Our guide to your life: this week, how to make sure you're heard if you've
got a political problem



Dakshana Bascaramurty

Globe and Mail Update Published on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 7:01PM EST Last
updated on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 7:12PM EST

Canadians' views on the prorogation of Parliament reached a fever pitch over
the last month, as they took to e-mail, phone and Facebook to express their
concerns. We explain the best way to get your voice heard when you're
reaching out to an elected representative.

1. Get personal

Soon after Parliament was prorogued, Myrrhanda Novak had to sort through a
new batch of reactionary e-mails sent in by constituents of the Winnipeg
South riding.

Ms. Novak is the communications director for Rod Bruinooge, a Conservative
MP, and handles much of her boss's e-mail, snail mail and phone
correspondence. While some of the letters are multipage handwritten notes,
many are the less-preferable form letters.

"Mass e-mails aren't the best way to get a personal response from your MP,"
she says. "We don't always have the capacity to respond."

Nanos Research surveyed 44 current MPs and 7 former ones in spring 2009
about the ways in which they interacted with their constituents and about 88
per cent said they were motivated to act politically on a message that came
through in a personal letter, versus about 45 per cent who said they would
based on a form letter.

Join the conversation

Alain Roy, Program Director, Amnesty International (Canada) takes questions
on how to communicate with your local representative at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday

2. Be civil

Erin Bried, author of general instructional guide How to Sew a Button, says
you don't have to temper your emotions in letters or e-mails - just make
sure you stay civil.

"There's something to be said for being cordial," she says. "If you're
angry, say you're angry. But you don't have to show it by name-calling."

On rare occasions, Ms. Novak comes across e-mails or letters to Mr.
Bruinooge that she just ignores.

"I'll get letters saying that Jack Layton is an absolute nutball or Stephen
Harper is an absolute nutball and I don't see the point of responding to
that if you're not asking me a question about [Mr. Bruinooge's] views," she
explained. "It's just an angry attack on an individual rather than a view on
an action or bill or anything."

3. Don't underestimate e-mail

"We often hear feedback [from volunteers] that e-mail is too easy and is not
taken as seriously," says Alain Roy, program director for Amnesty
International Canada who has organized and participated in many
letter-writing campaigns. "But if it's a personal e-mail, it's seen as
having an equal impact as something that's handwritten."

The Nanos survey suggests e-mail is in fact the best way to get in touch.
MPs ranked it higher than face-to-face, mail, phone and fax communication as
the way they preferred to hear from constituents.

Ms. Novak notes that turnaround time for replies is usually much shorter for
e-mails. While she handles most of the snail mail that comes into the
constituency office, both she and Mr. Bruinooge regularly read and respond
to e-mails that come in within a few days of receiving them.

4. Follow up

Mr. Roy says the initial point of contact is important in getting your local
representative's attention, but "a follow-up letter is quite key."

"Thank the [member] for taking the time to respond to your initial query and
commend them on the initial steps taken," he says. But then, he instructs,
hammer home the end result you want, or any issues you feel have not been
addressed - a second communiqué shows that you're invested in an issue.

"If you follow up, you're taken more seriously."

After the initial written communication, Ms. Novak encourages constituents
in her riding to follow up by phone. If you're really concerned, you can
usually set up an in-person meeting with your representative or a member of
his or her staff. When Mr. Bruinooge is in his riding office, he often meets
with at least one constituent a day, Ms. Novak says.

*And don't do this:

Send a letter to a representative outside your riding - unless it's a
minister, there's a slim chance you'll even get a reply.

By the numbers

Parliamentarians were surveyed about their interaction with the public

92.2% said an online campaign has never changed their mind on an issue

55.4% said their written communication is mostly handled by administrative
staff

94.3% said they save contact information and communications they receive
from people

54.5% said they have profiles on MySpace and/or Facebook


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