Media Release: CAAR groups condemn Mainstream’s certification as not ‘Best Practices’
Appearance of ISA in BC must lead to immediate action by DFO
Your Pen, A Mighty Weapon
Help stop the impacts of net-cage salmon farms by picking up your pen (or writing an email.) Writing letters — directly to government officials or media outlets — is a very powerful way for you to let government know what you think about issues such as salmon farming. Generally, politicians consider the ideas expressed to them in a letter to be representative of up to 1,000 of their constituents. Your opinions are valued!
Politicians also read the ‘Letters to the Editor’ section of national and local papers in order to gain insight into public opinion. The ‘Letters to the Editor’ section of any publication is often the most read.
Write to the Federal Government:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
pm@pm.gc.ca
The Honorable Keith Ashfield
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Parliament Buildings, Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0A6
Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Write to the Provincial Government:
Premier Christy Clark
PO Box 9041 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC
V8W 9E1
premier@gov.bc.ca
Write to a Newspaper:
Globe and Mail
444 Front St. West
Toronto, ON M5V2S9
Fax: (416) 585-5085
Email: letters@globeandmail.ca
Website: www.globeandmail.com
National Post
1450 Don Mills Rd. Ste. 300
Don Mills, ON M3B3R5
Fax: (416) 442-2212
Email: queries@nationalpost.com
Website: www.nationalpost.com
The Vancouver Sun
200 Granville St., Ste. 1
Vancouver BC V6C3N3
Fax: (604) 605-2308
Email: sunletters@pacpress.southam.ca
Website: www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun
Times Colonist
PO Box 300
Victoria, BC V8W 2N4
Fax: (250) 280-5353
Email: letters@times-colonist.com
Some things to keep in mind when writing:
- KISS (Keep It Short and Simple). Stay focused. Be brief and get to the point (100-200 words for letters to the editor).
- Refer to only one issue. You want to keep your message strong.
- Research any facts that you use. Nothing weakens the value of a letter more than incorrect statements. Check your facts and where possible provide sources for your info, i.e. website or journal, etc.
- Be polite and guide your passion on the topic in an educated way.
- Provide full contact details. A publication will follow up with a phone call if they intend to print your letter and you want to make it easy for government to respond to your concerns.
- Email is a great tool for writing a letter to a publication because it saves them the trouble of having to retype your letter.