Post on 12-Mar-2022
MBPPTI Why are you here?
• Public policy affects the work of voluntary organizations. Voluntary organizations affect public policy.
• For voluntary organizations, the ability to influence the actions of government is critical to achieving their mission. Whether it’s by monitoring government activities, advocating/lobbying or strategic partnering, those who demonstrate they understand—and can influence—the public policy arena are better able to support those they serve.
• Being active on the public policy front is like building up a savings account. You never know when you might need to draw on your balance. It’s easier to get people’s attention about issues that affect your clients or services if your organization has already created a positive impression in the community and with decision-makers.
Influencing government actions
• Public policy is shaped by individuals and interest groups collaborating—or competing—to influence policy makers to act in a particular way. These people use a variety of tactics and tools to advance their aims, including advocating their positions publicly, educating supporters and the public and mobilizing allies to support their issue.
• Advocacy is influencing public policy through education, lobbying or political pressure. Advocacy groups try to educate the public and public policy makers about the nature of problems, what legislation or action is needed to address problems and the funding required to provide services.
• Although advocacy can be viewed as unseemly by some, public policy priorities
are influenced by advocacy. Sound research data can be used to educate the public as well as policy makers, thereby improving the public policy process.
MBPPTI 2012 Program
Session 1: Introduction To Public Policy; Calgary; January 12-13, 2012
(Faculty: Jim Dinning)
` Session 2: Research and Its Roles; Edmonton, February 9-10, 2012 (Faculty: Nancy Reynolds - President and CEO of the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research; former Assistant Deputy Minister of Partnership and Innovation for Alberta Children's Services)
Session 3: Developing and Analyzing Policy Options; Calgary; March 15-16, 2012 (Faculty: Roger Gibbins - President and CEO of the Canada West Foundation; former Department Head of Political Science, University of Calgary)
Session 4: Informing and Engaging Decision Makers; Edmonton; March 29-30, 2012 (Faculty: Bob Wyatt - Executive Director of the Muttart Foundation; Co-Chair of the Voluntary Sector Initiative Joint Regulatory Table and Allan Northcott, Senior Program Officer, Max Bell Foundation)
Session 5: Implementing, Monitoring, Evaluating; Calgary; May 16-17, 2012 (Faculty: Brenda Eaton - Chair, BC Housing Management Commission, former Deputy Minister to BC Premier Gordon Campbell, former Deputy Minister in Finance and Treasury Board; Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources; and Social Services)
Session 6: Presentations from Participants; Edmonton; June 14-15, 2012
Introduction to Public Policy
• Introductions • Faculty • Why you need to talk to government • Civics 101
• Elections • New government • Legislature • How it really works • Cycles: 4 year and 1 year • How policy is created • Influences
• The asks • Mentors • A graduate’s perspective: David Poulton • Course outline: the next 4 sessions • A professional’s perspective on public policy & advocacy: Ken Boessenkool • Assignments • Farewell
MBPPTI Red Ensign Canadian Flag
Theodore Roosevelt
• “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
MBPPTI 10 Reasons to Talk to Government and Influence Public Policy
From YMCA’s HIPP Manual/Tool Kit
1. You want to advance your cause. Advocacy on policy issues directly assists those whom you serve.
2. Effective advocacy can advance your mission far beyond the people being served directly by your programs.
3. Governments want to hear from your organization. They’re looking for knowledgeable and reliable partners who are close to real issues/problems and willing to work on solutions.
4. Governments do not have all the answers; a healthy democracy depends on the full participation of all sectors of society. Your organization has valuable experience and insights that can improve the effectiveness of government decisions and actions.
5. Government may be interested in partnering with you to achieve common goals.
MBPPTI Why Talk to Government and Influence Public Policy?
6. You want to build public trust. Speaking out increases the profile of your organization and people’s understanding of what you stand for.
7. Your donors are asking if your organization is being effective.
8. Government has many resources that can be beneficial to your mission – information, contacts, funding, and administrative/regulatory tools.
