If you’ve been wondering how to make a real difference for BC forests, here’s one of the most powerful ways: become a Constituent Liaison.
A Constituent Liaison is a local resident who helps bring the New Forest Act (NFA) directly to their MLA – and follows up to keep the pressure on.
This isn’t just about one meeting. It’s about building real political influence, one riding at a time. When MLAs see their own constituents demanding structural reform, they listen differently. That’s how we build momentum for legislative change.
Two ways to be a Consituent Liaison: A. set up an MLA meeting for us to make a presentation (start with Step 1) B. meet with your MLA afterwards to reinforce the message. Like Carolee did (go to Step 3 below if this is you).
Step-by-Step: What Constituent Liaisons Do
1. Book a Meeting with Your MLA
Use our MLA Outreach Toolkit to guide you. It includes everything you need:
- How to find your MLA’s contact info
- A sample email to request the meeting (usually Zoom but in-person if possible)
- What to say, and how to prep
Email us first to coordinate at [email protected]. Once the meeting is confirmed, we’ll join you on Zoom to give the official 10-minute presentation.
2. Attend the MLA Meeting
You’ll be present as a local voice. During the meeting:
- Introduce Jennifer Houghton (who will present the NFA)
- Share how industrial logging is affecting your community
- Emphasize your support for structural reform through the NFA
Your personal story matters. You don’t need to be a policy expert – just a real person who cares.
3. Follow Up as a Constituent Liaison
After the meeting, you follow up with the MLA. That’s your main role. You’ll reinforce key messages, ask them to take next steps, and remind them that constituents care.
FYI: a Constituent Liaison doesn’t have to be the person who set up the original meeting. It could be anyone from the MLA’s riding. The more constituents following up – the better!
You’ll say things like:
- “You’ve heard this proposal – what will you do next?”
- “There’s real support for this here in the riding.”
- “Will you champion this inside your caucus or share it with Cabinet?”
We provide a full Constituent Liaison Follow-Up Guidelines package, including:
- Sample follow-up email
- Talking points for your next meeting
- Optional asks (e.g. “Will you host a town hall?”)
We’ll prep you before you go. We’re here to support you the whole way.
You’re not doing this alone. Our team will also follow up with the MLA – usually about two weeks after the presentation – by sending a tailored briefing package and checking in on next steps. That way, the message keeps landing from multiple directions.
Why This Matters
The BC government hears from lobbyists and corporations every day. What they rarely hear is local, sustained pressure from real people calling for change.
When an MLA hears about the New Forest Act once, it’s a meeting.
When they hear about it twice – from a local voter – it becomes a movement.
And when they hear about it again a few months later, from another concerned resident in their riding, it becomes unignorable.
That’s the strategy. Repetition, visibility, and follow-up.
This is how we make change.
The New Forest Act is one of the most comprehensive responses I’m aware of addressing our profoundly broken system. The New Forest Act team has worked tirelessly to draw on the expertise of numerous scientists, loggers, activists and politicians from all over the province in an effort to create a truly workable and rational, yet visionary document. ~ Sonja M., Lemon Creek, BC
The New Forest Act campaign is backed by a strategic plan to build political pressure across the province. We’re meeting with MLAs in every corner of BC, coordinating local voices, and tracking each conversation to ensure this doesn’t disappear into a drawer.
Our goal isn’t just to raise awareness – it’s to build the political will needed to get legislation passed. Every MLA meeting, every follow-up, every constituent conversation adds weight to that push.
Ready to Take Action?
We’ll walk you through every step. Start here:
👉 Download the MLA Outreach Toolkit
👉 Email us at [email protected]
👉 Book your MLA meeting and help bring structural reform to BC forestry.
💬 Have questions or want support?
We’re here for you. Reach out anytime: [email protected]
Together, we’re building a future where forests and communities thrive.
You’re not just booking a meeting – you’re becoming part of a movement.
A growing number of British Columbians are standing up to say: the forest system is broken, and it’s time for real structural change. When you take action as a Constituent Liaison, you help shift the political landscape.
This isn’t protest. This is pressure. Strategic, relentless, community-powered pressure.