Ways you can help:

New: (From announcement re: June 2, 2003 discussion of the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act.

You can help now by contacting your MP (again if you are among those who have helped already) and let him or her know that the issue is scheduled for June 2nd and that he or she should provide support. Contact information for MPs is available from:
1 (800) O CANADA (1 (800) 622-6232 ) or at: www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp?Language=E (Language=F) for French.

If you are not already on the list for the 7th Generation Initiative, send a note to: sustain@web.ca

There could be additional actions necessary to make sure that the measuring system devised includes citizens' input about what should be measured and to make sure that the information is freely available without political filters. The Canada Well-Being Measurement Act proposes that unbiased provision of the information be achieved by having the measuring system managed by the Sustainability section at the Auditor General's Office. There may be other ways to achieve non-partisan reporting, but it would not be acceptable for the information to be controlled by the Party in power, no matter what Party that might be.

More Ways You Can Help:

The following suggestions are things people in Canada can do to help promote the 7th Generation Initiative and the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act.

If you live outside Canada you can help us identify an organization that will promote similar legislation in your country. In or out of Canada, you can also help us financially so we can develop this initiative here and cooperate actively with similar initiatives in other countries.

In Canada

Co-operation is the key.

The Canada Well-Being Measurement Act, can bring a full spectrum of popular concerns and aspirations into public view. What follows are ways to cooperate and make it happen:

They include:

A) Involving More people:

B) Passing the Act in the House of Commons:

C) Supporting the 7th Generation Initiative:

A) Involving More People:

Ultimately, the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act is about connecting people to the decision making process. What priorities should society address to maximize long term well-being? In what areas are we making genuine progress?

The first step is to better understand the issue. The Measuring Well-Being booklet provides general background information. This information and more is available here, or ask us for the printed introductory packet.

Contacting Networks:

The next is to inform other people. Share this information. If you are part of an organization or network, see if a notice can go out to the membership about this initiative. (There are several articles and announcements available here, or contact us for suggestions.)

Each time a network introduces the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act, we find scores of additional people who are interested in helping move the initiative forward.

Involve the Media:

Ask your local media to run an announcement or do a feature on Measuring Well-Being. We welcome any opportunity to talk with reporters looking for more information. A "Media Kit" is available at: http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/7GI/media/index.shtml ,or by mail and journalists/reporters can call us toll free at: 1 (866) 455-9552 if they want more details.

An open letter to your MP can be customized for local media.

Discussing Values and Measures:

We provide a free kit of materials with suggestions for engaging any group of people in a discussion about what they value and how we might monitor whether related circumstances are getting better or worse. Such gatherings stimulate further interest and involvement and the feedback can help demonstrate what citizens' interests are and will help identify what measures need to be developed to steer our way cautiously into the time ahead.

The Discussion Kit includes:

• copies of the Measuring Well-Being booklet to introduce the issue,
  
  
• a discussion guide providing suggestions for involving others in a discussion about what they value and how related circumstances might be measured,
  
  
• feedback sheets: to preserve highlights from discussions and provide us with material from which to identify new measures.

Feel free to contact us: for materials, to answer questions or to talk about organizing a discussion.

C) Passing the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act:

When this Act becomes law it will create an institution that will bring citizens' concerns to light and more decisions will be made with long term implications in mind.

To become law, MPs have to know about and support the Act.

Politicians respond to expressed interest and concerns. Inspire your MP to support the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act. The more people s/he hears from, the more likely s/he is to consider the proposal. When people actually consider the proposal they generally end up supporting it.

There are several hurdles for the Act to clear on its way to discussion in the House of Commons and from there to be passed into law. All of them can be assisted by requesting your MP's comments and support. Information about your riding, who your MP is and how to reach him or her is available from: 1 (800) O CANADA (1 (800) 622-6232 ) or at: www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp?Language=E (Language=F) for French.

No postage is necessary when writing to Members of Parliament.

You have a right to know what your MP thinks about the issue and if s/he will support it. Be persistent and get others to join in the task.

Background information is available from us or directly from the Ottawa office of Joe Jordan M.P., Rm. 422, Confederation Building (613) 992-8756, jordaj@parl.gc.ca

Customize the open letter to your MP and take it to the local media.

The path ahead:

The Canada Well-Being Measurement Act achieved First Reading as Bill C-268 when it was introduced on Valentines Day, 2001. It is presently scheduled for discussion at Second Reading on June 2, 2003, as Motion M-385. This discussion will lead to a vote which will decide if it is to go to Committee.

If passed, it will be sent to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainability where the proposal would be reviewed for possible improvements.
From the Committee it would be returned as an Act proposed by the Standing Committee. This would make the initiative a proposal from a Permanent Committee of Parliament rather than a private member's bill.

When returned to the House of Commons from the Committee, there would be a second round of discussion. Any members of the House of Commons could then make suggestions to improve the Act, or encourage the others to support the legislation. If the Act wins another vote at this time, it would be sent back to the Committee where any good suggestions could be incorporated.

Finally the Act would return to the House for Third Reading after which there would be a final vote. If passed at Third Reading, the Canada Well-Being Measurement Act would require only approval from the Senate to become law

All Party support:

We are hopeful that all Parties in the House of Commons will support this initiative. The chances are good as it would help all interests present their concerns in a non-confrontational way. If this comes to pass, the Act would be sent directly to the Standing Committee for review and re-presentation as a proposal from the Committee.

Help fund the 7th Generation Initiative.

Finding the money to maintain this Initiative is always a challenge. If you are willing and able to help out, please do. Charitable receipts can be issued in Canada for donations made out to the "Sierra Club of Canada Foundation". For contributions from outside Canada, please contact us for details.

We also have an automatic deposit account if you would like to divide a contribution into monthly amounts that we could count on as a core budget. Please don't hesitate to contact us for more details.

If a receipt is not necessary, make your cheque out to the Sustainability Project. In any case, mail to:

The 7th Generation Initiative
P.O. Box 374
Merrickville, Ontario
Canada, K0G 1N0

Your assistance will be greatly appreciated and put to good use.