Navigating the Political

Universe

“Raising awareness of development policy, including

the need for more aid effectiveness, needs to be part

of any strategy for renewing Canada’s foreign aid…

…There is a need for public discussion, writing

campaigns and carrying your views on development

to the ballot box.”

Nilima Gulrajani - Globe &

Mail

Objectives

To gain a deeper understanding of how the To gain a deeper understanding of how the Canadian political system functions, in the aim of Canadian political system functions, in the aim of executing more informed advocacy workexecuting more informed advocacy work

To gain a sense of the opportunities and challenges To gain a sense of the opportunities and challenges within the systemwithin the system

responsibility

The Cabinet Has authority to:Has authority to:

Propose new laws Propose new laws

Introduce government bills into the legislatureIntroduce government bills into the legislature

Approve major policy and spending decisions for all Approve major policy and spending decisions for all government bodiesgovernment bodies

Develop and propose the budgetDevelop and propose the budget

Approve appointments to Crown corporations, Approve appointments to Crown corporations, agencies, boards and commissionsagencies, boards and commissions

The Prime Minister

More power than the American President!More power than the American President!

Responsible for:Responsible for:

appointing and leading the cabinetappointing and leading the cabinet

changing “machinery of government” changing “machinery of government”

changes in government, new policieschanges in government, new policies

final funding allocations for new initiatives (ex. final funding allocations for new initiatives (ex. G8 agriculture spending)G8 agriculture spending)

The PM AdvisorsPolitical staff (PMO/Premier’s Office): Political staff (PMO/Premier’s Office):

chief of staff, policy advisors, regional advisors, press chief of staff, policy advisors, regional advisors, press secretary, etc. secretary, etc.

Privy Council Office/Cabinet OfficePrivy Council Office/Cabinet Office

Led by the Clerk of the Privy Council/Secretary of CabinetLed by the Clerk of the Privy Council/Secretary of Cabinet

Provides non-partisan advice to PMProvides non-partisan advice to PM

Oversees cabinet agendaOversees cabinet agenda

Provides strategic direction and coordination to all Provides strategic direction and coordination to all government departments government departments

Government ministries

Political leadPolitical lead: the Minister : the Minister

chosen by PM, usually non-expertschosen by PM, usually non-experts

advised by political staff: Executive Assistant or advised by political staff: Executive Assistant or Chief of Staff; policy advisors; legislative Chief of Staff; policy advisors; legislative assistant assistant

3 roles: responsible for department, as 3 roles: responsible for department, as member of governing party, and representing member of governing party, and representing constituencyconstituency

Government ministries

Civil service lead: Deputy MinisterCivil service lead: Deputy Minister

Reports to Minister and Clerk of the PCO/Cabinet Reports to Minister and Clerk of the PCO/Cabinet SecretarySecretary

Appointed by PM/PremierAppointed by PM/Premier

Co-ordinates and manages all departments or divisionsCo-ordinates and manages all departments or divisions

Conduit for information from civil services to the Minister Conduit for information from civil services to the Minister

Politically neutral, but politically sensitive Politically neutral, but politically sensitive

Parliament!

Four main functions:Four main functions:

Establish legitimate government through Establish legitimate government through electoral processelectoral process

To make government work (give authority To make government work (give authority for funds to govern the country)for funds to govern the country)

To make government behave (act as To make government behave (act as watchdog on executive authority)watchdog on executive authority)

To make an alternative government (if To make an alternative government (if opposition presents itself as credible choice)opposition presents itself as credible choice)

Parliament

Central representative institution (MPs)Central representative institution (MPs)

308 MPs, representation by population308 MPs, representation by population

Elected by First-Past-the-PostElected by First-Past-the-Post

Does not play a dominant role in making policyDoes not play a dominant role in making policy

Role in legislation and producing Role in legislation and producing resolutions/committee reports directed more at resolutions/committee reports directed more at scrutinizing what the government does than scrutinizing what the government does than formulating policyformulating policy

Daily Business in da HouseIntroducing billsIntroducing bills

““tabling” documents – submitting to the House to be in tabling” documents – submitting to the House to be in official public recordsofficial public records

