Issues coming this Parliamentary session and how we relate to just some of them

Parliament resumed nearly a month and a bit ago. With it, came a plethora of bills that needed to be re-introduced after the Prime Minister prorogued parliament. For many associations and executives, the unfortunate episode of proroguing parliament meant that the time they had invested in building relationships, researching their positions and advancing legislation now starts from scratch again. While the Conservatives have promised that they will endeavour to re-introduce legislation through Parliament, there are no guarantees that the opposition will accommodate them.

According to the Hill Times, over 30 pieces of legislation were left in limbo in the House of Commons and another 6 in the Senate. Reviewing the list, my sense is that associations will need to refocus their efforts on rebuilding relationships and doing what's required to get their bills through the process. While I will spare you from the entire list of bills (that can be reviewed at the bottom of the page of this Hill Times' article), we at Action Strategies have important experience dealing with a few of the former pieces of legislation that will be debated again in Parliament:

STATUS OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS AT THE END OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 40TH PARLIAMENT

House of Commons

• S-8 Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion on Income Taxes between Canada and Colombia, Greece and Turkey Bill (second reading): Working with Jason Kenney, MP (then the Revenue Critic of the Official Opposition) issues of tax treaties were a common issue I consulted on.

• C-23 Colombia-Canada Free Trade Agreement (second reading): In professional and personal circles, I've maintained important contacts in Colombia. We've also taken on important issues consulting government in trade policy in Latin America.

• C-34 Protecting Victims From Sex Offenders (report): Working in the office of Jason Kenney, one of his pet projects at the time was this subject. Through years of experience, I worked with a number of activist organizations on the subject from all over the country assisting them in making contacts and reaching out to the public and media to advance their cause.

• C-45 Foreign Nationals Working in Canada (second reading): Over the course of the last 2 years, we have worked most specifically with a number of non-profit organizations on issues relating to assisting internationally educated professionals (IEPs) integrate into their profession here in Canada. Most recently, I am working with the Information and Communications Technology Council on some important issues helping IEPs find parallel work in the IT sector.

—Updated to Dec. 17, 2009

There are other issues too sure to come up this Parliament. Drop me a line and let's chat on how we can advance your agenda this parliamentary session. Also, please leave a comment...I'd love to have your opinion.


___________________________________
Mark Buzan is Principal of Action Strategies, a GR Consultancy for non-profits. If you have questions on how you feel your organization could benefit from legislative monitoring services or even undertaking a grassroots advocacy initiative. Subscribe now to his Lobbying tips newsletter at www.actionstrategies.ca

Action Strategies is offering a Pro-bona lobbying grant

Kicking off 2010, we're grateful for all the support we have received over the course of the last year. As part of our desire to demonstrate our continued dedication to the non-profit sector, we will be offering our services pro-bona to one deserving organization seeking to make their case to Parliament.

As part of this offering, we are providing up to a year of ongoing federal government relations support to nationally based organizations to include:

- relationship development and meeting coordination with civil servants, Members of Parliament, and Senators
- legislative monitoring to ensure your organization stays on top of the issues
- government grant research and writing (if required)
- grassroots campaigns to mobilize your supporters before government

If this is of interest to your organization, we ask that you submit your proposal/ request outlining the following items:

- a complete profile of the organization including a break down of the board of directors and their biographies
- a description of your organization and its history of building networks of support/ membership across Canada (or in the least a minimum of 2 provinces)
- describe the cause you are seeking to support and why Canadians (and why legislators should care)
- describe the media coverage your organization has managed to garnish

We look forward to your proposals!

___________________________________
Mark Buzan is Principal of Action Strategies, a GR Consultancy for non-profits. If you have questions on how you feel your organization could benefit from legislative monitoring services or even undertaking a grassroots advocacy initiative. Subscribe now to his Lobbying tips newsletter at www.actionstrategies.ca

How Association Executives can Maintain and Track Networks of Contacts for better Lobbying

As 2009 comes to an end and Parliament prepares to recess, it's time to take stalk of your network of contacts and process for monitoring the legislative and regulatory process. There are 312 Members of Parliament in Ottawa and 105 Senators. With anywhere from 10 to 20 different committees meeting each day referring through hundreds of testimonials and background materials, even the most seasoned association public affairs professionals can find themselves encountering challenges. Add on the need for media monitoring to put a contextual and political analysis of affairs and the process becomes all the more challenging.

At Action Strategies, we have been able to maintain a consistent level of contacts through a number of techniques that include:

Attendance at political fundraisers: also a social opportunity, political fundraisers can be a great opportunity to not only demonstrate one's tacit support for a politician, it also positions my clients in a favourable light when we respectfully disagree on a point of order or want something changed. Also, if you are so inclined, volunteering in political parties can also help your cause.

By mixing our public relations activities with our government relations services, we multiply our contact base: It amazes me each day that as we serve our association and non-profit clients in their social media, public relations and marketing communications needs, inevitably we we often find ourselves undertaking initiatives or attending networking events that put us in contact with other professionals who share their contacts with us. Also interesting is that in many instances, legislators themselves often take part in these events offering an opportunity to relay my clients concerns onto them in a social atmosphere.

Find Other Opportunities to Maintain Contacts – Local organizations often have their Senators and Members of Parliament speak at luncheons and other gatherings. Many MPs also frequently schedule “Town Hall Meetings” where any area citizens can talk with them. Look for such events in your area and go, or have someone from your company attend, and talk with the Member, mentioning your company. Send a follow-up letter to them after any personal discussion. Also, send them a letter at least several times a year commending them for some position they have taken, even if it does not relate specifically to your business. Members need to know that you are paying attention to what they are doing and that you care.

Maintaining and monitoring legislative and political digests - To be an effective practitioner, you really do need to have a grasp on a number of different subscriptions, publications, and media sources to monitor committee meetings, upcoming legislation, and who said what. Keeping on top of this information can be a challenge but it also provides us the chance to identify up-and-comers.

By implementing these strategies and maintaining my contacts from the time of when I worked as a Legislative Assistant to Jason Kenney, MP, I have been able to open doors in many corners of government.

Finally, I cannot stress enough the value of putting in place a system of monitoring the progress of legislation and identifying the possibilities of regulations that can come about regularly. Each year, hundreds if not thousands, of regulations and bills go through the system. While many associations stay on top of the issues of importance to their membership, it can be a tall order to fill expecting them to know of every possible politician's quote affecting their issue, Private Member's/Senator's Bill, upcoming committee hearing date, or regulation. For this reason, I believe the value of engaging legislative monitoring into your advocacy efforts cannot be overlooked.

Addressing this point, Action Strategies has launched it's newest GR service: Legislative Monitoring. Are you on top of everything occurring on Parliament Hill and in the Provincial capitals? What have been your experiences in developing networks of contacts in the legislative system?


___________________________________
Mark Buzan is Principal of Action Strategies, a GR Consultancy for non-profits. If you have questions on how you feel your organization could benefit from legislative monitoring services or even undertaking a grassroots advocacy initiative. Subscribe now to his Lobbying tips newsletter at www.actionstrategies.ca