Write a letter to the editor

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write to the Finance Minister

why write a Minister

Write to a Minister if you want to share your opinion about an issue that concerns you. A personalized letter or email from you means that there is a constituent in their riding who cares, and whose opinion needs to be represented on Parliament Hill.

expert fact

Sending a personalized handwritten letter by mail is one of the most influential ways to get a Minister’s attention.

secret tip

Why not make writing to a Minister a family activity? Ask your children to draw a picture linked to our current campaign and include it with your letter. You can also take a photo of your family and share it with the Minister on social media and tag @ResultsCda.

write a letter to the editor (LTE)

why write an LTE

Write a letter to the editor (LTE) if you want to make your opinion heard in a timely manner. You don’t need a lot of research, and your LTE can be brief and to-the-point - just 200-500 words! When time is of the essence, choose to write an LTE.

expert fact

You have a better chance at getting published if you keep it short and sweet (and don’t be afraid to be bold!)

secret tip

Politicians are in their jobs because of you! As Canadians, we have voted them into office to represent us. So they want to hear from you to learn what issues you feel are most important.

use your voice on social media

why use social media

Social media is a quick and easy way to speak up and tell your Member of Parliament (MP) that you care about immunization and access to vaccines. Get public attention and let Canada know that they should continue to be a global leader.

expert fact

Twitter is a news-centric platform! 71% of Twitter users get their daily news from Twitter making it a great platform to share and spread your news.

secret tip

Politicians are people too! Don’t be afraid to use social media to reach out to them about the issues that are important to you. 94% of online Canadians are on at least 1 social media platform so it makes sense for politicians to be active on social as well.

see all actions taken

step-by-step instructions for writing an LTE

Our #EndCovidEverywhere campaign this month focuses on the ACT-Accelerator (ACT-A) and the investments Canada needs to make to ensure everyone, everywhere has the diagnostic tools, vaccines, and medicines necessary to end COVID-19.

The ask: Canada must invest at least 1% of its COVID-19 response in new and additional aid towards an emergency global response to end the pandemic everywhere. A significant portion of this must go to global health agencies delivering on the ACT-Accelerator (ACT-A).

letter to the editor \ (LTE)
: a letter written to a newspaper, magazine or other periodical about issues of concern to readers, usually intended to be published in the paper/periodical

Write a letter to the editor about why Canada should invest in the ACT-Accelerator (ACT-A). Explain that it aims to develop essential health products for the fight against COVID-19 and ensures that those products are distributed equitably, with new diagnostics, drugs and technologies delivered to the people who need them most.

Point to the fact that the World Health Organization estimates that the USD$35 billion needed for ACT-A would be paid back in 36 hours once international mobility and trade is restored. Use the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17 to talk about the millions of people living in extreme poverty that are now faced with an unprecedented COVID-19 health and humanitarian crisis - where the extraordinary progress over the last decade to save lives from illness and disease now risks being reversed, with an estimated 71 million falling back into poverty.

Use our step-by-step instructions below and get your LTE published in the media.

read our top tips

Make it relevant and timely - ideally within 2 days of a current event.
Finish and submit your letter - it doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to be an expert to have an opinion. You simply need to care.
Come up with a dynamite title that will catch the Editor’s attention.
Be creative and speak from the heart about the campaign issue.

secret tip

Try to find a local story to connect to the campaign.

In the age of travel, airborne diseases like tuberculosis knows no borders. Do you know someone who has lived with tuberculosis? Raise the importance of investing in global health and ensuring everyone has access to quality drugs, no matter where they were born.

follow these 8 steps

Familiarize yourself with our current campaign.
Connect our campaign and your opinion with a newsworthy topic or hook that inspires you. Try these ideas:
- refer here to our key dates, hashtags, tags and keywords
- do internet research, read the latest news articles, or use external resources
- refer to past volunteer LTEs to see published examples.
Write your LTE to give your opinion related to our campaign issue. See an example below.
Use our searchable list of editors’ emails to email your LTE to.
Press send.
Send your LTE to your Member of Parliament (MP) to let them know your opinion.
If you belong to a Results group, let your Group Leader know that you’ve submitted an LTE. If you are not part of a group, consider joining one! Until then, fill out this “actions taken” online form.
If your LTE gets published, share it on social media by tagging @ResultsCda and your MP. And make sure to let your Group Leader know!

see an example of an LTE

Feb. 6: Transit task force, teachers’ strike and other letters to the editor

Vaccines can save millions of lives

Re: Vaccination

The recent coronavirus outbreak has shown diseases know no borders. While we in developed nations are aptly (and hopefully) prepared for such outbreaks, those in underdeveloped countries still struggle to protect themselves.

A simple, cost-effective and — despite the anti-vax movement — reliable way to prevent the spread of disease is vaccination. Life-saving vaccines are vital for developing nations since disease and poor health is a major barrier for progress.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised an increased Canadian presence in the international community, but has yet to materialize this commitment.

A compelling and practical approach would be for the Canadian government to provide financial aid to Gavi: The Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

Millions are at risk. Canada can play an important role in the prevention of disease and helping these people rise out of poverty and into an optimistic future.

— Adam Ranallo, Publication date: February 6, 2020, The Hamilton Spectator

secret tip

Don’t include mention of Results Canada - this keeps your letter looking like it’s your opinion, because it is!

secret tip

You can send your letter to as many editors as you like - no need to change it or make it different. The more editors you send it to, the better your chances of getting published.

See all our resources to help you write your LTE, along with key dates, hashtags, tags and keywords found on our campaigns page here.

I remember the first time that I sat down to write my first ever LTE. It was nerve wracking but also very exciting to be able to share my opinion in such a quick and easy way. Pressing ‘send’ can be daunting but you just have to go for it! Remember that you don’t have to be an expert to have an opinion, you only need to care.

- Melanie, Results volunteer