You Can Influence Your Government
You are an expert in healthy lifestyles. MPs or MPPs on the other hand can’t be an authority on every topic, so they look to their constituents. That’s you. Promoting increased physical activity every day, you are a valuable resource to your Parliamentarian on health promotion bills that impact the fitness industry.
So stand tall and let’s start exercising our rights!
Tilling the soil: calling your Parliamentarians
Here is your first opportunity for follow-up. A few days after sending your email, fax, or letter, place a phone call to your Parliamentarians’ offices. This is a great way to learn about their position on the issue, provide more information on the bill, and begin to cultivate relationships.
Political phone book: www.part.gc.ca
Who to call: Your first call should be to the MP. If they aren’t available, ask for the staff member that handles the issue you are calling about.
Unless you have cultivated a relationship with your MP, don’t expect for them to take your call. But don’t worry; the staff plays a key role in advising the Member on issues. It can be extremely effective to cultivate a working relationship with these staff.
Phone Prompts: Identify yourself and your health club. Be sure to tell them you are a constituent and a member of the FIC.
State the reason for your call and then explain how the issue would affect your club or your members and why you support or oppose it.
• Ask about the Parliamentarians’ position on the issue: If it is the same as your position, express agreement and thanks. Ask to be updated on the progress of the issue.
If your positions differ, politely express disappointment and offer factual information and personal examples supporting your view.
• Request that the parliamentarian take a specific action, issue a statement to the media or in Parliament. Be sure to thank them for their time and offer to provide any further info they might be interested in. By making yourself an available resource you will begin to develop a useful relationship with key staff and Parliamentarians.
Planting the Seed: Office Visits
If you have ever sold a club membership, you know that a face-to-face sales pitch is far more effective than one direct mail piece or cold call. Though both are vital components to building awareness of a bill, the face-to-face visit is your best opportunity to pitch your position to a Parliamentarian.
“All politics is local” Tip O’Neill, former speaker of the US House of Representatives
Riding office visits
• Take the next step in grassroots advocacy without traveling far from home.
• Always be sure to make an appointment to visit a district office, as they are not always fully staffed.
MPs will often hold regular office hours when they or a staff member will be available. This is a great time to make an appointment; they are there just to listen to constituent concerns like yours.
Try to make appointments to meet with your MP when they are home during a recess. These are regularly scheduled throughout the year and present a great occasion to personally meet with your Member, since their schedules are much less rigorous than when in Ottawa. Check out for the official calendar.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/process/house/calendar/calpre-e.htm
Ottawa visits
• Visiting Ottawa may take more time than a riding office visit, but it’s a great chance to see where and how our government really works.
• Multi-task: if there is a hearing on your issue, make an appointment for that day. You can lobby your Parliamentarians, attend the hearing, and even provide testimony.
Lobbying Tips
• Don’t be disappointed if you are given an appointment with a staffer. Staff and even junior staff play a key role in all legislative offices. MPs and Senators rely heavily on their staff and often seek their counsel before voting, especially regarding constituent concerns.
• Begin by thanking them for meeting with you. Sure, they haven’t committed to anything and may not share your position (yet!), but always remember to be cordial. Think about how sometimes you might be more willing to go out of your way for a friendly member at your club, than the one who never appreciates when you go the extra mile!
• Let everyone in the group introduce him or herself. Provide your name, your club’s name, your club’s size, and some brief background about your club. If you have a special connection with the Parliamentarian, now is the time to mention it. (For example: you went to the same college; the Member’s family belongs to your club; or you are both supporters of the same charity.)
• Do not discuss financial contributions. Explicitly stating that you have made political contributions to the MP in the past is unnecessary. If you had made contributions, simply say that you are a long time supporter; he or she will understand the implication.
• Present a clear agenda. State the issue you are there to discuss referencing a bill name and number if possible.
• Explain why you’re there. Share whether you support or oppose the measure. Build a solid argument using key points from FIC and your own personal experience. Try to connect the issue to the Parliamentarians’ district.
• Make “the ask.” Just like in a membership sales pitch, you need to clearly ask the person you are meeting with to take a specific action. For instance you could ask them to make a public statement, table petitions, raise it at committee proceedings etc.
• Answer questions. You don’t need to be a political expert to lobby your Parliamentarians, so it’s okay if you don’t know all the answers to their questions. Tell them you’ll get back to them with the info as soon as possible – they’ll appreciate your honesty and your dedication.
• Don’t forget the follow-up. Again with the follow-up, we know! Keep in mind the long-term goal of your advocacy is not to simply pass or stop a bill, but to build a relationship with your Parliamentarians. Follow-up with a thank you letter.
The above was prepared by the Sussex Strategy Group in support of the advocacy efforts of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada. www.sussex-strategy.com
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