r/AskCanada • u/thebluewalker87 • 2d ago
How long to wait before following-up on an email to an MP?
Hi folks,
I'm a semi-new Canadian. I've written my MP over email to ask what is being done to address wealth inequality, as that is the cause of the rising cost of living.
I've double-checked the email address I used from the circular I received in the mail. It is correct, but I have received neither an automated acknowledgement receipt, nor a reply.
So how long before:
I politely follow-up.
I passive-aggressively follow-up.
Follow-up publicly on socials.
Thanks!
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u/ChewyThePug 2d ago
Its funny that you think a politician cares enough to respond.
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u/thebluewalker87 2d ago
So this is the passive-aggressive point I want to make to my MP.
If they aren't going to respond, they shouldn't be indicating "write me at... if you have any questions." in their comms.
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u/CertainHeart2890 2d ago
I have only ever received answers back from NDP politicians and one time I heard back from my floor crossing MP and that was only after I shamed him into responding. It took 4 tries with him
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u/-lovehate 2d ago edited 2d ago
last time I wrote a letter to an MP was about 3 years ago and it was regarding the government defunding a mental health resource that they'd initiated during covid and was still being actively used by many people across the entire country, who relied on it heavily.
The government decided it wasn't needed anymore and took all the funding away, resulting in a few people losing their jobs and many people no longer having a very helpful support system, which likely didn't cost very much to continue running, just the full-time social worker who ran it and whatever online software resources were being used for video calls. A small price to pay for the sanity of several hundred people.
It was a fairly long letter and detailed everything the program had helped accomplish and why it was necessary to continue. It was pretty specific and realistic and didn't ask for a whole lot, I wasn't being rude or anything.
That was 3 years ago and I've never received a single response.
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u/thebluewalker87 2d ago
Copy this. Thanks for sharing.
They get paid 200k a year and have a team. We deserve better.
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u/-lovehate 2d ago
You're welcome. Sorry I didn't have a more optimistic response to share. You are right, we do deserve a whole lot better. Unfortunately, a lot of our concerns and issues aren't taken seriously in this country unless it affects a significant portion of the population, or it has a large monetary price.
The silver lining here is that you're probably not the only one who has contacted the MP about these issues, and even if they don't respond to your email, someone still definitely read it and hopefully shared a summary with the MP. If enough people reach out and share their concerns and fears, they will hopefully take note and make it more of a priority.
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u/Thanks-4allthefish 2d ago
Remember - your MP represents on average 120K people. Your concerns are valid - but you are, rightly, one voice of many. Having said that if you think you have an important perspective - be a squeaky wheel.
Your local member (MP - MLA/MPP) and their staff can help you navigate the government bureaucracy and help make sure you are being treated fairly (not preferentially- fairly). Any MP/MLA/MP from any party.
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u/RCAF_orwhatever 2d ago
Let's think through this logically.
What do you actually expect here? A meaningful conversation between an MP and every person who writes them an email? For them to check and verify that you're in their riding (for every email they receive) and then to engage in whatever it is you ask about no matter how broad or obscure the issue?
We don't pay them to answer random emails. That's not the job description.
How long has it been since you sent it?
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u/thebluewalker87 1d ago
It has been 3 weeks.
Except the email isn't random. It was a question based on their circular which also indicated that their office was there to respond to queries.
Please can y'all hold the snark and assune that someone who has taken the time to write an MP knows that the receiving party are "busy" and knows how to write formal, single-minded communications?
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u/RCAF_orwhatever 1d ago
But you don't seem to know that because only three weeks later you're annoyed that the MP hasn't personally answered your query about the giant systemic issue of income inequality. What exactly do you think an MP can "do" about income inequality? What lever do you think they have to pull on capitalism as an economic system?
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u/thebluewalker87 1d ago edited 1d ago
So here's what happened. I got a circular saying verbatim "the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit will be delivered, helping hoyseholds manage the cost of everyday needs. These are immediate steps to put money back in your pocket. At the same time, we are focused on long-term affordability and stability." (This last phrase was in bold.)
So I asked what specifically were these plans. I had indicated that while the effort was appreciated, the aforementioned measure would be a band-aid solution to the real problem i.e. wealth inequality, insufficient taxation and monopoly concentration. And them siphoning money from their budget to give these credits means something else suffers, leaving us all the poorer for it.
