Letter to a Public Official (20% of final grade)
POLI 11510G: Democracy

PART A: Technical Instructions
(1)	This assignment is due April 13, 5pm 
(2)	The use of artificial intelligence (AI) text generator technology is not permitted for this assignment.(See Statement on Artificial Intelligence under the Introduction tab)
(3)	Students are strictly limited to using (a) the courses materials such as Powerpoints and HTML pages, and (b) the resources listed in Part D. A grade of 0 will applied to assignments that use material that are neither (a) or (b). 
(4)	The assignment is to be written in size 12, Times New Roman font. 
(5)	A title page and a bibliography are to be included with the assignment. 
(6)	Pages are to be numbered.
(7)	A late penalty of 10% per business day up will be applied. 
(8)	Assignments will no longer be accepted and will be granted a grade of 0 after 5 business days.
(9)	Students will be expected to submit an electronic version of their assignments via Turnitin in the Dropbox on Slate by the deadline to make sure the assignment has not been plagiarized.  
(10)	Students need to cite all information that is not theirs including the course material and the sources listed in Part D. 
(11)	Students are strongly discouraged from using direct quotes. Overreliance on direct quotes will lead to points deductions.
(12)	This assignment is to be completed individually; academic sanctions will be applied to students who submit similar work.
PART B: Assignment Description

The goal of the assignment is to have students write a public official regarding a problem that is affecting the world today. The public official nevertheless has to be a real one, but students are not obligated to send them the letter. Importantly, students will have to identify which public official they are writing.
To write the letter, students are required to use the external sources listed in Part D. They can nonetheless write about any problem within the themes listed in that section. For example, they can write about the problem of hospital wait times within the broader Health Care theme. Or, then again, they can write about Ukraine’s request for jets within the broader War in the Ukraine theme.
A model and example of how to structure such a letter will be provided in Part E of this document.
In terms of getting ideas as to who to write, students might consider bearing in mind the following. For municipal politics such as public transportation and policing; students should consider writing their city councillor or mayor. For matters relevant to provincial politics such as education, health care, and social services; students should consider writing the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) or the Premier of Ontario. For matters relevant to federal politics such as foreign policy and national economic policy; students should consider writing their Member of Parliament (MP) or the Prime Minister. See Part F of this document for tools for finding their elected officials. Should students want to write an official from another country, they are free to do so. Nevertheless, it will be up to them to find the appropriate contact information. 
PART C: Assignments Structure/Evaluation Scheme
The Letter to a Public Official will be evaluated accordingly:
1.	2 points will be granted for clearly and properly identifying their public official by listing their name, position, and official address at the top of the letter.
2.	3 points will be granted for indicating why (a) they are writing that official in particular (1.5 points) and (b) the purpose of the letter (1.5 points) This is where students (you) outline the problem or issue that you would like resolved or addressed. This should be between 2 to 3 sentences long. 
3.	5 Points will be granted for explaining the issue or problem students (you) would like to be addressed or resolved.* This could include identifying important actors, laws/decisions, and events. An explanation and summary of the history of the issue or problem can also be provided if possible. This paragraph should be between 4 to 8 sentences long. However, students can write more than 8 sentences in this section should they wish to.
*1 Point Students (you) will need to consult and cite at least one of the sources listed in Part D. Students can, of course, cite more than one source from that list.
4.	4 Points will be granted in total for explaining what decision the public official should make with regard to the problem or issue that the student (you) would like to be addressed or resolved. This paragraph should include both a (a) description of the decision or action they would like the official to take (2 points) and (b) an explanation (s) to justify why that decision or action should be taken (2 points). This section should be between This paragraph should be between 4 to 8 sentences long. However, students can write more than 8 sentences in this section should they wish to.
5.	2 Points will be granted for properly locating and structuring the in-text citations.
6.	2 Points will be granted for properly structuring the bibliography.
7.	1 Point will be granted for spelling and grammar
*Although the use of properly quoted and cited direct quotes (i.e. words copied word-for-word from another source) do not constitute instances of plagiarism, students are strongly discouraged from including direct quotes. Overreliance on direct quotes will lead to grade deductions.
PART D: Theme/Source List
Students are to use a minimum of one of the sources below. Though students are free to come up with whatever problem they want to write about, it must be within the confines of the themes listed below. 
Should a student want to write about a problem that is not on the list below, they need to get it approved by the professor in writing. Failure to obtain written approval for a theme that is not on the list below will lead to the attribution of a grade of 0 for this assignment. To have the topic approved, students will need to write the professor with (a) the specific problem/theme and (b) a list of all of the sources that they will use to complete the assignment. The sources must have been published after January 1, 2022. The deadline for obtaining this official approval is April 11, 2023 at 5 pm.
Some of the links below can only be obtained through the Sheridan website and so you will be prompted to log on.
Lastly, you will need to properly format the sources below in your bibliography.    
Climate change
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2021/oct/14/climate-change-happening-now-stats-graphs-maps-cop26
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/16/world-risks-descending-into-a-climate-doom-loop-warn-thinktanks
https://abcnews.go.com/International/emissions-2025-prevent-disastrous-climate-change-effects-climate/story?id=83787299
https://davidsuzuki.org/press/canadas-2030-emissions-reduction-target-falls-well-short-of-global-leaders/
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2022/03/10/Canada-Net-Zero-Emissions-Increasing-Oil-Production-Bad-News/
https://www.dw.com/en/climate-change-why-it-is-now-or-never-for-india/a-61000680
War in the Ukraine
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ukraine-invasion-day-349-1.6740864
https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_newspapers_2771264043

