Federal policy and programs � Making change happen � 12 February 2010 � Toronto, ON �
How does policy change happen? � How does policy get made? � How to navigate? � When to intervene ? � Are you ready? �
How does policy change happen? � � Problems � � Policies � � Politics �
E.g., Homelessness - � What’s the problem? � � 1997: International Year of Shelter for the Homeless � � 1998: Surprise question from media about number of people sleeping on streets � � 1999: Minister appointed to coordinate federal response � Photo credit: http:/ /newworldodor.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/homeless-cuddling-dog-by-kirsten- �
E.g., Homelessness - � What’s the policy solution? � � Solution has changed over time � � In 1998, first priority was adding to shelter capacity � � By 2007, priority was on “housing first” and supportive housing �
E.g., Homelessness - � What are the politics? � � Despite NIMBY, federal government named Cabinet champion � � Federal budgets have committed funds to homelessness or housing for people who are homeless in almost every budget since - regardless of the party in power � Photo credit: http:/ /newworldodor.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/homeless-cuddling-dog-by-kirsten- �
How is policy � developed? � � What is the process? � � Who develops it? � � When is it developed? � � Where is it exposed and articulated? �
Overview of process �
Who develops federal policy? � � Federal departments and agencies � � Political parties � � F/P/T processes � � MPs and Senators’ initiatives � � “Public intellectuals” � � Stakeholders and other advocates �
When is federal � policy developed? � � Every day inside public service, e.g., in policy shops � � Leading up to and at political party conventions � � Think tank publications and recommendations � � Parliamentary Committee studies � � Advocacy groups developing and proposing solutions �
Where is public policy exposed and articulated? � � Political platforms � � Throne speeches � � Draft legislation � � Budgets � � Political speeches � � Media - op-ends and editorials �
Navigating the � Federal system � 1. Is it federal? � 2. Where to intervene? � 3. When to intervene? �
Federal? Pre-requisites � � compliant with the Constitution and the Charter? � � compliant with other human rights legislation and international conventions to which Canada is signatory? � � Constitutional or historical federal role? �
Federal? Three reasons � • for a federal solution � • Clear federal jurisdiction � • Existing programs or policies � • Government or opposition identified issue � • against a federal solution � • More convenient � • More sympathy � • More money �
The system �
Which branch of the system? � � Executive � � With departmental officials? � � With a member of Cabinet? � � Legislative � � With your local MP? � � With a Parliamentary Committee? � � Petition? � � Judiciary � � In the courts? �
With officials if: � � Your issue has been identified by Departmental Plans and priorities � � Your issue is clearly within policy mandate of federal department or agency � � An evaluation or audit is scheduled or recently completed � � Your contacts tell you that it’s on their radar �
With your/a local � MP if: � � S/he is a Cabinet minister or critic in your policy area � � S/he is the member of a party with a platform commitment to your issue � � S/he ran on your issue � � S/he is on a House Committee that deals with your issue �
With caucus(es) if: � � You have a position you want to pitch for inclusion in a political platform for an upcoming election � � The party has a commitment in your policy area, but has not yet � � acted on it � � articulated how they will act on it �
With a Committee if: � � Your issue is clearly within the mandate of the Committee � � Your issue is an aspect of a study planned or underway � � You don’t agree with a position the Committee has taken or testimony it has heard � � Legislation related to your issue is being considered �
At Cabinet level if: � � S/he is also your MP � � S/he is the Minister responsible in your issue area � � The government’s anticipated policy position can be nuanced (not changed radically) to be more effective �
When to intervene � � Scheduled opportunities � � Elections � � International focus � � Others? �
Scheduled opportunities � � Legislation � � Parliamentary committee studies � � Pre-budget consultations � � Scheduled reviews of programs or legislation � � Others? �
Elections � � Before � � During � � After �
International triggers � � OECD � � WHO � � UN � � Others? �
Are you ready? � • Is your organization ready? � � Is your case ready? �
Is your organization ready? � � Have you built the relationships you need? � � Are you credible and visible? � � Are you in it for the long haul? �
Building relationships � � Regular meetings - bring “intelligence” from the field to officials, MPs, media (especially local) � � Become known as reasonable, the ‘good cop’ in your issue area, if possible � � Support what and when you can �
Be credible and visible � � Bring new information to the table � � Become known as knowledgeable and committed to an issue � � Bring something TO process when asking something FROM it � � Be easy to find � � Have policy proposals �
Be in it for the long haul � � Intervene early and often � � Most issues are cyclical � � Few interventions succeed the first time � � Issues and solutions change over time �
Is your case ready? � � What do YOU want? � � Who can make it happen? � � What do they need to know? � � Who do they need to hear it from? � � How do they need to hear it? �
What do you want? � The “ask” � � have solutions to propose � � articulate concrete outcomes you’re looking for � � frame it in a way that makes it easy to say “yes” �
Who can make it happen? � � Related to “where to intervene” discussion � � One person? - bureaucrat, Cabinet Minister, ? � � Intergovernmental? - federal rep to FPT? � � Cabinet? - order in Council? Budget allocation? � � Parliament? - legislation? Committee? �
What do they need to hear and from whom? � � What? � � Evidence � � Compelling arguments � � Level of popular support? � � From whom? � � Constituent? � � Particular sector(s)? � � Celebrity? �
How do they have to � hear it? � � Policy brief � � Letters/petitions � � In context of platforms or existing commitments �
Thank you! � If you have questions � or comments: � • Havi Echenberg � • havi@havidave.com � • 613.296.9363 �
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