But, before we get into the “how to’s” of letter-writing…
NHPPA’s Pressure Your MP Campaign as maintained astounding power from June 2023 through to present. MPs have spent time reading and responding to at least tens of thousands of your letters. Let’s get to work and build on this incredible momentum.
Use the information below as a guide to craft effective letters that educate your MP.
If you haven’t already reviewed our materials, we have a few options available to help you understand the issues:
By utilizing the resources above, it will ensure you have a solid understanding of the issues, which will build your confidence to communicate with your MP!
Commit to yourself, and schedule time in your calendar, to draft a letter weekly or biweekly, depending on your availability.
Because we are asking you to write multiple letters, you do not need to include every issue within a single letter. It is okay for many of the letters you draft to have a different focus because there are many ways Health Canada’s actions in restricting natural health products will impact you as an individual Canadian citizen. Using this strategy can also help keep you inspired to continue letter-writing in the months to come.
We have provided form letters below, if you are unwilling or unable to draft a letter in your own words. However, if you have the capacity to write your own letter, in your own words, we strongly encourage you to do so. Personalized letters hold much more weight with our MPs.
Tell your MP what natural health products mean to you! You can include a connection or success story that you or a family member has had with natural health products. Personal stories are some of the most impactful communications we can share with our elected officials.
Print out a copy of the Discussion Paper on 2023 Health Canada Initiatives. We suggest stapling your letter to this Discussion Paper at least once. You may also want to highlight passages in the Discussion Paper that are particularly meaningful to you, or write notes in the margins about sections in the Discussion Paper that most apply to you. The physical size and weight of sending in a 36-page Discussion Paper to your MP causes an impact, as will the understanding they’re sure to gain as a result.
With subsequent letters, you can print out a copy of our 2-page Natural Health Products Crisis Summary and affix that to your letter.
It is important to send a letter to your MP at both their House of Commons address and their Constituency Office. You can find their Constituency Office here:
House of Commons Current Members of Parliament.
You don’t have to stop at sending letters to your Member of Parliament. You can also mail your letter to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, the Standing Committee on Health, or even all 338 MPs, if you’re willing.
This is a letter that you draft yourself. We have compiled a guide to help you write an effective letter, and have also compiled a list of two dozen potential writing points that you can use as inspiration.
Level 1
Write Your Own Letter
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Word Document
This letter is almost done for you. It is the same form letter but with a blank text box for you to add your own hand-written personal commentary. Your effort to draft personalized comments results in more impact on your MP.
Level 2
Just Add Commentary
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Word Document
This letter is completely done for you. All you need to do is add your MP’s name, sign and date the form letter. This requires the least time investment, but form letters also have the least impact at the MP’s office.
Level 3
Sign and Date Only
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Word Document