Sample Letter to MP requesting funding for the GPE
First, some information and suggestions:
- To find the name of your MP using your postal code, click here
- Please cc: on your letter, Mme Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie and Mr. Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance
- You could also send to other ministers such as Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maryam Monsef, Minister of Status of Women, or even send a copy to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
- There is free postage if you send your letter to House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
- We encourage you to adapt and personalize this letter to make it your own. (See the GPE Backgrounders and previous letters on the website for ideas.)
Date
Your MP’s name
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Dear ________,
I am writing to ask you to urge our government to commit $260 million to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) for the replenishment period 2018-2020.
I am very concerned about the 263 million children out of school in the world, 100 million of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. I believe that education is a human right and is a necessary precursor to Canada achieving its objectives outlined in our new feminist International Assistance Policy. True gender equality cannot happen without education.
The possibilities are endless when girls and women have the right education and skills they need to live in a world where they are fully in control of their lives. Educated societies are needed if we are to have the skills to solve some of the challenges of the 21st century such as climate change, food security, improving economies, ending poverty and ending extremism in all its forms.
The Global Partnership for Education can help make this happen, as one of its strengths is helping nations strengthen and improve their education systems. The GPE provides funding so that countries can build schools, train teachers, build strong curriculums and address the many barriers children, especially girls, face in some areas to access a quality education. Good quality education cannot happen in isolation but requires strong national systems to deliver strong and meaningful curriculums with well-trained teachers. And I believe that the Global Partnership for Education is in the best position to make this happen.
In July, the G20 made a landmark commitment to education acknowledging the need to fully fund education, including the Global Partnership for Education. Committing $260 million to the Global Partnership for Education for the replenishment period 2018-2020 (http://www.globalpartnership.org/funding/replenishment) is a good investment for Canada for a more prosperous, equitable, democratic and peaceful world and, in addition, it will help shape the future for millions of children and youth.
I am hoping that you will take this request to caucus, to commit $260 million to the GPE for 2018-2020, so that our government will make this pledge soon. Access to quality education should not depend on the lottery of birth. Let’s make education for all a reality. I look forward to hearing your positive response to this request in the near future.
Sincerely,
Your name
Member of Grandmothers Advocacy Network
and your contact information (make sure to include your postal code)
cc: Mme Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
Mr. Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance
