Take action!

The Community Counts campaign is about action. Action by you.

This election campaign is critical. All candidates and parties need to hear that community social services are important, and in crisis. They need to understand the issues. 

And the public needs to know where the candidates stand, and what the parties will do if elected.

The campaign is a great opportunity. The media and the public are paying attention. It’s the best time to win support.

What can you do?

Write letters to the editor. 

Politicians respond to the concerns of the public. We know community social services save lives and money and build stronger communities.

But not everyone does.

It takes minutes to write a letter to the editor. Set out why the services matter, and the problems the sector has been facing. If you can, be specific about your agency or the experiences of your family. Set out the commitments you want from candidates - adequate funding, long-term planning, a real partnership with the agencies that deliver the services.

If you need additional information, this site is a great resource. Check past posts for facts and statistics and arguments.

Keep the letter brief - 150 to 250 words. Imagine you’re trying to help a neighbour understand the issues as you write.

Sending the letter is easy. Your local paper has contact information on its website. And the political parties provide email addresses for all the papers in the province. Or you can use this letters to the editor list, prepared by the BC Healthy Living Alliance.

And remember to keep an eye on your paper. If there is an article that relates to the sector, dash off a quick letter to the editor in response.

Write your local candidates.

Use the same messages as in a letter to the editor, but direct them to the candidates for all parties. Make it clear you expect a real response.

And make it clear that the responses will be a large factor in who you support in election day.

Candidates and parties are sensitive to issues that they believe voters care about. We - you - need to let them know that voters care about the community social services sector.

The Tyee has an excellent election website here, with contact information for most candidates in ridings across the province.

And write all the candidates in your riding, not just the favorites. The goal is to make the sector’s issues matter.

Raise the issues at candidates’ forums and meetings.

Candidates’ forums are odd events, often packed with party loyalists.

But if you’re going, be prepared with a question about the sector and how the candidates will respond to the current crisis. Step up to the microphone and raise the issue. Let them know it matters, and see what they say.

Ask for support.

You are the sector’s best advocate.

Talk about the issues with your neighbours. Like the Community Counts Facebook page, and share posts with your Facebook friends. Visit the Community Counts blog and share the content. 

Between clients, workers and allies, there are 1.5 million people who understand the importance of community social services. In the 2009 election. some 1.6 million cast ballots. Friends of community social services are a powerful voting block.

But only if we take the time to convince our friends and acquaintances that what we do is important.