain—make a

suggestion End your letter respectfully and ask for a

response