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