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]

• Our draft lobbying document a.k.a. the Leave Behind. It will be finalized October 1 and translated by October 10.
• 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.
• Our conference specific Laser Talks Booklet Coming by October 3.
• Conference booklet will be finalized by October 15

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

Schedule is not up to date and is subject to change.

Sunday, October 19, 2025 – Planning and Preparations
1:00 pm – 6:30 pm (ET)

• 1:00 pm: Doors open and coffee, tea and water will be served. Please eat beforehand and do not bring your own food.
• 1:30 pm: Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Artist Moment
• 2:00 pm: Carbon Pricing Panel, facilitated by Generation Squeeze and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (focus on industrial carbon)
• 3:00 pm: Session in development
• 4:00 pm: Lobbying 101; for experienced lobbyists: writing your lobbying story for newspapers
• 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 – Educational Day
1:30 pm – 5:30 pm (ET)

• 1:00 pm: Doors open and coffee, tea and water will be served. Please eat beforehand and do not bring your own food.
• 1:45 pm:  Welcome and Opening
• 2:00 pm: The Honourable Catherine McKenna will share some of stories and reflections from her book Run Like a Girl
• 2:30 pm:  Senator Rosa Galvez will offer her sage advice on how to get the federal government to introduce a federal framework for a climate-aligned financial system in alignment with the 1.5C goal and best practices.
• 3:00 pm: Sessions in development but you will be happy you registered. It will conclude with session titled Rebellions are built on hope 
• 4:30 pm: Healthy appetizers and refreshments; 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.

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

We will be lobbying all day on Parliament Hill.

• Dress Code: Please wear a Flanders field poppy and dress somewhat business-like as we will be meeting with Parliamentarians after all. Take a moment to think about what you are wearing—your outfit is part of the message you send and helps make a confident, professional impression🌺
• 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 for the breakfast above.🌺

Tuesday, October 21, 2025 – Optional Breakfast 

On Tuesday, October 21, 7:

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 )

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
Tuesday, October 7 – 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET
⏱ 45 minutes

You are on a hero’s journey. Your voice matters, and your community needs to hear it.

This training will help you capture local media attention and confidently share your experience lobbying on Parliament Hill. You’ll learn how to craft strong media releases and handle interviews with proven techniques.

Local media is a trusted space for truth-telling and one of the best ways to amplify your work and inspire others. Few citizens train, network, and lobby MPs on their own time and dime for the greater good. That is the work of heroes—and their communities deserve to know about it.

Join us. Together, we can rise to meet this moment.

Register for this call here.

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.

Online participation is also available for parts of the conference. It’s free, but we kindly ask for a pay-what-you-can contribution to help us continue offering high-quality hybrid events where citizens lobby their parliamentarians on Parliament Hill and in their ridings.
Register here.