Writing to a candidate

You may want to write to the candidate and deliver your messages by mail or by fax. Feel free to copy this template onto your letterhead. Be sure to add your own personal voice - your experience is key to influencing change and to securing meaningful long-term relationships!

Your address
Today ’s date

Candidate’s Name
Campaign Address

Dear (name of candidate):

Did you know that 2 out of 5 adults in Canada have major difficulty with reading or writing? In our community, too many don’t have the literacy skills they need to succeed in today’s society.

As a (member of the literacy community, practitioner, community worker, administrator), I now the effect that literacy problems can have on learners and their families, and on the social and economic vitality of our community. I also know that right now people in our community with low literacy skills are not getting the support they need to improve their skills. (If you have local examples of the gap and the impact of inaction, add them here.)

In an increasingly complex world, where information drives our society and our economy, we cannot afford to leave millions of Canadians with low literacy behind. This is becoming increasingly clear to many in the business, labour, community, and government sectors, who have expressed their support by identifying literacy action as a priority. As a candidate for federal office, it’s important that we know where you stand too.

I want to know what you will do, both at home and in Ottawa, to support literacy and to support improved opportunities for less literate Canadians. Will you work with local literacy groups to advance literacy in our community? Will you support a promised comprehensive pan-Canadian Literacy Strategy? Your response to these questions will help me decide how to vote in this election.

(I have enclosed a questionnaire, which I hope you will respond to and return to me. OR... Please call me so we can discuss this issue further.)

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours truly,

(Provide address and phone number as contact information)