Influence politicians

How to Influence Your Political Representatives (Canadian Equal Parenting Council CEPC)

YOU can influence policy. To a politician every letter written represents the opinion of ten voters. For every ten who write, one will volunteer and work for a political party, so your volunteer work equals one hundred ordinary voters. To lobby effectively, you must be persistent, professional and do your homework. Here are some steps to being effective:

Step 1 Political Homework:

Make a list of the relevant political representatives, contact information, address, e-mail and executive assistants’ names or get this from the CEPC contact below. A tracking sheet is useful. Make a list of your issues using the equal parenting package. Note which department and provincial/federal level has responsibility: eg. Divorce, tax policy, and criminal law, are federal jurisdiction. Common Law separation, Family courts, Child support collections etc are provincial.

Step 2 Issue Homework: Opposition

Also using the tracking sheets provided, find out who your opposition is and what their arguments are. Keep track of timing and content of upcoming bills and initiatives relevant to our work. Work with others who are experienced advocates. Read media and internet commentary on divorce and related issues and keep notes, forward to national advocacy contact regularly.

Step 3: Plan Your Strategy

There are basically three targets of lobbying: 1) the public, which is usually done through the media, 2) the
bureaucrats, which is the most focused, requiring experience and knowledge, and 3) politicians
Plan your strategy:1) A public or media strategy involves creating, joining or responding to a newsworthy event. This type of advocacy will be undertaken by CEPC national advocacy working with local advocates
2) A Bureaucrat lobbying strategy should be focused on the relevant provincial departments and be professionally undertaken.
Political lobbying aims to change existing policy: You can do this by submitting letters to relevant politicians, by meeting with him or her, and by acting as a professional liaison between them and the CEPC. Try to build a relationship with executive assistants of politicians. You generally can make only one basic point in a letter or phone call, and perhaps two in a meeting. Many MPs don’t pay much attention to email. Handwritten letters are best.
Fax is good for short follow-ups, and phone calls should be kept short. Personalized letters to MPPs can be generated with the mail merge capability of WordPerfect and MS Word. If you do this, we suggest you get the CEPC advocacy contact below to review your letter before sending.

Step 4:Meetings:

Try to enlist constituents in the riding for a meeting with a politician, maximum of 3, each with a main theme or point, and a lead speaker to introduce and limit time for each. Try to include at least one woman in your group. Thank the politician for the meeting, make introductions and the organization you represent. Describe people in the riding who are affected by this problem (1/3 to ½ on average). CEPC sheets on Equal Parenting, talking points and issues are useful. Keep it friendly and polite. Be prepared for questions: they may ask what specific change you propose.

Step 5:Response:

1. Ask if they will support the aims of the CEPC
2. Encourage them to join a family caucus. Ask that they raise your concerns in their caucus with colleagues.
3. Ask them to write to the Justice Minister /Attorney General and ask for balanced consultation with both sides (sole custody versus equal parenting) on this issue, and to create a law to ensure the outcome which is best for children: both parents.
4. Ask them to notify (cc) you once they have acted to provide you with feedback.
Step 6: Build Alliances
Meet with your group briefly after the meeting. Discuss how people felt about the politician’s comments and/or commitments. Record your impressions and forward them with your notes to CEPC national advocacy.

Step 7: Follow-up:

Keep in touch with the politician and their assistant. Send a thank you letter and invite them to forward any questions. Follow up on any promises made and any unanswered questions. Forward any requested information. Schedule a follow up meeting in 4-6 weeks time.

NATIONAL EQUAL PARENTING ADVOCACY CONTACT: president@canadianepc.org
631 Tubman Cr, Ottawa K1V 8L5 (613) 523-2444