How to write an advocacy letter

How to write an advocacy letter

Making your views known.
One of the oldest rights we have living in a democratic society is the right to make our views known to our elected representatives. Doing so is an effective way to ensure that laws and regulations that affect you, your family, and your way of life are not infringed upon by others who share different view points.

Politicians pay close attention to the amount of mail they receive from their constituents. Remember, most politicians won their elected position by only a few hundred votes and they are no different than you or I - they want to keep their job too. If they start getting several letters regarding an unpopular decision they start to get concerned. They will start telling those above them that are responsible for the laws or regulations that the letters refer to, that the decision is unpopular and could result in the loss of many votes if changes aren't made.

It is suggested that for every letter a politician receives, ten-thousand more feel the same way. Politicians will act for fear of losing their job.

Guidelines for writing advocacy letters.

State clearly what you want your reader (politician) to do.
Briefly explain why you think they should do this. Help them understand the need for action but avoid going into several paragraphs as to why. This will only annoy or bore them.
Do not bad-mouth other groups of people. This will only give reason for your letter to be dismissed.
Always show respect to the person you are writing the letter to.
Always provide a return address or a way for the reader of your letter to contact you.

Remember! A personal letter in your own words holds more weight than a form letter or an e-mail. Letters all written the same way have less impact than individually written letters; but all letters and e-mails have some impact. You may use the words provided in the following letter formats if time is an issue. But DO send a letter or an e-mail. It is important to make sure you are heard!

It is Alberta government policy to respond to all inquiries. Although you may get a response with a form-like letter, it does not mean your letter was not read and noted. It was.

Let's write a letter

Format (1) for your letter.

Your name and address.

Date

Name of Politician
Title of Politician
Address of Politician (see Resources)

Salutation (Dear _____)

1st Paragraph - Let the reader know what your concern is.

I am very concerned about these Interim Métis Harvesting Agreements the Alberta Government recently negotiated with the Métis Nation of Alberta and the Métis Settlements General Council. These agreements provide unrestricted harvesting rights of our fish and wildlife heritage to a large group of people who have not demonstrated a need for these rights. The agreements threaten Alberta’s wildlife heritage and will only further alienate the Métis people from the rest of the province.

Middle Paragraphs - You need your reader to realize the importance of your concerns and the impact the law or regulation may have. Try to be as brief as possible.

I understand that the government entered into these agreements to satisfy the conditions laid down by the Powley Supreme Court ruling of 2003. However, the agreements go way beyond the intent of that ruling as well as the Sparrow ruling of 1990 that support the aboriginal harvesting of fish and wildlife for subsistence purposes. People who claim to harvest for subsistence purposes should be able to demonstrate that they have done so historically and traditionally. Allowing anyone who can claim Métis status to hunt without regulation or limit defiles our fish and wildlife heritage. In reality, the Métis Betterment Act of the 1950s and the Métis Settlement Act of 1990 already established the rights clarified by the Powley ruling. Why did the government decide to go further? Why would the Alberta Government seek such agreements without researching the detrimental consequences for both the fish and wildlife resource and the Métis people?

Final Paragraph - Thank your reader for considering your request and provide a way for them to respond back to you.

Before long term harvesting agreements are made with the Métis, aboriginal harvesting of fish and wildlife should be the subject of a public consultation that takes into consideration the needs of all Albertans.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you about this issue.

Sincerely ...

Your name,
address,
phone number,
email address.

Format (2) for your letter.

Your name and address.

Date

Name of Politician
Title of Politician
Address of Politician (see Resources)

Salutation (Dear _____)

1st Paragraph - Let the reader know what your concern is.

I have recently discovered that our government has given the right to hunt, fish and trap, on all of our crown lands and at all times of the year, to the Métis people of Alberta. I find this to be of great concern because ...

Middle Paragraphs - You need your reader to realize the importance of your concerns and the impact the law or regulation may have. Try to be as brief as possible.

In a day and age where we should all be treated equally, regardless of skin colour, background or religion, I find it difficult to accept that many of our neighbours, living in the same cities as we do, have been given privileges well beyond those that I have. Giving away this right so freely has done little more than create social tension where it did not exist before. In today's world we should be looking for ways to create people as equals, not giving special rights where they did not exist before ...

The impact this decision will have on our fish and wildlife will be enormous and goes way beyond what the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in regard to the Powley Case. With strict harvest limits for most of our fish species and limited opportunities for many of our big game species, how can we allow an unknown number of people to an unregulated harvest. This unregulated harvest will make it impossible for our fish and wildlife managers to properly do their jobs. Many vulnerable species cannot sustain this extra harvest ...

Final Paragraph - Thank your reader for considering your request and provide a way for them to respond back to you.

I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my concerns and I do hope you see the importance of acting quickly in this matter.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely ...

Your name,
address,
phone number,
email address.

Format (3) for your letter.

Your name and address.

Date

Name of Politician
Title of Politician
Address of Politician (see Resources)

Salutation (Dear _____)

1st Paragraph - Let the reader know what your concern is.

I am writing this letter to convey my concerns regarding the Interim Métis Harvesting Agreement that was recently signed with the Métis people of this province and the impact it will have on fish and wildlife in Alberta.

Middle Paragraphs - You need your reader to realize the importance of your concerns and the impact the law or regulation may have. Try to be as brief as possible.

This agreement goes well beyond what is already given to the Métis people of this province and is quite unnecessary. It poses a serious threat to our fish and wildlife resources and the ability of licenced hunters and anglers to use this same resource. It will also take valuable dollars away from the management of fish and wildlife at a time when it is surely needed, at a time when ...

Very few people need to hunt, fish and trap year-round at no cost, let alone thousands of Métis people living in large centres such as Edmonton and Calgary. Already the impacts of this agreement are being felt with bighorn rams being killed on their wintering range and lakes being netted that have traditionally been left alone. Many of these lakes have collapsed fish populations that are now being severely damaged and will take years to recover if this agreement is not nullified. We must protect these resources; not allow them to be exhausted beyond their capabilities and ...

Final Paragraph - Thank your reader for considering your request and provide a way for them to respond back to you.

I hope you understand my concerns and take immediate action to put an end to what is surely going to be a disaster for wildlife management in Alberta.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely ...

Your name,
address,
phone number,
email address.

Messages. In your letter or e-mail message, please include the following messages:

The Interim Harvesting Agreements the Alberta Government recently negotiated with the Métis of this province threatens Alberta’s wildlife heritage by allowing a large number of people to hunt, fish or trap without regulation or limit.

The agreements go way beyond the intent of the Supreme Court rulings (Sparrow, 1990; Powley, 2003) that support the aboriginal harvesting of fish and wildlife for subsistence purposes. People who harvest for subsistence should be able to demonstrate that they have done so historically and traditionally. Allow anyone who can claim Métis status to hunt without regulation or limit defiles our fish and wildlife heritage.

Remember, this is not just a hunter, fisher or trapper issue. It involves all Albertans who enjoy wildlife and wild places.