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/22/ukraine-planes-battle-russia-invasion-statecraft

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64662184
Inflation/Cost of Living
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/inflation-family-column-don-pittis-1.6750879
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-inflation-january-1.6754818
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/many-canadians-consider-turning-to-part-time-jobs-if-finances-worsen-new-survey-says-1.6254302
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-law-firm-offering-free-legal-services-to-people-caught-stealing-groceries-1.6239198
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/rent-in-toronto-continues-to-rise-as-the-average-rental-price-in-canada-hits-record-high-1.6194824
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/more-ontarians-relying-on-food-banks-and-visiting-them-more-frequently-advocates-say-1.6171226
Tuition Fees
https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2023/01/16/Professional-Undergraduate-Programs-Affluent-Students/
https://ontherecordnews.ca/canadian-post-secondary-tuition-fees-rise-for-4th-consecutive-year-statscan/
https://ontherecordnews.ca/ontario-extends-tuition-freeze-through-2022-2023-school-year/
Health Care
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/what-you-need-to-know-about-ontario-s-new-health-care-legislation-1.6284192
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/nearly-80-per-cent-of-ontarians-believe-health-care-to-be-in-a-state-of-crisis-new-poll-shows-1.6202202
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/expanding-private-ontario-clinics-will-only-exacerbate-hospital-staffing-shortages-doctors-college-warns-1.6229561
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/fight-privatization-public-health-1.6552468
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/childrens-hospitals-orgs-funding-1.6748070
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-hospital-hallway-medicine-healthcare-beyond-capacity-1.5420434
International Food Supply
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/10/global-food-supplies-will-suffer-as-temperatures-rise-climate-crisis-report
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/apr/02/war-ukraine-affecting-food-supply-africa-middle-east-lebanon-somalia-egypt-oil-wheat
https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_wirefeeds_2646484144

https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_2691456073

https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_newspapers_2693451484

Commuting GTA
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/12/15/toronto-transit-repost-longest-commute-times/#:~:text=The%20average%20commute%20time%20in%20the%20GTA%20is,Moovit%E2%80%99s%20chief%20growth%20and%20marketing%20officer%20Yavov%20Meydad.
https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_newspapers_2622740437

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/secretive-eglinton-crosstown-delay-1.6660657

https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_newspapers_2606075925

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-ranked-one-of-the-worst-cities-in-the-world-for-congestion-1.6226070

https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_wirefeeds_2478379389

https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_wirefeeds_2774626342

https://environmentaldefence.ca/2021/11/09/413ish-reasons-why-building-highway-413-is-a-very-bad-idea/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/highway-413-407-etr-toll-ontario-1.6392350

Hospital Services in Brampton
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/there-s-always-been-a-hospital-capacity-problem-in-brampton-covid-19-made-it-worse-1.575566
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/new-hospital-brampton-ford-announcement-1.6406908
https://www.bramptonguardian.com/news-story/10843327-peel-paramedics-didn-t-meet-response-time-targets-in-2022-need-more-resources-says-chief/
International Students
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/international-students-canada-immigration-ontario-1.6614238

https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_newspapers_2605057770

https://www.proquest.com/docview/2646466542/fulltext/6A597136D24A449BPQ/1?accountid=3455

https://cfsontario.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Factsheet-InternationalStudents.pdf
https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_wirefeeds_2722912849
Gun Violence/Violence
https://searchlibrary.sheridancollege.ca/permalink/01OCLS_SHER/1nqpso9/cdi_proquest_wirefeeds_2774626342

