The Conservative government sure is working hard on its oil lobbying south of the border – so shouldn’t we do the same?
Canadian members of the grassroots Citizens Climate Lobby, a U.S. org with 26 chapters north of the border, think so, bigtime. And late last month 19 of them converged on Washington to lobby U.S. politicians, alongside 354 American CCL members.
Their aim was to promote a bipartisan, market-based approach to pricing carbon emissions called the Carbon Fee And Dividend Act. The mechanism would place a steadily rising fee on carbon-based fuels at their first point of entry into the economy, and return the revenues (the dividend) to households in equal shares. The Canucks’ main role in D.C. was to speak to our country’s experience with carbon pricing, namely B.C.’s carbon tax.
Sharon Howarth, one of two lobbyists from Toronto, got her activist start working against the Portlands Energy Centre in south Riverdale in the mid-2000s. That’s where, she tells me, she realized how much she loves the staple of grassroots campaigns: the door-to-door conversations. Person to person, of course, is what lobbying is all about.
Her favourite part of the Capitol Hill trip, she says, was talking to Republicans. In fact, CCL speaks to more Republicans than any other environmental organization. While talking to the converted is great for attracting new members, the ultimate goal is a policy limiting fossil fuel emissions.
The lobbying operation works this way: participants are armed with a one-page bio of the elected official’s interests and accomplishments, and strategic guidelines on how to frame the discussion with a particular individual. CCL has learned that going in with an “us vs them” attitude doesn’t work. Respecting the allotted time and noting meeting details are key to the group’s professional discipline. The goal in Canada, of course, is to make the pitch to Conservatives.
Sound intriguing? Team CCL Canada is hosting Ottawa Lobbying Days in November. Join in and we’ll give you all the training you’ll need. (citizensclimatelobby.ca). Just bring your passion for the climate
Liz Rice is an environmental and health speaker and a group leader with Citizens Climate Lobby Canada.
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