Our 2025 National Conference and Lobbying Days
The People’s Ministry of the Future
National Conference and Lobbying Days

Sunday Afternoon:
We open with Beth Lorimer (KAIROS) offering ecumenical perspectives on the polycrises facing humanity, followed by an exceptional carbon pricing panel featuring Dr. Paul Kershaw (Generation Squeeze), Dr. Helen Hsu (CAPE), and Dave Sawyer (Canadian Climate Institute). Tzeporah Berman and Sophia Lindfield will deliver empowering updates on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, and we’re thrilled to welcome back Vince Schutt, our in-house Motivational Interviewing Consultant.

Monday Afternoon:
Get ready for an inspiring session with The Honourable Catherine McKenna, who will share reflections from her new book Run Like a Girl. Senator Rosa Galvez will deliver a powerful keynote on aligning Canada’s financial systems with the realities of the climate crisis and energy transformation. Ecojustice’s Danielle Gallant and Reid Gomme will then update us on the landmark Mathur et al. youth climate lawsuit, featuring plaintiff Alex Neufeldt.

Tuesday Morning:
Citizens’ Climate Lobby Parliamentary Breakfast that included a live demonstration of the EnROADS Climate Policy Simulator with Andrew Jones, Executive Director of Climate Interactive, joining via Zoom. 

Sunday, October 19, 2025: 1:00 pm – 6:30 pm

1:00 pm: Doors open. Coffee, tea, and water will be served.
1:30 pm: Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Artist Moment
1:40 pm: Beth Lorimer (KAIROS) – Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate and Debt
2:00 pm: Carbon Pricing Panel with Dr. Paul Kershaw (Generation Squeeze), Dr. Helen Hsu (CAPE), and Dave Sawyer (Canadian Climate Institute)
3:00 pm: Presentation from someone from the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
3:30 pm: Motivational Interviewing 101 with Vince Schutt. Design your motivational interviewing question for your MP about strengthening the industrial carbon price
4:00 pm: Lobbying 101 in the Pearson Room; for experienced lobbyists, writing your lobbying story for newspapers in Boardroom 200
5:00 pm: Healthy appetizers and refreshments provided. Participants are encouraged to meet with lobby groups and start planning
6:00 pm: Group photos. Weather permitting, we may go to Parliament Hill

Dress Code: On Sunday, we invite participants to wear a Canadian Tuxedo or a hockey jersey. This spirited dress will create unforgettable photos and a strong visual message of unity, playfulness, and pride.

Monday, October 20, 2025 – 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm (ET)

1:00 pm: Doors open. Coffee, tea, and water will be served. Purchase a Run Like a Girl book.
1:45 pm: Welcome and Opening
2:00 pm: The Honourable Catherine McKenna will share stories and reflections from her book Run Like a Girl. She will be available for book signing
2:30 pm: Senator Rosa Galvez will offer advice on how to get the federal government to introduce a federal framework for a climate-aligned financial system aligned with the 1.5C goal and best practices
3:00 pm: Our rights and a liveable world with Ecojustice’s Danielle Gallant (lawyer), Reid Gomme (lawyer), and Alex Neufeldt (plaintiff)
3:30 pm (approx):  Closing thoughts: Rebellions are built on hope
4:00 pm: Healthy appetizers and refreshments for lobbyists. Participants are encouraged to meet with lobby groups and continue planning

Dresscode: Whatever you are comfortable wearing and noting there will be lots of photos. Flanders field poppies are welcomed 🌺 . 

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 – Lobbying All Day on Parliament Hill

Dress Code: Please wear a Flanders field poppy 🌺 and dress business-like as we will be meeting with Parliamentarians after all.

IMPORTANT – BRING YOUR PHOTO I.D. WITH YOU WHEN YOU LOBBY. ✅

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 – Optional Breakfast 

On Tuesday, October 21, 7:30–9:00 am, we’re co-hosting a optional light breakfast for you and your MP in the St. Laurent Room at the Lord Elgin Hotel. Seating is limited and thus only people who have confirmed their MP can attend will be able to attend. You can lobby your MP before, after, or later in the day. From 8:00–8:30 am,  there will be a live demonstration of the EnROADS Policy Simulator with Andrew Jones, Executive Director of Climate Interactive coming in on Zoom.

