Co-op Advocacy Centre
In order to address the challenges the co‑op sector is facing, as well as continue to advocate for recognition and support through the establishment of a co-operative and public partnership, we need co‑op advocates.
WHO ARE CO-OP ADVOCATES?
As a manager, board member or a sector stakeholder, your support of the co-op sector’s advocacy work (coupled with the exposure of more than 1,300 co-ops celebrating and promoting the International Year of Co-operatives) can have a very real impact!
Advocates show that co-operatives have a unified voice and humanize the Ontario co-operative movement..
- Advocates raise key issues and challenges facing the sector and reinforce to government how co-ops contribute to the social and economic fabric of the province.
- There are currently co-op advocates in a number of the province's 107 electoral ridings, and our goal for the 2011 provincial election is to increase participation amongst co-ops in as many ridings as possible.
- Co-ops have a huge presence in Ontario. We need to become more visible! There are more than 1300 co-ops, with 1900 locations in more than 400 Ontario. Our sector has more than 49,000 volunteers and 15,500 staff members.
WAYS TO PARTICIPATE IN CO-OP ADVOCACY
There are many different ways that you and/or your co-operative can get involved as an advocate - on an ongoing basis - with varying degrees of commitment and involvement, depending on your availability and comfort level:
- Organize and attend a meeting with the MPP in your co-op's riding – even better, get together with other co-ops in your riding and tag team – a great way to really showcase the contributions made by your co-ops to the community to your MPP!
- Ask On Co-op to help you organize a meeting with you MPP. We can also provide you with advice on how to do this and on how to handle the meeting, if required.
- Invite your MPP to a co-op event and/or on a tour of your co-operative – suggest a photo opp and publish it in your newsletter or send a press release to your local media.
- Attend a BBQ or fundraiser for your MPPs, and introduce yourself and tell them how your co-op has contributed to the community.
- Participate in On co-op's letter-writing and E-advocacy campaigns.
- Get involved in celebrating IYC – another reason that your co-op should stay in touch with your MPP!
Take a look at the 'Related Documents' link at the top right of this page for more useful advocacy resources. For more related documents, visit our Queen's Park Reception page or search our co-op resources library and search for document category type = "toolkit", "advocacy", or "government relations".
