Letter Templates

Below you will find templates that you can download, modify and use. It is important to express to all levels of Government how unacceptable this crisis is, and that we need to see change.

It's going to take much more pressure, and different kinds of pressure, for the government to respond to our healthcare crisis. Large numbers of people coming together with one voice are one kind of pressure. Speaking person-to-person is another. One "advantage" we have, if you can call it that, is that this crisis so directly and immediately affects virtually everyone, not a small minority. Let's make sure that comes across loud and clear.

MLAs face pressure from their parties to toe the line but also rely on communications from their party to keep them informed on a wide range of complex issues. We need to make sure they hear other perspectives, and up the pressure on them individually. A big part of an MLA’s job is meeting with individual constituents. This is something that you can do, one person at a time, to effect change.

One meeting won't change anything. But a never ending stream of constituents will, reminding them what's at stake and insisting on answers. They all have to worry about getting reelected. And people pay attention to what's right in front of their face in a way they don't to large anonymous crowds, or emails, letters, or social media posts.

Here's what you can do.

1. Send a letter to your MLA and request a meeting with them.

2. Before the meeting, get educated. Start with this website. Understand the issues, like how the failure to provide timely access to Family Doctors for every resident of BC is crushing our entire health system, why doctors are no longer able to keep their practices open, why Urgent Primary Care Centers are unable to provide for residents, and why common-sense solutions from doctors are being ignored.

3. Go to the meeting, tell your story, emphasize how it affects you and how important this matter is to you. Ask questions about what they and their party will do to help you. Ask what they and their party will do to ensure they retain the doctors we have, and attract those we need in Community Family Medicine. Ask them how they will ensure things improve and to provide timelines to do so. Remind them that their electorate is suffering needlessly and that choices made by MLAs or lack of action taken will be heavily scrutinized by residents come election time.

4. Follow up as needed. If they didn't give you an immediate answer (which is not unreasonable) but promise to get back to you, make sure they do. Ask for a date when you can expect a response. If they wanted you to provide more information, make sure you do. Afterwards, write down a brief (but fair) summary of the interaction such as: did they give you practical advice, share your frustration, respond with political spin, or say it was out of their hands?