9. Government may be planning changes that can negatively affect your organization’s ability to fulfill its mission.
10. If you don’t share your views, someone else will.
From YMCA’s HIPP Manual/Tool Kit
Alberta Government Departments
• Executive Council • Advanced Education and Technology • Agriculture and Rural Development • Culture and Community Services • Education • Energy • Environment and Water • Finance • Health and Wellness • Human Services • Intergovernmental, International and
Aboriginal Relations
• Infrastructure • Justice and Attorney General • Municipal Affairs • Public Affairs Bureau • Seniors • Service Alberta • Solicitor General and Public Security • Sustainable Resource Development • Tourism, Parks and Recreation • Transportation • Treasury Board & Enterprise
Legislature
Speaker Government Opposition
Cabinet Policy Committees CPC’s
Cabinet Ministers
Parliamentary Assistants
Private Members
Other Opposition Parties
Official Opposition
Standing Committees Appointed each session
Legislature Committees
Select Committees Appointed to study specific issues
Committee of the Whole Detailed study of bills following second reading Committee of Supply
Canadian Legislative Process
Committee Stage Public Input (sometimes); Amendments are voted on
1st Reading Bill is introduced No debate; No vote
3rd Reading Debate possible; Final Vote
Royal Assent Bill becomes law
Bill Goes to Senate Steps repeated
Report Stage Amendments; Debate and Vote
2nd Reading Debate on principle of bill and Vote
If passed
Premier’s / Prime Minister’s Office
Deputy Minister
(Executive Council Office/PCO)
Chief of Staff
(Premier’s/PM’s Office)
Policy development
Cross ministry coordination
ministerial mandates/organization of
government
Senior appointments
Political strategy
Tracking election promises
Political dimensions of policy
initiatives
Priority setting
Federal / provincial / international relations
Communications
Cabinet Committees
Current Cabinet Committees are:
Agenda & Priorities Committee
Treasury Board
Energy
Public Health & Safety
Finance
Community Development
Education
The work gets done here. Behind closed doors
Government Cycles are 4 years long
Governments Elected for 48 months;
• Months 1 - 4: Familiarization
• Months 4 - 38: Activist
• Months 38 - 42: Patching and Filling
• Months 42 - 48: The Red Zone
• Where are we now?
• What is your target?
Annual Planning Cycle
Cabinet/Caucus Planning Sessions
Release Public Accounts & Annual Reports
Throne Speech + Budget and 3 yr Business Plans released
Communicate Key Priorities & Budget Call
Ministries prepare 3yr Business Plans
CPC’s and Treasury Bd review Business Plans
SEPT-OCT
FEBRUARY
JUNE
JULY-SEPT
NOV-JAN
Legislative session FEB-MAY
Government Process Cabinet / Caucus / Political Realm
Ministry Work-up Policy Idea Agenda & Priorities
Caucus Committees
Cabinet
Legislative Review
Caucus
Treasury Board Inter-ministry Committees
Ministry Decides Minister Decides
Government Action
Media Interest
ACTION
Filters • Budget • Public Service Advice • Cabinet Committees • Legislative Agenda
Party Policy
Premier & Cabinet Priorities
Supporter Expectations
Election Commitments
Public Opinion
Stakeholder Needs
MLA Needs Regional Priorities
Public Service Advice
DECISION TO ACT
MBPPTI Ken Boessenkool
Ken Boessenkool is in charge of National Public Affairs, GCI Canada. He provides strategic counsel and analysis regarding reputation and issues
management, communications, government relations and corporate positioning. Ken has served as Senior Policy Advisor and strategist
to National Conservative Leader Stephen Harper. He played a senior role in the Conservative election campaigns of 2004 and 2006 and 2011,
and in three national leadership campaigns. He has also worked on leadership campaigns in Alberta and Ontario. Prior to working in Ottawa,
Ken established an Alberta-based consulting practice, was Senior Economist with two Calgary-based electricity companies and also served as a policy advisor to two
Alberta Finance Ministers. Also active in public policy, Ken has been an Adjunct Research Fellow as well as a Policy Analyst with the C.D. Howe Institute.
He taught Canadian Public Finance at the University of Calgary and has published over thirty-five academic articles. His writings have appeared
in Time Magazine, The Globe and Mail, National Post, Calgary Herald, Ottawa Citizen and other newspapers. He is currently a Research Fellow at the
Sch of Public Policy at the Univ of Calgary. Ken was named one of Calgary’s Top 40 under 40 in 2007 by Calgary Magazine. Ken is married and has four daughters.
The elected official
Ten Tips:
• 1) Identify the REAL issue;
• 2) Your Timing is not the issue;
• 3) Know In Advance What They Know;
• 4) The entire Board of Dir. is not required;
• 5) Practice, practice, practice;
The elected official (cont’d)
• 6) You are not in the Wallpaper business;
• 7) Elected officials and their staff can read!
• 8) Play Twenty Questions;
• 9) Ask about Process;
• 10) The Answer will be No Answer;
Working with Government
• Pay attention to politics;
• Pay attention to where they are in the cycles;
• Understand the frameworks in which they operate;
• There is a protocol and a roadmap for public policy development