About Take Action

The United Church has been active in the public arena since its earliest days. This practice has a great deal to do with the belief of the founders of this church that ours is a living faith, expressed in active, thoughtful involvement in society. Our non-partisan approach is intended to raise public awareness about justice, peace, and creation in communities across Canada and to build relationships with our politicians and in our communities around these issues.

If you want to advocate on an issue, where can you start?

• Face to Face Meetings with Members of Parliament (MPs)
• Writing to Members of Parliament
• Use the Media

Face to Face Meetings with Members of Parliament

Learn the name and political party of the MPs you want to meet, and locate their constituency offices. Their addresses and phone numbers are in the blue pages of the telephone book in the Government section under Members of Parliament, or online* on the Government of Canada site.

A. Before the Meeting

Make an Appointment

A phone call to the constituency office is usually all that's required, but you may be asked to put your request in writing with short letter outlining who you are and what you want to talk about. Follow this letter with a phone call. Be sure to make an appointment as far ahead as possible-politicians have many demands on their time.

Your phone call may also give you an opportunity to speak with the MP's staff about the issues, or arrange to leave material with them. Staff have an important role in reporting back the mood of the electorate. You might suggest that you are prepared to provide a speaker for their next local party meeting.

Know Your Subject

Be sure to learn about the issue you're talking about. You don't need to be an expert-most politicians aren't-but you do need to be prepared for the sort of questions they are likely to ask. Knowing what party and "faction" they are in can help you predict the views they are likely to hold.

Bring along a briefing paper or information sheet as a way of maintaining focus during the meeting. It serves to remind you of the points you wish to cover, and to remind the MP after you have gone what was discussed and what actions your group wants to see.

Be Familiar with the Political Process

Make sure you also understand enough about the political system not to make avoidable mistakes that an MP may pounce on.

Familiarize yourself with what the Government and the Opposition are saying on particular aspects of the issue you are raising. This will suggest what strategy and arguments you might use to exert influence.

Organize Your Delegation

Three is an ideal number for a delegation. Having others to share the discussion, as well as to take notes, can be invaluable. Try to include somebody who is a member of the MP's political party.

B. At the Meeting

Be presentable and respect formalities. Make sure everyone in your delegation knows where the MP's office is, and meet outside 15 minutes early.

Be articulate and concise, as well as friendly and polite. Don't get sidetracked. If you are asked a question that you cannot answer, say you don't know and arrange to get back to them with and answer.

Don't speak for too long. Remember, you are aiming to open up a dialogue and get the MP to do something about your concerns.

It is important to find out the MP's views on the issue at hand. Listen to what they say and be prepared to start from their position.

Give the MP good political reasons why they should be prepared to take a stand. Remember, politicians like numbers, so be familiar with any useful polls (e.g., "40 percent of people polled said they were confused about the child tax benefit").

Politicians' personal beliefs may conflict with their party's stand or what they think voters want, so they may agree with you without doing anything to support you. Ask what they would be prepared to do. Draw a commitment from them; that means you will have to get back in touch and vice versa.

Would they be prepared to

• make a public statement
• ask a question in Parliament
• talk to a fellow MP or a Cabinet minister on your behalf
• write a letter raising your concerns
• table a petition
• raise the issue at a party meeting

Regardless of the meeting's outcome, thank them again for the opportunity to meet and to air your concerns. Leave behind easy-to-read literature and a summary of your concerns.

If local media seem are sympathetic to your cause, you may be able to interest them in covering your visit.

C. After the Meeting

Follow Up

If you have promised further information, ensure you deliver it as soon as possible. Also make sure the MP honours any commitment made to you. If you don't hear anything within a week or so, phone or write until it's resolved.

Debrief

Talk the meeting over with your group. Discuss what worked, what didn't , and what could be done better.

Communicate with Allies

Communicate with ecumenical partners, as well as civil organizations who have similar concerns. This ensures that the wider church knows who has been seen and what sort of response we're getting. Feedback is essential for a successful strategic campaign.

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Writing to Members of Parliament

Although face-to-face meetings with MPs are usually the most effective, the number of letters, e-mails, and faxes received on any issue can also be a very real yardstick of the extent of public concern.

Some letter-writing basics to keep in mind:

• Have your message typed (or make sure your handwriting is legible).
• Include your name, address, and telephone number. Introduce yourself-who you are and why you are making contact. Specify if your message is to your local MP.
• Be clear and concise, but also informative and persuasive. Review your objectives and priorities, and state clearly what you are asking for.
• Refer to recent news items and relevant facts to make your argument.
• Outline your concerns firmly and clearly but do not be abusive, as such messages are easily dismissed as irrelevant. Offer to provide further information.
• Remember to ask your MP to do something about your concerns.

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Using the Media

A well-timed story on an issue can have a significant impact in a political campaign. A well-written and well-researched story can gain community support, which can be used to influence MPs.

If your group is intending to contact the local media, please remember these points:

• Check information you want to send to the media with your Conference office or the General Council. In any campaign it is important to maintain consistency about what is being said, to which media, and by whom.
• Please remember you can only speak on behalf of yourself or your own group, not for the United Church as a whole.
• Always provide a contact name and phone/fax/e-mail details of a member of your group with whom the media can discuss the issues in your release.
• Timing of your release is important. If you find your local paper publishes once a week, make sure your release gets there in plenty of time for the media to follow up with you before their deadline.
• If you are targeting radio programs, check the name of the show's producer and telephone them to let them know you are sending a release-they may with to do an on-air interview on the subject matter. The names of local radio outlets, as well as their addresses, phone and fax numbers, and staff names and positions, can be found in the reference section of your local library.

Talkback Radio

The biggest daytime radio audiences are for talkback radio.

If you go on such shows you'll only be given a short time to talk, so plan your points and expect to make only a few.

When you call talkback, remember these tips:

• Talk to one person at a time. Of course, more than one person is listening, but each is an individual. Just imagine yourself talking to one person-not the whole of Canada.
• To prevent feedback from your radio, turn your own radio off while you are waiting to go on. When you can hear the program through the phone-and that will be well before you go to air-that's the time to switch your own radio off. You will hear what callers before you are saying through your phone, so you won't miss out on anything.

Letters to the Editor

The most well-read part of any newspaper is the letters section, and politicians refer to the letters to gauge support for particular issues. A letter to the editor is a good way to show support for an issue or engage in a public debate.

Some key points for getting published:

• Keep your letter short and simple (no more than 250 words).
• If you can, relate it to a previous story, letter, editorial, or feature which the paper has published (make some imaginative links if necessary).
• Plan your first sentence carefully-if it is dull the editor may read no further; if it's catchy you have a chance.
• A simple letter pattern could be to state
  • what you support or disagree with
  • what evidence or examples you can offer to support your view
  • what can be done about it

Make sure you sign your letter, and include your name, address, and phone number so the editor can verify it.

Generally only one letter in 10 or more gets published. If yours doesn't make it the first time, don't give up. Keep writing and eventually you'll end up in print.

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