Dress Code: Same instructions as above.🌺

Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Not an official event day, but additional lobbying may occur. Staying is optional, though some participants choose to do so.

Post-Lobbying Check-Ins

• Wednesday, October 22 at 8 pm ET on Zoom
•  Thursday, October 23 at 8 pm ET on our Dialpad Line. (1-888-570-6238 )
•  Friday, and October 24 at the 11 am ET on our Dialpad Line. (1-888-570-6238 )

Steps to Prepare for Lobbying

1. Phone and then email your MPs to let them know you plan to meet with them during the October lobbying days.
   – Phone first, identify yourself as a constituent, and follow up with an email.
   – Be prepared to contact them multiple times until you get a response.
   – Note you have to phone them and follow-up with an email. Emails alone do not work.
   – Give a deadline for them to respond in the email and then follow-up after the deadline.

2. Draft a “Getting Ready to Lobby” document in Word to share before booking your appointment. Even a draft is fine—please get it started. (See Lobbying Resources for what that means)

3. Register your appointment [ registration link].

Phone Script Outline

1. Introduce yourself as a constituent in [insert name of your riding].

2. Express authentic appreciation for something the MP has done recently.

3. Introduce Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) Canada:
   – Non-partisan, volunteer-led, not-for-profit founded in Canada in 2010.
   – Chapters across Canada, representing over 120 ridings.

4. Let them know that October 19–21, CCL volunteers from across the country will be meeting with Parliamentarians to hear their thoughts on shared goals for tackling the climate crisis.

5. Mention you would like to schedule a meeting during these days.

6. One option is to join us for breakfast at the Lord Elgin Hotel on Tuesday, October 21, 7:30–9:00 am in the St. Laurent Room at the Lord Elgin Hotel. From 8:00–8:30 am, there will be a live demonstration of the EnROADS Climate Policy Simulator with Andrew Jones, Executive Director of Climate Interactive, joining via Zoom.

7. Inform the staff you will follow up by email to confirm the date, time, and meeting details including the lobbying asks. Ask for the best email address for the staffer.

8. Thank them for their time.

Email Script

Replace text in brackets and customize to your circumstances.

Subject: Meeting Request – Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada

Dear [Title and Name of Parliamentarian],

I am a constituent of yours in [your riding]. I volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada (CCL), a non-partisan, volunteer-led, grassroots advocacy organization that supports evidence-based climate policies. With over 40 active chapters across Canada, representing more than 120 ridings, CCL has been focused on advocating for effective climate solutions since its inception in 2010.

From October 19–21, CCL volunteers from across the country will be meeting with Parliamentarians to hear their thoughts on Canada’s climate policies, carbon pricing, and shared goals for addressing the climate crisis.

One option is to join us for breakfast at the Lord Elgin Hotel on Tuesday, October 21, 7:30–9:00 am in the St. Laurent Room at the Lord Elgin Hotel. From 8:00–8:30 am, there will be a live demonstration of the EnROADS Climate Policy Simulator with Andrew Jones, Executive Director of Climate Interactive, joining via Zoom.

We would greatly appreciate a meeting with you to hear your views and explore how we can work together. Specifically, we would like to discuss [insert your chosen CCL lobbying ask(s)]. If you could respond by [pick a date that makes sense]  that would help us immensely in our planning and I will follow-up soon after that date if I not heard from you. We understand your office is very busy and happy to work around your schedule.

My fellow constituents and I are looking forward to the opportunity to introduce ourselves and get to know you.

