So You Want to Write the Premier (or any other politician)

Publication

Sample letter to a politican

If you can write them, they can read them (or some one will read it for them).
Keep your letter short. Short sentences make good points.

Tell them:

• Who you are ( a tenant living in North York)
• What you are (a pensioner on a fixed income, a worker who has not had a raise, a person on social assistance, a mother, ....or any other thing that defines you)
• Why are you writing (the Tenant Protection Act is terrible....you just got an unfair increase...you didn't get a fair hearing.....the building is not being repaired)
• What you are asking (the Act must be changed, start listening to tenants, we need more housing, fair rent control)
• What you are going to do (support candidates and parties who will fight for fairness to tenants, tell all your neighbours and friends to get involved, continue to support the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations, )

All political addresses and much more are on our web site www.torontotenants.org or in the old reliable telephone book in the blue pages.

SAMPLE LETTER

November 10, 2003

To My MPP
Ontario Legislature

Dear Sir or Madame;

I am a tenant living in Etobicoke. My income has not  increased in several years. (add a personal comment here
- pensioner, parent, work for ...., etc.)

My landlord has been given rent increase after rent increase. Last year they were awarded an extra 7.6%. I have lived in
my building for ten years and every year the rent goes up. Yet, repairs are often not done or done very slowly or
poorly. These rent increases are permanent and I find it  harder and harder to make ends meet.

I am pleased that you are going to replace the current law. We need real rent control and real fairness for tenants. The
new Law needs to be much better, it needs to be permanent, and it needs to be in place as quickly as
possible.

I plan to be very involved in this issue. I will be staying involved in my building's Tenant Association and I will
continue to support the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations.

Please do something for me and my neighbours so that we  will not be subject to these high rents and low maintenance.
It is only fair. The current system is so unfair.

Yours truly,

Your Name

THE BEST TENANTS ASSOCIATION
123 Noteasy Street
Toronto, Ontario

To Our Local MPP

Dear Sir or Madame;

We are writing to invite you to attend our upcoming meeting of our Tenants Association. It is scheduled for Thursday
December 11, at 7:30 in our building lobby. We will follow up to confirm your ability to attend.

There are 219 units in our building. Many of the tenants are struggling to make ends meet.

We have been hit by rent increase after rent increase. We know that your Government has promised change. Most of
us can not afford the current rents. The system is so unfair.

We want to use this meeting so that you can hear from us first hand, and we can hear from you on your plans to help
us by working for real tenant protection.

I can be reached at 416-555-3333. We are very much looking forward to seeing you.

Yours truly
Mary Brown
Secretary, Best Tenants Association