Script to call politicians about old growth - Sierra Club BC
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How to phone politicians about old growth (with a script!)

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How to phone politicians about old growth (with a script!)

July 2026

We know that calling your provincial decision maker can feel awkward, intimidating, or even scary. That’s normal and many of us feel this way! But it’s a courageous move and one that carries a lot of weight.

That’s why we’ve developed this script template to make things easier. We’ve provided some talking points, but encourage you to add your own as well to make it personal.

Photo by Mary Paquet.

Tips for your phone call

Practice your message and take a few breaths before calling. You’ve got this! If you make a mistake, that’s okay. If anything, it shows it’s a real human making the call.

You can call after hours and leave a message if you don’t want to speak directly to a person. The office’s staff will take note of your voicemail and pass it on to the politician.

And remember: Strive for a positive, yet firm tone. While your feelings are valid and it’s critical to share your frustration, it’s important to recognize that yelling, being angry or sharing threatening remarks does not encourage our government decision-makers or their staff to take action. It does the opposite.

Who should you call?

Here are some numbers to call:

Don’t know what to say? Try this script.

Hi [insert name of who you’re calling, e.g. Premier Eby], my name is [insert name] and I live in [your town/city].

I am calling today because… [suggestions below]

  • I am concerned about the amount of old-growth forests that are still clearcut in B.C. 
  • I saw an ad sharing how the province of B.C. is still clear-cutting old growth. I was sad to hear this. I didn’t think this was happening anymore.  
  • I am worried about clearcutting old growth for caribou, spotted owl, etc. 
  • I am worried about clearcutting old-growth and intact forests because it puts my community at risk of worse fires, heatwaves, floods, polluting our drinking water, etc. 
  • I’d really love to see you take steps to protect old growth in the province. 
  • [Feel free to add in your own points about your concerns]

While I understand that forestry is a complex issue and jobs are important, the current system is not supporting communities or nature. For me… [share a couple seconds of something personal! Are you worried about your kid’s future, the safety of your community, is there an old growth forest you love that you are worried about, etc? Share how it makes you feel: sad, shocked, scared, etc.]

I am asking you to stop clearcutting old growth forests in B.C., and please commit to your promise of shifting the paradigm of forestry in B.C., prioritizing biodiversity and ecosystem health.

I would love to chat more about this issue with you. You can give me a call back at [insert phone number if you feel comfortable].

Thank you.

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