This series' files are titled "flimsies" in keeping with Heap's office titling, although most of the records are xeroxed on normal paper. The incoming correspondence eliciting the replies sent out was not retained by Heap's office, thus there arwe only the outgoing replies.
The "Constituency" portion of the series comprises replies largely from Heap's Toronto office, and demonstrates his interventions on behalf of his constituents. The interventions are addressed to a broad spectrum of recipients - from Canadian ambassadors and consuls overseas, to federal government ministers, to associations, companies and even restauranteurs. The interventions deal with issues of abuse, real or perceived, and requests for assistance, concerning jobs, visas, immigration problems and so on. Scattered throughout this correspondence are Heap's weekly mailings to his constituents on the work of Parliament and his own activities.
Some of the "Ottawa" portion of the series follows up on such "Constituency" work. However, most of it is of a qualitatively different nature. The range of correspondents is broader, from across the whole country and with individuals and organizations overseas. Here, the issues under discussion are much more connected with government policy, and reflect Heap's and the NDP's political positions and philosophy. Some of the issues addressed are: armaments, foreign policy (Nicaragua and Iraq), abortion, refugee policy, taxation, gun control, cruise missile testing, police improprieties, abuse of women and children, wages and benefits, taxation and so on.
While some of Heap's responses are pro forma, generally they reflect fully-reasoned positions of this prominent spokesman of the NDP, who was a very strong advocate of the protection of immigrants, the promotion of human rights, the defence of the abused (women and children), and assistance for the unfortunate and impoverished.
