Doing research

Getting Informed

Being well-informed is an essential part of advocacy. Find out as much as you can about the issue you are passionate about, what is currently being done about it, and the alternatives that have been proposed. The following are some places to begin your research:

• Newspaper articles.
• Websites of organizations like CPJ.
• Parliamentary reports on the topic.
• Websites of government departments. These can be found at www.canada.gc.ca, and each departmental website has press releases outlining current initiatives and stating the government’s rationale for its policies, as well as information about policies and programs.
• Party websites and election platforms will tell you what the government and the opposition parties have committed to.
• The Speech from the Throne and ministerial speeches outline a government’s proposed direction.
• Parliament of Canada LEGISinfo website provides information on bills currently undergoing the parliamentary process. This site gives you the text of the bill, major speeches that have been made about it, and its current status. For more on the legislative process, visit our Legislative Process and Advocacy section.
• RSS Feeds (for the technologically-inclined). Subscribing to RSS feeds (like at cpj.ca) on news websites or relevant blogs will keep you up-to-date on the latest news on a specific topic.

If you are unsure which level of government handles your issue, the Parliament of Canada website provides more information on the separation of powers between the national and provincial governments. If you are still unsure, call your MP’s office and ask.

Access to Information

For access to government correspondence or documents pertaining to an issue, contact the government department responsible. You may be able to obtain this information informally, or you may have to submit a formal request under the Access to Information Act. If this is the case, you must fill out an Access to Information request form. There is a $5 processing fee, and the first five hours of search and preparation are free. Also see the Access to Information website with frequently asked questions.

Next Steps

When you have spent some time researching your issue, the government’s and your MP’s stance on it, and the things that other organizations have said and done about it, you will be ready to begin envisioning your advocacy activities. Being informed will give you confidence and credibility and will help you develop clear objectives and an effective strategy. You will also be able to anticipate objections to your cause so you can formulate counterarguments to those who may oppose your view.

Additional Resource

For information on how the government is structured, see Eugene Forsey’s How Canadians Govern Themselves.