Fact Sheets
Short, actionable documents on specific governance issues.
A fact sheet is not a summary of a policy document. It is an activation tool. Its job is to take you from “I am frustrated about this” to “here is what I am doing about it this week.”
Every fact sheet covers one specific governance issue. It provides guidance on what the law may require — always verify current legislation in your jurisdiction before taking action — and shows you where it falls short of the Mutualist standard, giving you four concrete actions you can take — including draft bylaw language, a template letter to council, and a delegation script. You do not need legal training. You do not need political experience. You need thirty minutes and a governance issue you care about.
All eighteen published fact sheets are in the Document Library, searchable by topic and level of government.
Search Fact SheetsHow to use a fact sheet
Find the fact sheet for your issue
Search by topic or level of government in the Document Library. If your issue does not have a fact sheet yet, use the template to build one or submit the issue and we will research it.
Read it through once
Understand what the law may require and where guidance suggests it falls short, and which of the four action options fits your situation. Most people start with Option A — a council policy or motion that requires no provincial legislation.
Adapt the template and take action
Every fact sheet includes a template letter or motion you can adapt and use directly. Fill in the bracketed fields with your name, your community, and your councillor’s name. Send it, bring it to a meeting, or present it as a delegation.
Track what happens and share it
Document the response you receive. Your experience — what worked, what was resisted, how long it took — is exactly what other communities need to know.
Tracking guidance
Tracking what happens after you use a fact sheet turns your experience into evidence — for your community, and for others across Canada facing the same issue.
What to record after each action
- The date you submitted the letter, motion, or delegation
- Who you submitted it to and how — email, in person, at a meeting
- The response you received and when — or if no response came after 30 days
- Whether the proposal was discussed, deferred, rejected, or passed
- The exact wording of any pushback you received
- What you did next — followed up, escalated, or moved to Option B or C
- The final outcome and how long the process took from start to resolution
The fact sheet’s Following Up section covers all four scenarios in detail: no response after 30 days, a vague commitment, an outright denial, and a passed proposal that was never implemented.
Take the next step
Use it with your Circle
Mutualist Circles are how communities turn a fact sheet into organized action. A Circle gives you people to work with, a shared record of what you tried, and connections to other communities doing the same work.
Learn About CirclesShare your experience
Used a fact sheet at council? Got a response — or no response? Your story helps other communities know what to expect, what pushback sounds like, and what actually works.
Share Your StoryWant to create a fact sheet? Download the template, complete it, and send it to us to share with other Modern Mutualists.
Fact Sheet Template