Charting federal and provincial government

The Federal Overview

Provincial Executive

The Cabinet

Has authority to: • Propose new laws • Introduce government bills into the legislature • Approve major policy and spending decisions for all government bodies • Develop and propose the budget • Approve appointments to Crown corporations, agencies, boards and commissions

The Prime Minister/Premier

• Responsible for: – appointing and leading the cabinet – changing “machinery of government” – changes in government, new policies, – final funding allocations for new initiatives

• •

The PM/Premier’s Advisors

Political staff (PMO/Premier’s Office): – chief of staff, policy advisors, regional advisors, press secretary, etc. Privy Council Office/Cabinet Office – Led by the Clerk of the Privy Council/Secretary of Cabinet – Provides non-partisan advice to PM – Oversees cabinet agenda – Provides strategic direction and coordination to all government departments

Government ministries

• Political lead: the Minister – chosen by PM/Premier, usually non-experts – advised by political staff: Executive Assistant or Chief of Staff; policy advisors; legislative assistant

Government ministries

• Civil service lead: Deputy Minister – Reports to Minister and Clerk of the PCO/Cabinet Secretary – Appointed by PM/Premier – Co-ordinates and manages all departments or divisions – Conduit for information from civil services to the Minister – Politically neutral, but politically sensitive

Government ministries

The sovereign and senate

Who owns your issue?

– some examples

Defense International Trade Border security Foreign policy Employment insurance Health care Environment Housing Immigration Agriculture Law enforcement PSE Arts and culture Education Social assistance Public transit Federal Provincial

Constitutional division of powers

• Federal government is responsible for: – Peace, order and good government – Matters of “general interest” that affect country’s well-being – Everything not delegated to provinces – Spending power to make payments to individuals, institutions or other governments where Parliament may not have power to regulate

Constitutional division of powers

• • Provinces are responsible for: – Matters of particular local interest (education, hospitals, etc.) Municipalities are creatures of province, and restricted to authorities delegated by their provincial government

Division of powers complicated by:

• • • • Federal spending powers Complexity of issues/changing roles Shared interest of all levels of government History of intergovernmental relations and overlap/competition amongst governments

Is your issue on the radar?

• • • • • Throne speech and budget Party commitments (including opposition parties) Press releases/announcements Departmental annual reports Government websites – Hansard, committee submissions, research, organizational charts and staff lists

What changes do you want?

New agenda item New funding Legislative change Regulatory change Program design changes Funding allocation Politicians Civil service

What influences change?

Political Assistants First Minister & Cabinet Parliamentary/ Legislative Committees Munic/Provs/ Territories Coalitions, Advocacy Groups, NGOs Public Opinion Firms /Think Tanks

POLICY

Media Parliamentary Secretaries Caucus Committees Mid-level Officials (i.e. directors, policy analysts, researchers) MP/ MPPs/ Sena Senior Officials (i.e. Clerk/Secretary, Deputy Ministers, ADMs)

Political strategies

• • • • • • • MP/MPP -- makes statement, makes motion, introduces petition, asks question Caucus committee meeting Meeting with local MP/MPP Letter-writing campaigns Public awareness campaigns Influencing party platforms – research, media, think tanks, key constituencies, alliances Election process

Policy development strategies

• • • • • • • Formal government consultations Submissions to Parliamentary Committees Meetings with the Minister/Minister’s Office Pilot projects Independent research Formal/informal meetings with Ministry policy staff Engage with the public service and becoming a trusted source of advice

Where is your issue in the policy development process?

Departmental team created to develop policy

Minister’s Office (EA/Policy Advisor); other Minister’s Offices Memorandum to Cabinet Committee outlines options

Research and consultation with stakeholders

Meetings with Finance, Treasury Board, Privy Council/ Cabinet Office Cabinet Committee makes recommendation to Cabinet Decks – draft documents test ideas – could include Minister’s Office, Cabinet Committees Interdepartmental meetings (formal/informal) Presentation to Cabinet for approval

The budget cycle

The budget

• • • • • • • • • •

The world outside

Fiscal environment Caucus and constituency concerns Opposition party pressure Priorities and actions of other levels of government Events – and media coverage Public opinion/polling Success stories in other jurisdictions/sectors Research/discoveries Advocacy – individual champions and organizations YOU!

The questions:

• • Who “owns your issue” within government? What are the key intervention points for the changes you want to make?

Nifty Links

Federal Government

Members of Cabinet, parliamentary secretaries and opposition critics

Organized by areas of responsibility – not portfolio name (e.g. 2010 Olympics, Employment Insurance) http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MinistryMembers.aspx

Search Debates, Journals and Committee Evidence

Allows you to search House of Commons debates (as recorded in Hansard), Journals, and Committee Evidence. http://www2.parl.gc.ca/housechamberbusiness/ChamberPublicationIndexSearch.aspx?View=H&arpiD= 1&arpiJ=0&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=40&Ses=2

Legislation

Allows you to search for legislation, accompanying speeches and press releases (no subject index –

Bills

search by Bill No. or Title http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Language=E Allows you to search current bills, read text, learn status.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/bills.asp?Language=E&Parl=40&Ses=2

House of Commons Committees

Allows you to search committee membership, reports, evidence, guidelines for preparing a submission to a House of Commons Committee.

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/CommitteeBusiness/Default.aspx?Parl=40&Ses=2&Language=E&Mode=1

Library of Parliament Research Publications

Research reports commissioned by MPs and Senators, sorted by subject. RSS feed. http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/library_prb.asp?Language=E

Provincial links

Annual reports

Includes reports on performance of each ministry. http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/about/rbplanning/

2009 Ontario budget

http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2009/

Info-GO – public service contact info

Search all government staff. Browse by ministry – shows reporting structure and staffing of each department http://www.infogo.gov.on.ca/infogo/mainPage.do

E-laws

Read or download all legislation and associated regulations. Search or browse by name of statute. http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/

Government of Ontario Websites

Includes alphabetical links to Ontario ministries, agencies, boards and commissions http://www.ontario.ca/en/your_government/list/ONT03_020924

Hansard search

Allows you to search debates in the legislature by topic http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/house-proceedings/house_current.do

Transcripts on standing committees

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/committee-proceedings/committee_transcripts_current.do?locale=en

Bills and lawmaking

Allows you to check the status of legislation, and read background information about how different types of bills become law http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/go2.jsp?Page=/bills/bills_main&menuItem=bills_header&locale=en