Did you know that your Member of Parliament (MP) must present a petition to Parliament on your behalf, if it meets certain criteria and conditions?

Signing and submitting a petition is a long-standing and effective way to share concerns with Members of Parliament and other decision makers, as well as to reach out and inform members of the general public.

Support an existing petition:

Discuss the campaign and ask those around you to sign the petition: colleagues, friends, family, classmates, members of your faith community, others involved in that same groups that you are.
If you are a member of a community group, ask for the petition to be presented at a meeting of the group and in the group's newsletter or on its website, etc. Invite other members of the group to promote the petition in their own extended personal networks.
Take advantage of activities and events organized by your group to gather petition signatures.
Contact local media to raise the profile of the petition in your community, and to gather more signatures.
When you have enough signatures (at least 25), take the petition to your Member of Parliament (see below).

Proposing and writing a new petition

Check first to make sure that there isn’t already an existing petition with a similar demand. Contact local organizations working with refugees and immigrants or check the CCR website.

If you decide to write and launch a new petition:

Get informed:

Check the website of Parliament to find out about the formal requirements for drafting and submitting a certified petition.

Take action:

It’s critical to meet with allies. Reach out to groups and organizations that share similar concerns and who could be important partners in promoting and gathering petition signatures. Make sure the text of your petition is something that these allies can support.

Spread the word:

Use mass mailings, email messages, phone calls and other ways to connect with groups and individuals that support your demands for change.

Consider using new media, like creating a Facebook page, a webpage or website or a blog to publicize your cause.

Contact your MP!

Steps to follow after you have collected signatures:

Did you know... ?
To be certified, each person signing the petition must include his/her address or postal code. Non-citizens can sign petitions to Parliament, however their signatures do not count in the minimum 25 names. The minimum 25 petition-signers must live in the riding of the MP who is presenting the petition. You must submit petition signatures to your MP directly. Do not send petition signatures to the CCR office.

Did you know... ?

To be certified, each person signing the petition must include his/her address or postal code.
Non-citizens can sign petitions to Parliament, however their signatures do not count in the minimum 25 names.
The minimum 25 petition-signers must live in the riding of the MP who is presenting the petition.
You must submit petition signatures to your MP directly. Do not send petition signatures to the CCR office.

A petition must have at least 25 approved signatures for it to be certified and tabled in Parliament.
Only Members of Parliament (MPs) are allowed to table petitions.
When you have enough signatures for the petition, ask to meet with your local MP. Presenting petitions provides a good opportunity to discuss with your MP the issue addressed by the petition.
Your MP must then request the Petitions Clerk at Parliament certify your petition.
Once the petition and petition signatures have been certifed, the petition is sent back to the MP.
At this stage, your MP can present the petition in Parliament, however, there is no formal deadline by which it must be presented to Parliament.
Be sure to follow up with your MP: What stage is your petition at in Parliament?