Send the letter to:
Member of Parliament (Honourable for Cabinet Minister)
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Send a copy to:
Dr. Carolyn Bennett, MP, St. Paul's
Chair, Sub-Committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Postage is not required for mail to Members of Parliament if it is addressed to the House of Commons. Include your name and address on both the envelope and the letter.
State your position clearly in the opening sentence. For example:
"I am asking you to support the recommendations in the report, Getting it Right For Canadians: The Disability Tax Credit."
Every single letter is vital to this cause.
Hand-written letters are especially effective.
Let others who care about people with disabilities know about this initiative, including your doctor. Ask them to support this cause.
Talk to your relatives and friends, your neighbours and co-workers, and ask them to contact their MP. All MPs need to know that many of their constituents are concerned about the unfair practices toward people with disabilities by government officials. The Department of Finance and CCRA have demonstrated a fundamental lack of understanding of the overall impact of disabilities on the lives of Canadians.
MPs meet with their constituents in their home ridings on a regular basis. Advise a staff member about your concerns and make an appointment for a meeting.
Don't assume that your MP is knowledgeable about disability issues. MPs may also have some of the same biases and misconceptions as the general public.
If possible, arrange for a small group of people who share your concerns to participate in the meeting.
If possible, arrange for a small group of people who share your concerns to participate in the meeting.
Always follow up with a Thank You note.
John Manley is no stranger to the issues facing families when one of the members is disabled. His father suffered from tuberculosis and recived a disability pension. Ask Mr. Manley to become actively involved with the discussions regarding the recommendations in the report, Getting it Right for Canadiansto ensure tax fairness to all Canadians with disabilities.
Let Prime Minister Jean Chretien know your concerns. He also needs to know the importance of the impact of the committee's report for you and your family. Remind him that discrimination against individuals with disabilities is a poor reflection of our society's values. Ask him to ensure that all government social policies reflect the needs of people with mental impairments as well as people with the more visible physical disabilities.
Letters to the editor of local newspapers can be very effective tools to make others in your community aware of the discriminatory practices of the federal government. Some people may not even be aware that they are eligible for this tax credit. These letters can also help stimulate media interest in this initiative.
Studies show that people read the letters to the editor section more than they read editorials by journalists. These letters are also widely read by community leaders and politicians to gauge public opinion about current issues in the news.
Include your name, address and phone number. Most newspapers verify authorship before they print the letter.
Petitions can also be an effective means of letting government know about your concerns and that this initiative is supported by large groups of individuals in the community. A successful petition incorporates the following steps:
1. The word "Petition" must be at the top of each page.
2. All of the text needs to be at the top of the page.
3. Write the petition in simple language. For example, "We, the undersigned citizens of Canada believe that the proposed changes to the Disability Tax Credit Certificate T2201 form will continue to discriminate against many individuals with severe and prolonged mental and physical disabilities."
4. State the action you wish government to take. For example, "Therefore, we request that Parliament review the wording of the guidelines and questions in the Disability Tax Credit Certificate T2201 form and make the appropriate changes to ensure fairness to all individuals with disabilities.
Create three columns: one for the printed name; one for the printed address: and one for the signature. Do not ask for the phone number.
Deliver the petition in person to your politician and ask him/her to present the petition in the House of Commons. If a meeting can be arranged, take a small group of advocates with you."
Carol Skelton, a Canadian Alliance MP from Saskatchewan, presented a petition containing 3,600 names of her constituents in the House of Commons on May 22, 2002. She reminded the House that "the mandate of the CCRA states: 'We are committed to provide fairness to our clients and to protect their rights through our fairness practices.' "
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