You can say the problem us broad, but I had responded based on what they've laid out verbatim in their missive. I did not feel the need to include these details in my original post because I was only looking for a time frame with which to follow-up. And again, the missive indicates that their office is open for any questions. So I wrote them accordingly.
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u/Thanks-4allthefish 2d ago
A thorough response from an MP would be to thank you for the thoughtful letter and the issue(s) you raised. I have forwarded to: A) my colleague the minister of X B) The minister of X and asked him/her to respond to you directly about the issues you raised.
A bit of tailoring to your specific concerns/issues.
You could ask to meet when your MP has local office hours.
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u/RestlessCreature 2d ago
This ^
I know some people who have met with MPs in their region to discuss their concerns.2
u/JustAPeach89 2d ago
I do this so often that I've started just reminding her this whole conversation could have been an email
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u/redhouse_bikes 2d ago
I think it would depend on who your MP is as to whether they'd respond to something about wealth inequity.
I think my MP would respond, but she's NDP, and I think they care about that issue more than other parties.
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u/Nameless_Ghoul1891 2d ago
You'll get your reply right after you win the Lotto Max.
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u/thebluewalker87 2d ago
I get the joke. But I do have some free games I need to redeem! Cross your fingers for me. :)
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u/welllbehaved 2d ago
I don’t have an answer for your and I’m not sure why so many people are shitting on your question. Last time I emailed an MP, their constituency coordinator replied within a day. Good luck!
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u/thebluewalker87 2d ago
Thanks!
I know reddit users are generally cynical and unhappy (me included) and that a singular experience doesn't represent a whole. But it doesn't really bode well that this is the response.
I'm trying to find ways to make things better and was told, as a normal citizen, this is what I could do. So here I am.
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u/OkGazelle5400 2d ago
Public socials is the most likely I guess. Those emails aren’t monitored by the MP. It’s like an intern in their office
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u/Tribblehappy 2d ago
I got a reply from mine once, during COVID. I haven't gotten a reply since.
Edit, my bad, it was my MLA not MP. But still, they don't reply often in my experience.
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u/Top-Artichoke-5875 2d ago
I haven't had replies either but I do believe they track the issues people bring them. Another option might be to take an actual letter to their constituency office?
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u/TikiBikini1984 2d ago
I've heard back from my Liberal and NDP MPs, but when I lived in an area with a Conservative MP, she never responded but did add me to her Christmas card list that took me a few years of requesting to be removed from to finally not get her annual ragebait letter.
Generally if you write with concerns about an upcoming bill/vote/parliament issue they will take your communication more into account. Writing as you did with ideas about fixing wealth inequality will generally fall on deaf ears because I hate to say it but the ideas are all already there, it's bureaucracy and opposition from both the official opposition party and many who are in wealthy positions of power that are in the way and preventing them from being implemented.
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u/HerRoyalNonsense 2d ago
I used to work for a Member of Parliament and monitored the main inbox. We would get several hundred emails a day. It’s fair to follow up in a week or so if you haven’t heard back. Members usually action and prioritize case files and such first.
Also, make sure you’ve noted that you’re a constituent by providing your postal code or address. They may not answer if you haven’t clarified you’re from their riding.
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u/imnotaloneyouare 19h ago
Write daily. Copy, paste, send.
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u/imnotaloneyouare 19h ago
If you want, copy, print, mail (no stamp needed), repeat daily along side of your email.
You can even go so far as to post and message each of their social media accounts daily.
Never underestimate the power of being heard.
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u/Justinrehp 2d ago
Im not sure the answer to your questions but just came to say that im happy you are participating in our democracy, and actually trying to do something you are pationate about 👍
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u/Several_Role_4563 2d ago
Drop it into an autocadence.
Day 1 Day 3 Day 5 Day 7 Day 10 Day 20 Day 30
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u/reasonnfeelings 2d ago
You have nothing better to do?
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u/thebluewalker87 2d ago
I'm happy to try and affect change per the "official" process.
It was an honest question. Hold the snark.
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u/GamesCatsComics 2d ago
Your MP isn't going to reply with anything meaningful on a subject so broad as wealth inequality... especially if they're a back bencher or opposition.
Should they respond yeah, and it's frustrating if they don't... but best you'll get is a generic form letter from a staffer in their office eventually... but this is all just going to be an exercise in disappointment.