Write a letter to the editor

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write a letter to the editor

why write an LTE

Write an 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 150-200 words! When time is of the essence, choose to write an LTE.

expert fact

Once submitted, you can track your letter by doing an internet search of your name and following up with the publication to find out if/when it is getting published.

secret tip

Your letter doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to be an expert to have an opinion. You simply need to care.

Special Action: Polio Movement Challenge

why write an LTE

expert fact

Once submitted, you can track your letter by doing an internet search of your name and following up with the publication to find out if/when it is getting published.

secret tip

Your letter doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to be an expert to have an opinion. You simply need to care.

report your actions see all actions taken about this call-to-action

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

Call-to-action summary:

Investments in nutrition and food aid are a lifesaving priority during humanitarian crises like war, famine, and natural disasters, where disruptions to food and basic services threaten people’s lives, health, and long-term development. The upcoming 2026 budget is a crucial opportunity for Canada to invest in our world, rather than turn its back on those left behind. It’s time for our government to lead with courage, not retreat. Canadian decision-makers need to hear it clearly: people across Canada want to stop the cuts to international aid.

read full call-to-action

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

Writing a letter to the editor (LTE) is a great way to help shape the conversation. Members of Parliament (MPs) read these letters in their local papers, so you can use your LTE to show your representative that their constituents want Canada to stop cutting international aid in Budget 2026.

Don’t know what to write?

Our budget toolkit has all the information you may need to write an LTE, including our key messages and case studies.

You can also check out our other guidance on how to get published:

Make sure to report your actions if you submit an LTE or get published!

follow these step-by-step instructions to write an LTE

Volunteers on average spend 1-2 hours researching and planning, 30 minutes writing their draft, and 15 minutes submitting it to newspapers.

Read our current call-to-action and note the “ask”.
Research the current issue by reading the news or external reliable sources (e.g., the World Health Organization).
Draft your LTE. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to be an expert to have an opinion.
- Create an outline of your letter using the EPIC format.
- Keep it short – 150-200 words. Being clear and concise will increase your chances of getting published. 
- Focus on your perspective and speak from the heart while supporting your opinion with evidence from our call-to-action and/or your research.
- Remember to state the problem early on and include a solution to the issue which is usually the “ask” in the call-to-action.
- Write a catchy title that will draw the reader in.
- Review your draft to make sure you are using respectful and inclusive language – see our anti-oppression best practices.
Decide if you are sending your LTE to one or many newspapers. If you’re emailing multiple newspapers, put their addresses in the BCC field. Use our database of editors’ emails for options.
Press ‘send’ – congratulations! Be sure to let us know you’ve submitted an LTE through our reporting form or tell your Group Leader. If you are not part of a group, contact us at action@resultscanada.ca. If you are not a volunteer yet, join us!
Send your LTE draft to your Member of Parliament (MP) to let them know your opinion.

did you get published?

Do an internet search of your name and a key sentence from your LTE for a few weeks after you submit if the newspaper editor didn’t notify you that they picked up your LTE.
If you got published, complete the “I got published in the media” form.
Share it on social media by tagging @ResultsCda and your Member of Parliament.
Keep submitting LTEs on future calls-to-action and you could become a publishing expert like Adil.

secret tips

Look at our latest learning session on LTEs (15 mins).
Get more traction by connecting your LTE to a newsworthy topic or hook that inspires you - refer to our key dates, hashtags, tags, and keywords.
Respond to a recently published article as a hook for your LTE.
Collaborate with other volunteers. Nothing is stopping you from submitting a co-written LTE!
Speak another language? Send your LTE to community newspapers published in that language.
Consider writing an op-ed if you have lots of research material and 200 words isn’t enough!

see an example of an LTE

Vaccines a light of hope for children

While at times we can feel overwhelmed by all the bad news, there are many candles fighting the darkness. Critical health measures are succeeding around the world — even as the media focuses its attention elsewhere.

Since its inception in 2000, the International Vaccine Alliance Gavi, has helped vaccinate more than half the world’s children, reducing vaccine-preventable deaths by a staggering 70 per cent. In 1980, child mortality for children under five years old was 250 deaths per thousand live births. Today, it’s about 50.

We can keep the good news coming. The next round of funding for Gavi approaches and Canada’s share is $720 million. It’s critical the federal government steps up with its share of funding to vaccinate half a billion children in this next round. A half a billion candles to light the darkness.

Nathaniel Poole, Victoria, B.C.
Nov 16, 2024 in the Regina Leader-Post

See more published volunteer LTEs.

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

Before volunteering with Results, I was so intimidated to write a letter to the editor but they gave me the tools to write one about immunizations and it ended up getting published! I feel so empowered to continue making a difference.

– Megan, Results Canada volunteer