Advocacy means offering solutions

When advocating for change, be sure to offer solutions, not just criticism. Too often organizations spend more time identifying the problem then they spend identifying potenital solutions. Policy makers are not always subject matter experts and you can make their job much easier if you identify potential poliy changes which can address a problem. By providing policy makers with practical solutions you are much more likely to be successful in acheiving change.

Understanding the Agenda

For advocates who are working on developing public policy, it is important to understand the government's agenda. The Speech from theThrone and the Budget set out, in broad strokes, the governments priorities for an upcoming session of Parliament. If you can demonstrate how your policy proposal fits with the government's own agenda, you will likely be more successful in influencing government to adopt your proposal.

The federal election on May 2nd meant a Speech from the Throne on June 3rd to start the First Session of the 41st Parliament. The federal budget will be introduced in the House of Commons this week. Policy advocates should review both documents, which will be available online at www.parl.gc.ca, to familiarize themselves with government priorities.