Add your voice

Add your voice

< Back to Articles | Topics: Working for you | Contributors: Kathleen MacEachern, Policy Analyst Halifax Chamber of Commerce | Published: February 1, 2019

In January, we launched our first advocacy campaign using our new easy and targeted online email system. We reached out to our members through our standard media platforms to gauge public opinion and garner support for an issue we felt needed more attention.

Through this advocacy tool, we can engage with our members, government officials, decision-makers and stake - holders to raise awareness and promote positive change for businesses in Halifax. What exactly is this tool, and how can you utilize it for the betterment of your business and community? Well, I am glad you asked.

The email tool is an online campaign wherein the Halifax Chamber writes a letter in support of a project (or against a potential change) and you get to send this letter to the stakeholders making the decisions. You can edit the letter to better reflect your views or add in a personal touch.

The goal is to show decision-makers that an issue may come with potentially unintentional consequences for a business — or opposingly, have a positive impact. The email tool provides smart targeting, ranging from local officials to national targets. It’s quick and easy, integrating new and current technologies to monitor real-time engagement. It provides a sense of community and sparks meaningful relationships with stakeholders and our Chamber members.

Our advocacy team works diligently to stay abreast of the issues that may impact your business and community. We attend numerous workshops, conferences and economic growth briefings, and we meet with the people who know what’s happening — and, more importantly, what the outcome will be.

This email tool will mean further engagement: a chance for our members to use their own voice and collectively speak to those who can make change. You might see other tools in the future, like Twitter polls or Facebook campaigns, one-click calling and maybe even a few letters to the editor, but for now, we are focusing on creating and sustaining a voice for our members that can create value for their business and community.

  • Here are a few ways to be more involved with advocacy at the Chamber:
  • Sign up for our weekly bulletin through our website for policy updates and events
  • Read through the “Working for You” section of Business Voice magazine, which often offers policy tips and information
  • Join one of our task forces, “Fostering Private Sector Business” or “Accessing a Skilled Workforce”

Issues like taxes and electoral boundary reform, regulatory change and by-law policies are always in the forefront of discussions at the Halifax Chamber, but we would like to diversify to ensure we tackle your issues.

If you have an issue affecting your business and you think other members are facing the same problem, don’t hesitate to contact us. Reach out to Nancy Conrad (nancy@halifaxchamber.com) or Kathleen MacEachern (kathleen@halifaxchamber.com). We would be more than happy to discuss your advocacy issue. Remember, the Chamber is in your corner!

If you would like to learn more about the email advocacy tool for your own business, you can find it on the New/Mode website: www.newmode.net/email-your-rep.

< Back to Articles | Topics: Working for you

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