Photo by Sam Beebe via Flickr

Time to dust off the ol’ letter writing skills.

The government is trying to pass a reckless, dangerous, and ineffective secret police bill that will drastically undermine your privacy rights.

Citizens from across the country have been speaking out in huge numbers against Bill C-51, publishing opinion pieces in newspapers,taking to the streets, talking to their friends and neighbours.

OpenMedia’s own executive director Steve Anderson recently appeared before a Parliamentary committee to spell out the Internet’s concerns about C-51. Now we’re calling on Canadians across the country to use this straightforward tool to send a letter to their MP.

We’ve been hearing from all sorts of people about why we need to scrap Bill C-51, from environmentalists to Indigenous activists to principled conservatives like Connie Fournier.

Our efforts are having a huge impact.

Recent polls reveal that the more Canadians learn about C-51, the more they oppose the bill. We’ve garnered international attention from privacy experts and tech firms who warn against the dangerous impacts of this unprecedented attack on privacy.

Today, the government admitted the bill is fundamentally reckless and flawed. This is a positive development, but we need them to go back to the drawing board entirely and consult Canadians.

That’s why it’s so important that you go to StopC51.ca right now and use our innovative tool to write your MP a letter about why they need to oppose Bill C-51.

All you have to do is go to StopC51.ca, input your postal code, and the tool will take you to a window where you can write a custom letter. We’ve even suggested talking points to help inspire you. Click on done and we’ll nicely gift wrap it* and send it to your MP.

We can’t overemphasize how effective letters to your MP can be.

Don’t forget: 2015 is an election year. MPs need to know that keeping quiet on a reckless bill that will fundamentally undermine our rights is going to cost them. There’s a political toll for ignoring Canadians, and we’re going to make sure they pay it.

So go make yourself a cup of tea, crack your knuckles**, and pour your thoughts out using the lost art of correspondence. Our privacy rights depend on it.

*All of this is true except the gift-wrapping part.
**Optional. The jury’s out on whether cracking your knuckles is unhealthy or not.