Kind regards,
[Your Name]

• Register your lobbying appointments here.
• Our bilingual lobbying document a.k.a. the Leave Behind*
• Laser Talks Booklet for The People’s Ministry of the Future*
• Conference booklet*
• * we are making copies
• Getting ready to lobby document (exemplar)**
  The lead person makes sure there is a biography of the parliamentarian in a document. Lobbyists meet before the lobbying session to review the document, assign roles in the meeting, the focus of their lobbying based on the most current “leave behind” and design possible motivational interviewing questions. IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE LOBBY LEAD IS THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR DISTRIBUTING THE NOTES TO THEIR GROUP.
• ** lead person makes copies

IMPORTANT – BRING YOUR PHOTO I.D. WITH YOU WHEN YOU LOBBY

• LNG – Not Worth The Risk
• Methane: A Super-Pollutant We Can Solve 
• Canadian Banks are at a Climate Crossroads

Finalize regulations for the cap on GHG emissions from the oil and gas sector, with shorter timelines for implementation and without escape hatches like offsets or a Decarbonization Fund.

• Models Show the Power of Canada’s Carbon Pricing Policies
• The Constitutionality of Carbon Taxes vs Caps on Emissions
• Climate Leaders Cut Pollution

Fully implement the Canadian climate finance taxonomy framework and introduce a federal framework for a climate-aligned financial system in alignment with the 1.5C goal and the best practices cited above.

• Canadian Banks are at a Climate Crossroads
• Canada’s Sustainability Standards Board (CSSB) Rules 
• Canada’s need for a Climate Taxonomy

Common Messaging for all them

• Best Practices for Developing Regulatory Frameworks
• The Big Switch Will Save Us Money
• What about China
• Renewable Energy and Storage are Unstoppable 
• The Global Electrotech Revolution
• Canada’s 2024 GHG Emissions Have Flatlined
• CCS: A Not So Grand Bargain
• Our Stance on Nuclear Energy
• What About Jobs?
• Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
• Canada Needs Tax Reform
• The Power of Optimism and Effective Messaging 

Inexpensive parking is available at Ottawa City Hall. The Lord Elgin Hotel and City Hall are both at the intersection of  Laurier and Elgin. You can access the public parking at City Hall on Elgin St. Look for the big P,

Being a Local Spokesperson: Amplifying Your Voice in Local Media

You are on a hero’s journey. Your voice matters, and your community needs to hear it. Here are the resources from our workshop on being local spokesperson:

• Here is the recording of the workshop.
  https://citizensclimate.zoom.us/rec/play/q1yQGVli80Dp1msTlVqWQ4jKMwbcFDbOKJatZLdZp3Z6KIu6cP4yJcup8LtFCyMViIUOQc9PEhFIMJtC.DeBEGgJppmJXfbNI
• Here are slides
  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ed7oCz0ka0Rbki2RTbY40q3JuV-SHR-0/edit?slide=id.g28ede4ab156_1_0#slide=id.g28ede4ab156_1_0
• Here is the conference media release.
  https://canada.citizensclimatelobby.org/15222-2/

Note for those who have already had lobby training, there will be workshop at 4 pm on Sunday, October 19 too.

We are honoured to serve you, Canadians who will be speaking truth to power in Ottawa at this pivotal moment in history. Together, we are building the future.

Have questions about the conference or setting up your appointments with your MPs? We have open office hours to serve you.

Preconference calls

• Every Wednesday from September 24 to October 15 at 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET
  https://citizensclimate.zoom.us/meeting/register/Xtc9PFAtTGWIHETlIqi1aw#/registration
• Thursday, October 2, 9 and 16 at  5 pm PT / 8 pm ET
  Dialpad Link Or call 1-888-570-6238 if you can’t get online.
• Friday, October 3, 10 and 17 at 8 am PT / 11 am ET
  Dialpad Link Or call 1-888-570-6238 if you can’t get online.

There will also be debriefing calls after the conference 

• Wednesday, October 22 at  at 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET on Zoom
  https://citizensclimate.zoom.us/meeting/register/Xtc9PFAtTGWIHETlIqi1aw#/registration
• Thursday, October 23  at  5 pm PT / 8 pm ET
  Dialpad Link Or call 1-888-570-6238 if you can’t get online.
• Friday, October 24 at 8 am PT / 11 am ET
  Dialpad Link Or call 1-888-570-6238 if you can’t get online.