SPEAKER SERIES #1
Leading Change through Legislation
Held:
Saturday, Oct 24, 2026
10:00 a. m. to 12 p.m. EDT
via ZOOM​​​
This meeting featured three speakers discussing legislative advocacy and private member's bills. MPP Peggy Sattler, Shadow Cabinet Minister for Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security; Chief Opposition Whip explained the process of how bills become law in Ontario and shared case studies of paid leave for domestic violence and sexual violence, as well as declaring intimate partner violence as an epidemic. Kingston and the Islands MPP Ted Hsu, a former federal MP who returned to provincial politics, discussed his private member's bill regarding administrative justice and tribunals, emphasizing the importance of having clear policy goals before running for office and building widespread political support across the province. Christine King, a former constituency assistant to both federal MPs and provincial MPPs, provided practical advice on effective lobbying techniques, including scheduling meetings, preparing presentations, and the importance of personal connections with elected officials. The session concluded with a question and answer period where participants discussed strategies for writing effective letters to MPPs/MPs, partnering with other organizations, and maintaining non-partisan but politically active advocacy.
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Read the full notes
Watch the video recording
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Peggy Sattler, MPP (London West) was first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2025. She serves as Chief Opposition Whip and Shadow Minister for Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence & Security, and worked tirelessly to have intimate partner violence formally recognized in Ontario. Before her election, she spent 13 years as a Trustee with the Thames Valley District School Board, including two terms as board chair.
Christine King brings the practical view from the other side of the desk. She began her career as a Bell Canada operator, became active in the Communication Workers of Canada (later CEP), and was elected President of the Windsor Union Local, where she lobbied politicians on telephone industry deregulation and the closure of operator services. She went on to serve as a constituency assistant to a Speaker of the House of Commons, a federal MP and a provincial MPP, working for 25 years on teams that researched issues and prepared legislation and regulations for consideration.
Ted Hsu, MPP (Kingston and the Islands) was elected in 2022 and focuses on the cost of living, housing affordability, healthcare capacity, education and climate change — fixing systems rather than chasing headlines. He will take us through his Private Member's Bill, the Fewer Backlogs and Less Partisan Tribunals Act, which would create an independent Adjudicative Tribunals Justice Council to oversee tribunal appointments, operations and severance policies. He'll cover why the issue caught his interest, what pushed him to draft a bill, and the steps required to get from an idea to legislation.