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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 &
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