Transcript Business/Government Relations

What on the Hill
is going On??
Overview of Government
Relations/Advocacy in the
Non-Profit Sector
January 30, 2013
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Overview of Government Relations/Advocacy
1)
2)
3)
4)
Definitions
Why is GR Important
A Framework for GR
Basics of Strategy
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Origin of the Term - Lobbyist
Initially (1600’s), petitioners would hang out in the corridors
and reception rooms outside the British parliamentary
chambers (the lobby) in which the legislature met, and try to
talk to and persuade individual Members of Parliament to
take up their cause as the Members walked in and out of the
sessions.
This area is now referred
to as the “Tim Hortons”
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Federal Definition of Lobbying
Communicate with a Public Office Holder regarding:
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Introduction/amendment of any Bill or Resolution
Introduction/amendment of any Regulation
Development/amendment of any Policy or Program
The awarding of any Financial Benefit
The awarding of any Contract
Scheduling of a Meeting
You are able to request publicly
available Information!
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Advocacy vs. Lobbying
When organizations advocate, they seek to
affect some aspect of society, whether they
appeal to individuals about their behavior,
employers about their rules, or the
government about its programs. Lobbying
generally refers specifically to attempts to
influence government decisions that is more
rooted in self-interest.
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Advocacy vs. Lobbying
The distinction is helpful to keep in mind as
the laws/regulations limiting the lobbying
done by organizations may not apply to other
advocacy activities.
To confuse you further….
We will use the term Government Relations
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Definition of Government Relations
Communications (What?/When?)
with Decision-Makers (Who?)
to effect Outcomes (Why?)
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Why is GR Important?
• Pythagorean Theorem
• Gettysburg Address
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286
• Declaration of Independence
1,300
• Charter of Rights & Freedoms
2,609
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Why is GR Important?
Regulation on the sale of cabbage……..
26,911 Words!!!!!!!
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GR –Shift From…
As taxpaying citizen you expect your
government(s) to fulfill certain responsibilities
and evaluate governmental actions it terms of
Wrong or Right
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GR –Shift To…
As a person acting in the interests of a
corporate entity you need to view
government(s) as rulemaker and view
governmental actions through a lens of
Losers & Winners
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Classification Timeline Analysis
(CTA)
A process that involves determining
what you are asking government for
and then selecting a strategy(s) that
incorporates your “ask” with where
in the system your issue is.
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Why CTA?
By providing a framework for the process,
it allows people to have a conversation
about strategy and a basic foundation for
developing risk analysis and evaluation
mechanisms.
GR strategy is still more art than science!!!!!
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Classification/Timeline Analysis
(CTA)
Rules of
the Game
Policy
WHY?
Procurement
Selling to
Martians
Chasing
Envelopes
Presents
The first step is to define what category
your “ask” is!
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Procurement: Government as Customer
Classic Marketing Issue:
Product/Price/Promotion/Place
“Determine needs and fill them better than
the competition”
Feds spend about $13 billion/year on goods
and services
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PROCUREMENT
I used to be disgusted when I read those
stories about the military buying $800 toilet
seats… now I wonder if the company that
sold them actually made any money!
Source: Canadian company executive after 2 years of trying to sell to the
government
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PRE$ENTS…..
The Feds give out over $26
Billion a year from over 50
Departments and Agencies from
over 700 envelopes!!!!!!!!!!
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Presents: Federal Money now comes
with some Conditions…
• Capacity building for organizations unless directly aligned
with the mandate of YOUR organization
• Research and polling activities not directly tied to the
mandate of YOUR organization
• Governments don’t like to be criticized with their own
resources (Court Challenges Program)
• There will increasingly be less and less in this envelope!
Don’t bite the hand that
feeds you!
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POLICY: Definition
Policy refers to all the legislation, regulation
and guidelines that frame, and influence, the
environment in which business operates.
The RULES of the game!
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Classification/Timeline Analysis
(CTA)
WHY?
