Your Voice Matters
Can one person make a difference? | Can you make a difference? | ABSOLUTELY!
In the last four years, Canadian citizens have started to question if our Government is still working for WE the people? If you are one of these people, an important step to take is to learn the many ways you can communicate and engage with our government.
One person can speak at a council meeting…
One person can organize a town hall…
One person can create and lead an action/awareness campaign…
One person can inspire others to get involved…and YES – this one person can be you!
Importance of a Free Press
Freedom of the media – a free and independent press – are the core of any democracy
December 2021 Canadaland writes, “Which media were included in Trudeau’s $10 million top-up fund.”
Do Canadian citizens need to be concerned that mainstream media is not informing us about important issues that could impact our rights and freedoms?
If our Government is funding media organizations, will they hold our Government to account when necessary?
Do your research, question everything and gain the knowledge you need to feel empowered.
Independent Media
BC Rising strives to share information and resources that will help make positive change in the province, the country, and the world. During a Wednesday meeting, our community discussed how the general public does not know how to access news outside of mainstream media. Through a collaborative effort, a new webpage for independent media was developed to help educate and inform your friends, family and community, etc.
Freedom News Directory
Critical thinking and curiosity are imperative so that you can research multiple sources of information that will allow you to make informed decisions – information that will protect the health and well being for you, your family and your community. Explore the worldwide community of independent media that has evolved over the last four years and continues to grow as a result of the censorship that is preventing access to information we need to make informed decisions.
CPAC NEWS
CPAC is an independent, not-for-profit, commercial-free, bilingual media organization that connects Canadians to their democracy. CPAC delivers the most comprehensive coverage of the people and events that shape Canadian public policy. Their core programming includes the complete televised proceedings of Canada’s Parliament and in-depth coverage of key political events and public policy debates. Read ABOUT CPAC
Canada’s Three Levels of Government
Who builds your parks, funds your schools, or runs your hospitals? Developed by provincial and territorial election agencies in Canada, and by Elections Canada, this video describes the roles and responsibilities of Canada’s three levels of government. (3:28)
Canada’s Three Levels of Elections
Your Vote Matters | You have a say in three different levels of Government – Developed by provincial and territorial election agencies in Canada, and by Elections Canada, this video explains your role in federal, provincial and municipal elections. (3:06)
Municipal Government
Understanding Your municipal/Local Government
Municipal governments are governed by democratically elected mayors, councils and school board trustees. Municipalities are created by the provinces and territories to provide services that are best managed under local control; from waste disposal and public transit to fire services, policing, drinking water, community centres, parks and libraries. A municipal government’s revenue is raised largely from property taxes and provincial grants. Reference: The Canadian Encyclopedia.
Your Municipal Representatives | Citizen issues can be addressed with mayors, council members and school board trustees either by phone, email and/or letters. Citizens can also apply to speak at a council meeting. Council meeting dates and processes can be found on your municipal website.
Participating in Local Council Meetings
Aurora, ON – Joel Sussman Spoke to 15 Minute Cities
campbell river – HPOA (Bill 36) & healthcare in BC
COAP – Local Actions in the cowichan valley
Organizations taking local action
Citizens Oversight & Accountability Project (COAP)
Common Law Education and Rights (CLEAR)
KELOWNA CITIZENS SAFETY ASSOCIATION
Kicking the International Council Out of Local Environmental Initiatives (KICLEI) educates and supports local communities to push back against global agendas and reallocate their resources toward local priorities.
Momentum is growing across Canada as more municipalities question the financial and governance risks of global climate programs like FCM’s Partners for Climate Protection (PCP). KICLEI is working to ensure local councils prioritize municipal needs over global directives—and they need your help to push this forward!
Monthly National Meetings | Attend a monthly meeting to learn more about KICLEI and how you can take back your community! Pre-register HERE
provincial government
Understanding Your Provincial Government
Structure of your Provincial Government includes: Lieutenant Governor | Premier | Cabinet | Legislative Assembly | Ministries | Public Service | Financial Disclosure Act
Your Provincial government is responsible for health & social services, education, natural resources and land, civil law (property rights, marriage, etc.) infrastructure such as highways and transportation systems…
Your Provincial Representative | Citizen issues and complaints can be addressed with your Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). Find you BC MLA HERE
Next BC Provincial Election | The next fixed provincial election is scheduled for October 21, 2028, though it may be called earlier if the government loses a vote of confidence.
