How Do Governments Make Policy?

1. How Do Governments Make Policy? Chapter Four

2. Important Dates • THURSDAY, APRIL 12TH • Civics Exam • FRIDAY, APRIL 13TH • Exam Review Day/Relax Day/Movie Day • Final Assignment due by midnight • MONDAY, APRIL 16TH • Start of Careers Section

3. Final Assignment • Getting to know one of Canada’s mainstream political parties: Conservatives, Liberals, NDPs, or Green Party • Individual • Due: Friday, April 13th by midnight • Submitted electronically to mrsbiega@hotmail.com • Much of the information can be take directly off of the party’s official website • No Wikipedia! Thanks.

4. What do you think the student council should do to get their voice heard?

5. Platforms and Policies • Policy - is the plan of action of a political party or government to achieve certain goals. • Platform - This is the group of policies it promises to pursue if elected. • Citizens then vote for the candidates and parties that best represent their own views and wants. Then when the party becomes government, it’s expected to turn policies into laws.

6. Leaders Pierre Trudeau Adolf Hitler Was a charismatic speaker Inspired thousands at rallies with love of country and fears Mein Kampf, Hitler’s autobiography, sold 1.5 million copies in 1933; it outlined the kind of Germany he would create if he came to power – doesn’t look like many actually read it… • On his second term as PM, won fewer seats than first • Why? • Trudeau had “a conversation with Canadians” • