Bridging Government and ENGINEERS*

1. Bridging Government and ENGINEERS* Training Sessions 2006 * The term engineer is an official mark held by the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers

2. Agenda • Background • What is Bridging Government and Engineers? • Putting government in context • Political landscape • Government Relations • Being a BGE Volunteer/Toolbox • Your role in BGE • Meeting your MP • Talking to Your MP • General Themes • Core Issues

3. CCPE • National organization of 12 provincial and territorial • associations and ordre that: • Regulate profession of engineering in Canada • License country’s 160,000 professional engineers • CCPE is the non-partisan, national voice of the • engineering profession • We are not guided by self-interest • We serve to defend public safety

4. What is BGE? • Canada’s engineers have much to contribute to national public • policy • BGE was developed to help ensure that the voice of Canada’s engineering profession is heard in Parliament • It is a grassroots initiative that partners engineers with local MPs in their home constituencies

5. Why BGE? • Our MPs are elected to represent us • MPs listen to those who make the effort to express their views directly to them • If we want our views represented, we must tell MPs where we stand • Personal contact at the grassroots level is an effective way to ensure politicians understand our priorities

6. BGE Goals • Forge closer ties with government • Educate parliamentarians about the contributions of Canada’s engineers on matters that affect public safety • Review actions by Parliament and influence public policy outcomes

7. BGE History • CCPE recognized the need to increase awareness of our issues on Parliament Hill • Influx of new MPs in June 2004 election offered good opportunity to expand outreach • CCPE developed proposal for BGE program

8. BGE History …continued • Pilot project launched in February 2005 • 23 past and present CCPE Board members trained as BGE champions • In October 2005, CCPE Board of Directors recommended full implementation of BGE, and approved funding for 50 new BGE volunteers for 2006 • Long-term objective is for BGE to reach all 308 members of Parliament

9. BGE – A Former MP’s Perspective “…I was an MP for 25 years. Too often, poor decisions were made by government because we didn’t know better and no one was there telling us what we needed to know. Engineers need to meet with MPs before policy decisions are made. This needs to be followed up by sustained dialogue…” • Hon. Roger Simmons, P.C. • CCPE Annual General Meeting • Whitehorse, YT June 2006

10. Federal Government Organization Governor General Parliament (Legislative Branch) Courts (Judicial Branch) Prime Minister & Cabinet (Executive Branch) Senate House of Commons Privy Council Office Prime Minister’s Office Departments and Agencies

11. Governor General • Head of State • Appointed by Queen on advice of Prime Minister • All government operations carried out in GG’s name • Appointments made under GG’s authority • Appoints Prime Minister

12. Executive Branch - Cabinet • Responsible for setting policy, administration and day-to-day • operations of government • Approves government policy priorities • Answers to Parliament for actions and operations of departments • Ministers bound by Cabinet solidarity

13. Executive Branch – Prime Minister • Prime Minister is chief executive officer • PM appoints Cabinet ministers • Cabinet selected from governing party in the House of Commons • Prime Minister’s office (PMO) oversees political operations of • government • Helps PM manage caucus and Parliamentary relations

14. Executive Branch – Privy Council Office • Privy Council office (PCO) is the Cabinet’s secretariat • Responsible for coordinating government activities and managing ministerial policy agenda(s) • Centralizes, manages and dictates all ministerial policy and communications initiatives

15. Prime Minister PCO PMO Minister Deputy Minister Minister’s Staff Opposition Critics TopBureaucrats Parliament Committees Department Specialists Backbenchers Executive Branch - The Bureaucracy

16. Legislative Branch - Parliament • House of Commons • Reviews and approves legislation • Most government bills and all money bills originate in House of Commons (Throne Speech, budgets, etc…) • Private Members bills • Senate • Reviews and approves legislation • Senator sponsored bills

17. Legislative Branch - Committees • Committees review legislation and expenditures, oversee • government operations, and commission special reports • House of Commons has 26 standing committees • Opposition parties hold majority in both House and Senate • MPs influence choice of issues to be examined by committee and which witnesses to be called

18. Legislative Branch - Oversight • Parliament also appoints officers who oversee administration • of laws and management of government operations directly • Examples: • Auditor General • Privacy Commissioner • Ethics Commissioner • Chief Electoral Officer • Official Languages Commissioner

19. Party duties Home Life House of Commons duties Other stakeholders Member of Parliament Constituents MPs’ Relationships

20. Parliamentary committees Votes Media Family Outsidestakeholders House duty Lobbyist Caucus committees Corporate interests Caucus members Riding association Contributors Constituents Ministers Prime Minister MPs’ Balancing Act

21. 2006 Election – Outcome • 39th Parliament - General Election Results Seats Conservatives 125 Liberals 102 Bloc 51 NDP 29 Independent 1 TOTAL 308 • Needed for majority: 155 seats

22. 2006 Election - Engineers in Parliament • Seven professional engineers elected as MPs in last election • Increase from only two MPs in last Parliament • Other MPs have engineering background • Three Senators also professional engineers • CCPE is working with engineers in Parliament • Engineering MPs can speak directly to ministers or opposition leaders on issues related to engineering • Knowledgeable resource for CCPE on our issues

23. Surviving in a Minority Government • Short-term politics trumps long-term planning • Election preparedness is “job-one” • Keep legislative agenda short • Keep government focus on popular initiatives • Postpone controversial issues • Conduct day-to-day business through Executive Branch • Minority governments often survive 12 to 24 months • If polls look good, government may seek to orchestrate its own defeat

24. MP’s Role in Minority Government • PM/Ministers more attentive to MPs in minority situation • MPs have increased clout in committees • MPs can use Private Member’s Bills to push special issues • Opposition MPs can block or amend government initiatives

25. Current Political Landscape – Stability? • Situation differs from post-2004 election • Increased voter & MP fatigue • Modest expectations helps Conservatives rise in polls • Liberals and Bloc preoccupied • Government needs only one opposition party to survive • Gomery effect lingers

26. Current Political Landscape – Landmines? • Expect the unexpected • Geopolitical (Afghanistan, 9/11) • National emergencies (Air India, SARS, Ice Storm) • National unity • Parliamentary brinkmanship • Liberal majority in Senate

27. Bridging Government and Engineers Government Relations

28. What is Government Relations? • “Government relations” “GR” is about building relationships to • influence policy • Why engage government? • Informed government is good government • Good government is good politics • Governments need outside expertise • Improve public policy outcomes

29. How BGE Fits into CCPE’s GR Strategy • BGE volunteers work at grassroots, while CCPE provides • overall national strategy and develops position statements • BGE complements CCPE’s GR efforts by: • Enhancing awareness of profession and issues • Expanding CCPE’s networks • Creating new political champions for our issues • Helping CCPE to identify opportunities • Serving as early warning system for CCPE

30. How to Conduct GR • Lay groundwork • Conduct research • Build case systematically • Look for opportunities and threats • Manage your expectations (change often happens incrementally) • Create networks and relationships • Identify and engage allies • Diversify support base • Identify opponents, understand their position

31. How to Conduct GR • Establish credibility • offer knowledge, expertise, and solutions • become trusted advisor • Position your recommendation • express in non-partisan manner • demonstrate how it fits national interest • make your priority, government’s priority • Engage policymakers • look for opportunities for dialogue

32. GR - What Works? • Sustained contact • Offering solutions to problems • Being open and transparent • Focusing on limited number of key issues

33. GR - Measuring Success • Examples: • Government adopts agenda and policies that reflect our recommendations   • Government statements reflect views expressed in our messages • Governments solicit input from engineering profession

34. Bridging Government and Engineers Being a BGE Volunteer Your Toolbox

35. BGE - Understanding Your Role • A BGE volunteer: • Makes a minimum 2-year commitment • Builds sustained relationship with his/her MP • Seeks opportunities to become a visible and trusted spokesperson for the engineering profession • Represents CCPE and the interests of the engineering profession with one voice

36. BGE - Lobbyist Registration Act • In order to promote transparency in dealings with the federal • government, agents representing corporations or associations • are required by law to register as “lobbyists” • CCPE is registered as non-governmental association because we interact with government • BGE participants do not need to register because they are volunteers and are not paid for their activities

37. BGE - Accountability Act • Bill C-2, known as the Accountability Act was recently • introduced in Parliament • The Act only applies to the federal government and lobbying at the federal level • It introduces new rules on conflict of interest, restrictions on election financing and measures respecting administrative transparency, oversight and accountability

38. BGE - Accountability Act Impact • What does it mean for BGE? • The main impact on BGE relates to fundraisers • Federal campaign financing laws severely limit CCPE’s role in • fundraising activities • BGE volunteers can participate in fundraisers, but the law does not allow CCPE to reimburse • It is your personal choice to attend fundraisers

39. BGE - Resources • BGE Toolbox provides: • Background on role of government and process • Templates for use in dealing with your MP • Key issue summaries (Toolbox pages 14 - 25) • Additional resources: • CCPE website • National position statements (Toolbox pages 33 - 49) • CCPE Public Affairs staff • regional training sessions, web training • GR kit

40. BGE - Understanding your MP • MPs face constant struggle to juggle heavy workload • In Ottawa: • Daily question period • National and regional caucus meetings • Committees, debates, media requests, special functions • In the Constituency: • Requests from constituents • Social events • Fundraisers • Home life

41. BGE - How to set up meeting with MP • Initiate contact through MP’s constituency office • Use multiple methods of contact: phone, e-mail, letter • Follow-up will likely be necessary • Be flexible, be prepared to meet in the evening or on the weekend • Make friends with the MP’s office staff, they are the gatekeepers

42. BGE - Preparing for Meeting with MP • Put personal political or ideological differences aside • Other things to do: • Know position of your MP, and her/his party, on issues you plan to raise • Read MP’s bio Read statements by MP from House of Commons • Review “householders” and media clippings • Familiarize yourself with CCPE’s key issues • Plan an agenda

43. BGE - How to Structure Meeting with MP • Keep it local. Keep it meaningful. Keep it concise. • Hints on what to say are provided in part four of this • presentation • Introduce yourself as constituent • Introduce CCPE and its role • Select two or three key issues • Offer to follow-up • Leave business card (you will be added to MP’s mailing list) • and copy of the GR kit

44. BGE - Why Meet an Opposition MP? Opposition MPs play critical role in Parliament. They: Champion specific issues Raise concerns in Question Period Play important role on Committees (Opposition chairs three House Committees) Have same access as government MPs to bureaucracy on behalf of constituents Maintain cordial relationships with colleagues on all sides of aisle Today’s opposition MP is tomorrow’s government MP

45. BGE - What to Expect at Meeting • Be prepared for: • Interruptions • Clock watching • Questions • Invitations to fundraisers or to purchase party membership • Requests to be put on mailing list • Requests for your political support

46. BGE - After Meeting your MP • Always send formal “thank you” letter following meeting • (see Toolbox appendices) • Re-state issues discussed in writing • Emphasize any undertakings made by you or the MP • Letter should be brief, but focused • Where possible keep it limited to one subject • Send copy of letter to CCPE

47. BGE - After Meeting your MP…continued • Complete post-meeting form and return to CCPE • Allows CCPE to track progress • Alerts CCPE to challenges

48. BGE - Sustaining contact with MP • Other opportunities to meet your MP • Attend community events (Town hall meetings) • Invite MP to engineering events (Workshops, National Engineering Week, your AGM) • Ask MP to present awards, make speech • Offer to host MP at your place of work • Invite MP to CCPE Parliamentary Reception in October • Riding Association events • Fundraisers (see slide on Accountability Act)

49. Bridging Government and Engineers Talking to Your MP CCPE’s Key Issues

50. Talking to your MP - Opening the Dialogue • Not all MPs are familiar with CCPE and its objectives • In your first meeting with your MP you should open the discussion with a description of CCPE and its mandate • “CCPE is the national association of the provincial and territorial associations that regulate the practice of engineering and license the country’s 160,000 professional engineers.”