Federal policy and programs Making change happen 12 February 2010 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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

• f 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?

Photo credit: http:/ /newworldodor.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/homeless-cuddling-dog-by-kirsten-

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

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

• fficials, 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

• r comments:
• Havi Echenberg
• havi@havidave.com
• 613.296.9363