Legislative Assembly of BC
The three functions of the Legislative Assembly are to:
Learn about the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
bc bills explained at townhalls across bc
THE POWER OF A TOWNHALL | In 2024 an initiative called BCTOWNHALLS2024 travelled across BC educating and informing BC citizens. This initiative operated as a self-funded, non-partisan organization, independent of political and activist groups, dedicated to transparency and inclusivity. Their purpose was revitalizing the tradition of face-to-face dialogue in a digital era. Their vision was a community where each voice is not only heard but respected, fostering unity, understanding, and informed decision-making. By organizing live, moderated town-hall discussions on vital issues, they enabled citizens to engage critically with experts, officials, and one another in a neutral, respectful setting.
While BCTOWNHALLS2024 is no longer organizing townhalls, their 2024 initiative was extremely successful in creating awareness and strengthening community.
If you are a natural born leader and organizer with a message to share, creating a townhall is a very powerful way to unite – educate – and collaborate with your community.
coombs, bc
victoria, bc
comox, bc
federal government
Structure of your Federal Government includes: The Monarch | Governor General | Prime Minister | Cabinet | Ministers & Secretaries | Parliament | Departments & Agencies
Your Federal Government is responsible for Canada Post, passports, military, RCMP, telecommunication policies for internet, cell phones and TV providers….
Your Federal Representative | A Member of Parliament (MP) is a representative elected by Canadian voters. It is an MP’s responsibility to listen to the needs and concerns of their constituents. Ultimately, MP’s work for you and they want to hear from you! Find your Member of Parliament (MP) HERE
Next Federal Election | The 46th Canadian federal election will elect members of the House of Commons to the 46th Canadian Parliament. The Canada Elections Act requires that the election be held no later than October 15, 2029, but it may be called earlier.
2025 Federal Budget
News Release: Government of Canada Releases Budget 2025: Canada Strong
ARCHIVE: Public Accounts of Canada 2023–2024
Why is it important to understand how our Government works?
Knowledge is power…so learning about the governance of your city, province and/or country is necessary if you want to create change that will support healthy communities, healthy families and a healthy future for all.
You may not have grow up learning about government systems, politics or voting but it is never to late to learn something new….and even though learning about our government may not sound like a subject you want to give your time to, the result that you will likely experience from gaining this knowledge will not only be empowering, but could lead your life in directions you would have never previously considered!
We all have the ability to learn how to be a leader | Be the change!
Communicating with Government Representatives
Click image for full view.
Spreadsheet Sample: List of MP’s as of July 30, 2026
Communication Strategies
No matter what the issue, no matter how frustrated you may feel, make sure you include kindness and compassion when communicating with your government official as it is possible they are not fully informed about the issue you are addressing. Your communication may be the key to creating the awareness they need to get involved!
The more personal the communication, the more effect it has…
In Person | This is the most effective communication. Insist on meeting with your MP/MLA.
Phone Call | This is the second most effective. Even if meeting in person, plan follow up calls.
Letter | A single hand-written letter to your MP/MLA counts as a message from a hundred voices? Parliament has a rule-of-thumb that if 1 person takes the trouble to write a letter, it counts for many more people who feel the same way but do not take the time.
Email | An email is not quite as effective as a letter as inboxes may be extremely full which often leads to personal deleting strategies that could cause your message to go unread.
Mass Mail Out | This is a method of communication that generally does not require a response as you could be communicating with hundreds of individuals. It is a way to educate and inform multiple government representatives on a topic that may not need immediate attention, but has a high level of concern for our province or country. A small team makes this process fast and efficient as you would require someone that is familiar with spreadsheets (see picture sample) and mail merging process. OpenOffice Tutorial | MS Word/Excel Tutorial
Reference: Natural Health Product Protection Association (NHPPA)
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