charting federal and provincial government
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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
Federal Provincial
Defense
International Trade
Border security
Foreign policy
Employment insurance
Education
Social assistance
Public transit
Health care
Environment
Housing
Immigration
Agriculture
Law enforcement
PSE
Arts and culture
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?
Politicians Civil service
New agenda item
Legislative change
Regulatory change
New funding
Program design changes
Funding allocation
What influences change?
POLICY MP/MPPs/Sena-tors
Parliamentary/Legislative
CommitteesParliamentary
Secretaries
Caucus Committees
First Minister & CabinetPolitical
Assistants
Munic/Provs/
Territories
Coalitions, Advocacy Groups, NGOs
Public Opinion Firms /Think Tanks Media Mid-level Officials
(i.e. directors, policy analysts, researchers)
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
Research and consultation with stakeholders
Decks – draft documents test ideas – could include Minister’s Office, Cabinet Committees
Minister’s Office (EA/Policy Advisor); other Minister’s Offices
Meetings with Finance, Treasury Board, Privy Council/ Cabinet Office
Interdepartmental meetings (formal/informal)
Memorandum to Cabinet Committee outlines options
Cabinet Committee makes recommendation to Cabinet
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 LinksFederal GovernmentMembers of Cabinet, parliamentary secretaries and opposition criticsOrganized by areas of responsibility – not portfolio name (e.g. 2010 Olympics, Employment Insurance) http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MinistryMembers.aspxSearch Debates, Journals and Committee EvidenceAllows 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=2LegislationAllows you to search for legislation, accompanying speeches and press releases (no subject index –
search by Bill No. or Titlehttp://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Language=EBillsAllows you to search current bills, read text, learn status.http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/bills.asp?Language=E&Parl=40&Ses=2House of Commons CommitteesAllows 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=1Library of Parliament Research PublicationsResearch reports commissioned by MPs and Senators, sorted by subject. RSS feed. http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/library_prb.asp?Language=E
Provincial linksAnnual reportsIncludes reports on performance of each ministry. http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/about/rbplanning/2009 Ontario budgethttp://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2009/Info-GO – public service contact infoSearch all government staff. Browse by ministry – shows reporting structure and staffing of each departmenthttp://www.infogo.gov.on.ca/infogo/mainPage.doE-lawsRead or download all legislation and associated regulations. Search or browse by name of statute. http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/Government of Ontario WebsitesIncludes alphabetical links to Ontario ministries, agencies, boards and commissionshttp://www.ontario.ca/en/your_government/list/ONT03_020924Hansard searchAllows you to search debates in the legislature by topichttp://www.ontla.on.ca/web/house-proceedings/house_current.do Transcripts on standing committeeshttp://www.ontla.on.ca/web/committee-proceedings/committee_transcripts_current.do?locale=en Bills and lawmakingAllows 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
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