Start here for a quick understanding of politics and advocating for the world’s poor

 

What you’ll learn:

• Which political leaders to focus on.
• Who your Members of Parliament are and how to contact them.
• How a bill becomes a law
• How to influence your Member of Parliament.
• Helpful information.

 

1. What politicians should I focus on?  In the context of Canadian Parliament, you should primarily focus on the Members of Parliament (MPs) who represent your specific riding. These MPs have the power to influence policy decisions, allocate funding, and pass legislation. While the role of the Canadian Prime Minister and government is significant, engaging with your local MPs allows you to directly impact the legislative process and advocate for specific issues related to poverty reduction.

 

2. Who are my members of Parliament and how can I contact them?

To find your Members of Parliament, you can visit the official Canadian Parliament website or use online tools that provide information based on your postal code. These resources will help you identify the MPs representing your constituency. Once you have their names, you can easily locate their contact information on the Canadian House of Commons website or their official websites.

 

3. How does a bill become a law?

This video explains How a Bill becomes a Law

• Notice: For the House of Commons, the MP planning to introduce a bill is required to give a 48-hour written notice to the Clerk of the House. The planned bill, with its title, will then be placed on the Notice Paper. Typically within 24-hours of the MP giving notice, the title of the planned bill will also be placed on the Order Paper. Both the Notice and Order Papers are simply a list of all items that may be introduced on a particular sitting day in Parliament.
• The First Reading takes place a minimum of 48-hours after the MP has given notice to the Clerk of the House. The First Reading involves officially introducing the bill into Parliament, and the MP introducing the bill gives a short summary of the bill.
• The Second Reading is arranged and the debate begins at the House of Commons, though no amendments can be made to the bill at this stage. The Bill is voted on and it is decided whether it will continue on to committee.
• If agreed, the Bill commences to the Committee Stage. The relevant committee reviews the bill in much more depth and detail. The committee may modify the bill as they see fit, bring in the sponsoring MP to ask questions about the proposed bill, and bring in experts or other members of the general population to answer any questions. The committee may also not make any modifications, and proceed with the bill as it was introduced.
• Although the Committee Stage most commonly occurs after the Second Reading, bills are occasionally referred to committee after only the First Reading. If this is the case, the Second Reading happens after the committee reports back to the House, and instead of sending it back to the committee afterward, it would then move on to the Third Reading.
• Once finished in committee, the bill enters the Report Stage. At this stage, all members of the House of Commons can suggest amendments to the bill. Debates at this stage do not typically have to do with the bill as a whole, but simply on possible amendments. The Speaker of the House of Commons selects which proposed amendments are then voted on by all members of the House of Commons. If no amendments are proposed, there is no debate and the bill continues on to the Third Reading.
• The Third Reading then begins, where the final debate and vote will take place. Like with the second reading, debate deals with the bill as a whole, and not about specific amendments. A simple majority is needed to pass the bill.
• If passed in the House of Commons, the bill moves over to the Senate, and the process is repeated. If the Senate makes any amendments, it must then go back to the House of Commons, as both chambers must agree on the exact wording of the bill.
• Once both chambers agree to the wording of the bill, it goes to the Governor General for Royal Assent.
• The Governor General signs the bill and it becomes a Law.

4. How long does it take for a bill to pass? The legislative process can vary in duration. Bills can be introduced and passed within a relatively short period, while others may take several months or even years to become law. It depends on the complexity of the bill, political considerations, and the level of support it receives from Members of Parliament.

 

5. Gaining Support? In the context of the Canadian Parliament, the term “cosponsor” is not commonly used. However, in Canada, during the Notice stage, up to 20 MPs can add their name to the bill, referred to as jointly seconding the bill. Additionally, throughout the entire legislative process, members of Parliament can support or endorse specific bills by expressing their agreement or voting in favor of the proposed legislation. The support of MPs is crucial in pushing for bills to be scheduled for debates, votes, and potential passage into law. Advocacy efforts often involve urging MPs to support and champion key poverty-reduction bills in order to generate momentum and secure parliamentary action.

 

6. Know your MP: Keep up to date with your MP, their daily activities, and the daily activities of Parliament by signing up for alerts through Open Parliament.

 

7. Is my leader on a key Committee or Target Group? Engaging every Member of Parliament is important, but engaging with Members of Parliament in key positions is crucial for advancing poverty-reduction initiatives. If your MP serves on the following committees or groups, it is important to mobilize support and contact them to express your advocacy for poverty-related legislation.

• Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE): This committee handles many bills related to poverty reduction and plays a significant role in advancing them through the legislative process.
• Standing Committee on Finance (FINA): Members of Parliament on this committee determine the allocation of funding for government programs and agencies, including those addressing poverty.
• Party Leadership: MPs in leadership positions have significant influence over parliamentary decisions, including the scheduling and prioritization of bills.
• Caucuses, Associations, or Groups: Some MPs may be part of caucuses, associations, or groups that focus on poverty-related issues. Identifying these MPs and engaging with them can be instrumental in gaining support for poverty-reduction bills.

8. Are you a ‘Dual Constituent’? Okay so we totally just made up the term ‘Dual Constituent,’ but we’re trying to find a way to describe people with ties to multiple ridings, such as studying in a different parliamentary riding than where you grew up or where you live with your parents outside of the school year, it is essential to leverage this opportunity. As a ‘Dual Constituent,’ you can maximize your impact by contacting and engaging with leaders from all the ridings to which you have connections.

 

9. How can I influence my leaders to support legislation that improves living conditions for millions of people?

You’ve come to the right place! Here are the key ways to make an impact:

• Email and call your Members of Parliament to express support for key bills. Even a few seconds of your time can bring important issues to their attention.
• Mobilize others to contact Parliament. Encourage friends, family, and community members to join in advocating for the ODA or poverty-reduction legislation. The more people who express support, the stronger the message becomes.
• Engage in lobbying efforts. You don’t have to be an expert to meet with your elected officials. Communicate your passion for addressing global poverty and highlight key points about the ODA or legislation you’re advocating for. Sending a thank-you email after the meeting is an opportunity to reinforce important information.
• Utilize social media platforms. MPs and their staff often monitor social media for constituent concerns and support. Tweeting or posting on Facebook about poverty-related issues can help raise awareness and gain attention from your leaders.
• Remember, your individual efforts, multiplied by the engagement of others, can make a significant difference in influencing your leaders to support legislation that improves the lives of millions of people affected by poverty.

Parliament in a Nutshell

• The Canadian Parliament consists of two chambers: the House of Commons and the Senate.
• There are a total of 338 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and around 105 members in the Senate.
• MPs in the House of Commons serve for a maximum term of five years, while members of the Senate are appointed to serve until they are 75 years old.
• Each individual in Canada is represented by one MP in the House of Commons based on their constituency.
• Ridings are determined by population distribution, and each riding represents approximately 70,000 to 116,000 people, with the exceptions of Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
• The Senate includes business people, scientists, judges, teachers, athletes, community leaders, and senior civil servants.
• When it comes to advocacy, MPs are primarily interested in hearing from their own constituents, the people living in their respective ridings.
• If you send an advocacy email to an MP who does not represent your riding, it may be ignored or redirected to your own MP.
• To effectively engage with your MPs, it is crucial to direct your advocacy efforts towards the MPs who represent your specific riding.