Take Action

In order to take action, you will need effective advocacy tools. Anything that you have or produce that may be used to communicate with your various target audiences such as key decision-makers, supporters, and people outside your advocacy effort, is a potential advocacy tool.

Advocacy tools:

Web site, newsletter, in-person meeting, telephone call, voice mail information, letter/fax/e-mail, brochure, fact sheet, newspaper/magazine article, opinion-piece editorial, advertorial, public service announcement, information session and e-advocacy.

Examples of how to put these tools into action:

• Call your local Member of Provincial Parliament, Member of the Legislative Assembly or Member of the National Assembly (i.e., MPP/MLA/MNA) – express your concerns about your health care.
• Write to your local MPP/MLA/MNA and express your concerns:
  1. Share your personal story.
  2. Ask your physician to write letters about patient stories and the need for improved health care.
• Schedule a meeting with your local MPP/MLA/MNA.
• Circulate a petition or sign a petition – take it to your local MPP/MLA/MNA and ask him or her to deliver it to the Minister of Health.
• Drop off literature at your local MPP/MLA/MNA office with your name and telephone number if they would like to discuss further.
• Ask your MPP/MLA/MNA to participate or attend information sessions related to your cause.
• Call the Drug Programs Branch at the Ministry of Health to express your views.
• Present your case or personal story during related public conferences or meetings.
• Connect with local patient groups/organizations/community centres in your area. This may provide you with potential speaking opportunities at events that have already been organized.
• Write a “letter to the editor”.
• Draft an opinion-piece editorial (Op-Ed) for your local newspaper.
• Include a message about your issue on a related web site. Ask others to share their point of view with their local MPP/MLA/MNA