Passing “motions” expressing the will of Parliament to the Passing “motions” expressing the will of Parliament to the government/publicgovernment/public

Reading statements by individual membersReading statements by individual members

Voting on bills to pass new lawsVoting on bills to pass new laws

Question PeriodQuestion Period

Also have “opposition days”, emergency debatesAlso have “opposition days”, emergency debates

Role of the Opposition

3 basic groups of MPs3 basic groups of MPs

1) Ministers + parliamentary secretaries1) Ministers + parliamentary secretaries

2) Members who support the government2) Members who support the government

3) Members who oppose the government3) Members who oppose the government

Role of the Opposition

Work to make sure differing views on gov’t Work to make sure differing views on gov’t initiatives are presented and expressed publiclyinitiatives are presented and expressed publicly

Challenge and debate all proposed legislation, Challenge and debate all proposed legislation, watchdog on gov’t conductwatchdog on gov’t conduct

““Official Opposition” – opp. party with most seatOfficial Opposition” – opp. party with most seat

• Debate time divided up by # of seatsDebate time divided up by # of seats

Senate and Crown

Senate:Senate:- Second house of ParliamentSecond house of Parliament-‘‘Sober second thought’Sober second thought’- Can also propose legislation but House has final sayCan also propose legislation but House has final say- Can study legislation in committees and produce Can study legislation in committees and produce reports (ex. Aid effectiveness and Africa)reports (ex. Aid effectiveness and Africa)- Unelected body, provincial quotasUnelected body, provincial quotas

Crown:Crown:-Governor General; little power; opens and closes Governor General; little power; opens and closes Parliament, represents the Queen; diplomatic functionsParliament, represents the Queen; diplomatic functions

Bill Law

Policy Process 1

Setting the agendaSetting the agenda

– Based on election promises, ideas from various sources; Based on election promises, ideas from various sources; media, think tanks, constituency groups, not-for-profitsmedia, think tanks, constituency groups, not-for-profits

– Once elected, consult with central bureaucracyOnce elected, consult with central bureaucracy

– Draft Speech from the ThroneDraft Speech from the Throne

– These commitments are repeated and explained in more These commitments are repeated and explained in more detail through minister’s speeches, political detail through minister’s speeches, political announcements, caucus groups, department sitesannouncements, caucus groups, department sites

Policy Process 2Policy DesignPolicy Design

– How it will work = mostly bureaucracy-determinedHow it will work = mostly bureaucracy-determined

– Elected politicians can’t evaluate all implications of a policy on Elected politicians can’t evaluate all implications of a policy on their owntheir own

• main role is to ensure bureaucracy provides opportunity for public main role is to ensure bureaucracy provides opportunity for public consultationconsultation

– Departments look at money, feasibility, whether new legislation Departments look at money, feasibility, whether new legislation needed or amendmentneeded or amendment

– Once designed, sent to ministerOnce designed, sent to minister

– Minister decides whether it will be well-received politically, may Minister decides whether it will be well-received politically, may make changesmake changes

Policy Process 3

Cabinet ReviewCabinet Review

• Ministers evaluate final policy designMinisters evaluate final policy design

– Yes or No?Yes or No?

– How much money?How much money?

– When to launch?When to launch?

– Public reaction?Public reaction?

– Media reaction?Media reaction?

Policy Process 4

Legislative ApprovalLegislative Approval

• If needs legislative change, will go through If needs legislative change, will go through both houses for approvalboth houses for approval

• Changes made through amendmentsChanges made through amendments

Top-down decisions

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Assistant Deputy Minister

Director General

Deputy Director

Desk Officer

Bottom-up decisions

POLICY MPsSenators

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)

Questions?

Article discussion

• Who had a chance to read it? (green lights)Who had a chance to read it? (green lights)

• Anyone want to share any thoughts? Anything Anyone want to share any thoughts? Anything surprising or unsurprising? surprising or unsurprising?

Next Time

• Wednesday, July 22Wednesday, July 22

• 8pm EST on WebTrain8pm EST on WebTrain

• TopicTopic: Exploring the Media Moonscape: Exploring the Media Moonscape

• HomeworkHomework: Media-scanning: Media-scanning