I am so excited to help build EWBs advocacy capacity. I have been involved in the being a CIDA Watchdog sessions and was happy to see the energy.
EWB has enormous potential to make advocacy a core aspect of the EWB chapter programs. If each chapter could find a Advocacy Exec Member to lead MP engagement and public engagement on policy issues important to EWB, then we could have massive impact! There is also a need for a stronger grassroots advocacy network which engages across Canada to develop policy positions and produce documentation (i.e. briefing notes, Q&As) to make messaging more accessible at the chapter level.
We had some extremely interesting feedback from a St. Johns MP on the best approach. He mentioned that MPs are people and it is important to build people to people connections with them. Friendly chats and inviting MPs to events with lots of people is a great way to start. Importantly, we want to avoid massive, widespread initiatives that might threaten or intimidate them. Lets small talk with MPs to build relations and then bring about massive change!
Hannah Kent
Ottawa Regional Chapter
Member Learning