Policy
Good Rules
Procurement
Presents
Issue of interpretation of regulations
Bad Rules
Drop existing/planned action
New Rules
Adopt new legislation/regulation
Sad Rules
Modernize/adjust existing rules
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Classification/Timeline Analysis (CTA)
Policy - Good Rules
Key GR Challenge:
Getting government to interpret
regulation differently
You will be dealing with Bureaucrats, and the outcome will
be based on facts. Don’t waste any political capital on this,
a Minister will not overrule their officials. Use your
Resources to put together the most persuasive argument(s)
possible
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Classification/Timeline Analysis (CTA)
Policy - Bad Rules
Key GR Challenge:
Getting the government to drop
existing, or planned, legislation
Your chances of success will be dependent on where you are
on the Legislative Continuum. Your argument will need to
address the fact that the policy objective is not being met,
and/or that the unintended consequences outweigh the
benefits
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Classification/Timeline Analysis (CTA)
Policy - New Rules
Key GR Challenge:
Getting the government to adopt
new legislation/regulations
You are starting from below zero. You will need to convince
policy-makers that there is an issue that requires a
government intervention and that the solution that your
legislative proposal represents is the best option. Try to find
other jurisdictions that have similar approaches to yours
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Classification/Timeline Analysis (CTA)
Policy - Sad Rules
Key GR Challenge:
Getting the government to change
existing legislation
The government has already recognized the need to intervene,
so you can concentrate on convincing them that the current
rules are obsolete and need to be modernized
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Classification/Timeline Analysis (CTA)
On issues of Policy (Rules), it is important
to understand where the issue is on the
decision-making continuum and what the
process for changing/modifying those rules
would be.
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Opportunities
GR Step 2:GR
Determine
where your issue lies
Casual Mention
Formal Mention
Formal Intention
Request for Input
Approval in Principle
Formal Approval
Draft Legislation
House Committee
Senate Committee
Royal Assent
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For every action…
In government, nothing happens in a vacuum.
Once you determine what you are “Asking”
government for, you need to review who the
other “Winners” would be and who the
“Losers” would be. Always anticipate
“Pushback”
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GR Process Basics
1.
2.
3.
4.
Clearly Define your “Ask” – Classify it!
Align Interests (“Winners”)
Anticipate Pushback (“Losers)
Intervene as early as possible
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Components of a GR Program
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Government Activity Monitoring
Communications
Contact Programs
Issue Intervention
Events
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Government Activity Monitoring
The key consideration here is timeliness.
The sooner you can identify an issue of
potential concern the greater your chances of
effecting the outcome.
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Important Sources
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Campaign Platform Documents
Speech From the Throne
Budget Speech
Departmental Plans and Priorities
Ministerial Statements and Speeches
Speeches by Senior Public Servants
House and Committee Statements
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Communications
You have to be RIGHT,
in the RIGHT way,
with the RIGHT person,
at the RIGHT time.
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Partisan vs. Political Actions
• At the foundation of Partisan Action is the
notion of “us” vs. “them” with a overlay of
“good” vs. “bad”
• Political Action involves building ongoing
relationships with all players that is driven
by facts and aligns interests
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Being Right…..
Be factual, spin is tolerated but dishonesty is
not. Put your argument in the best light
possible, “Winners & Losers” provides more
opportunity than “Right or Wrong”
to stretch your argument(s).
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In the Right Way…
1. Is this a bureaucratic or political decision?
2. Does it require legislative, regulatory or
Order in Council (OIC)?
3. Speak Their Language
4. Understand Their Situation
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With the Right Person…
Provincial and Federal governments maintain
an online directory (database) of all staff.
You can search by:
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Name
Department
Position
Etc.
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At the Right Time…
If you understand the financial and legislative
cycles of government, you will be able to
align your ask/intervention with
the decision-makers requirements,
timelines and deadlines.
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Contact Programs
Find your Natural Allies
Know your Respective Ministers/Parliamentary
Secretaries/Critics
Know your Legislative Committee(s)
Identify Key Bureaucrats
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Most overlooked, minimized and
under-valued question in the GR
process…..
What is Your Point?
Issue Intervention
Your “Point” should include:
•Rationale for change you are seeking
•Clear and realistic “Ask”
•Reference to change mechanism/process
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Issue Intervention
•Never do any heavy lifting by yourself
•Strength in numbers (Blowfish)
•Use the media wisely
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Events
• Great potential for creative strategy
• Increased Importance given new lobby rules
• Provide Profile for key elected officials
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The Government Relations (GR)
Process
1) Determine your existing/potential points of
contact with regulatory framework(s) and
monitor the activities of government(s)
2) Identify potential friction points or areas for
action
3) Determine the key “Asks” and points of
resistance. Align interests of “Winners” and
anticipate “Pushback” from “Losers”
4) Develop strategies for intervention and monitor
outcomes against identified GR objectives
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