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/peel-police-shooting-arrests-1.6626570

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mpp-renews-call-for-gun-violence-to-be-deemed-a-public-health-emergency-in-wake-of-deadly-toronto-school-shooting-1.5793001

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-to-deploy-50-security-guards-on-ttc-property-amid-rash-of-violent-incidents-1.6252605

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/what-is-safety-transit-users-call-for-action-at-town-hall-following-rash-of-ttc-violence-1.6268026


Part E: Example of a Letter to a Public Official

Please note that you cannot use this problem/theme. The numbers in what follows below correspond, where appropriate, to the elements in Part C above. Should you want to, please feel free to include numbers as well.

Theme: The Environment

Problem: Water Wastage 

1.  Councillor Gord Perks
Ward 4, City of Toronto 
100 Queen Street West, Suite A14
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Dear Councillor Perks,

2. (a) My name is <PRESIDIO_ANONYMIZED_PERSON> and I am a constituent in Ward 4, and so you are my councillor in the City of Toronto. (b) The reason I am writing you is regarding water usage in our ward. Notably, I have recently noticed an increase in the number of buildings and private residences that are watering their lawns during the daytime. This represents a waste of a precious and disappearing natural resource.

3. The City of Toronto recommends that residents and businesses do not water their lawns more than once a week during the off-peak hours between 11 pm and 8 am. This constitutes a recommendation and not an enforceable bylaw (City of Toronto, 2020a). Your website also indicated that the City can issue an ‘Outdoor Water Use Advisory’ when water supplies get to be quite low. Nevertheless, it is made clear that such an advisory is not a “formal bylaw that bans lawn watering.” (City of Toronto, 2020b) This needs to be put into the context that lawn watering represents between 50% and 90% of household water usage in urban environments (Survis and Root, 2016, p.109). What is particularly upsetting is that watering one’s lawn during peak hours is inefficient as it evaporates quicker and may in fact contribute to lawn diseases This is made worse by the fact that demand for water is predicted to increase by 40% by 2050 and that by 2025 it estimated that more than half of the world’s population will live is areas where the supply of water will not match its demand. Water shortages will also have an important impact of food production and human/animal health (Eliasson, 2015, p.6).

4.(a). I strongly suggest that you, as a councillor, propose an enforceable bylaw that would ban the watering of lawns between 8 am in the morning and 11 pm at night. As part of this bylaw, the city should hire at least 100 new bylaw officers who will be responsible for responding to calls by citizens who report violations of the bylaw and that travel around the city to locate violators. (b) The reason you should pass a bylaw. It is clear that simply asking residents to stop watering their lawn without any consequence does not work and has not worked until now. In view of the gravity of the situation, the City must force people to change their behaviour forcefully as they will not do it voluntarily.

I would to thank you ahead of time for taking the time to consider my request.

Sincerely,

<PRESIDIO_ANONYMIZED_PERSON> 

6. Bibliography

City of Toronto (2020). Reducing water consumption. Retrieved from https://www.toronto.ca/311/knowledgebase/kb/docs/articles/toronto-water/business-operations-management/business-and-customer-support/outdoor-lawn-watering/reducing-water-consumption-lawn-watering-brown-grass-lawn-watering-tips.html

Eliasson, J. (2015). The rising pressure of global water shortages. Nature, 517(7532), 6.

Survis, F. D., & Root, T. L. (2017). The rain-watered lawn: Informing effective lawn watering behavior. Journal of Environmental Management (199), 109-115.

PART F: Resources to find Public Officials

City Councillors:

Mississauga City Council: http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/cityhall/mayorandcouncil
                                           http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/pb/wardmap		  

Brampton City Council: https://www.brampton.ca/en/City-Hall/CouncilOffice/Pages/Welcome.aspx
                                       https://www.brampton.ca/EN/City-Hall/CouncilOffice/Pages/FindYourCouncillor.aspx

Oakville City Council: https://www.oakville.ca/townhall/council.html
                                      https://www.oakville.ca/townhall/ward-boundary-map.html


Members of Provincial Parliament: 

Ontario: https://www.ola.org/en/members

Member of Parliament:

Canada: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en

                                



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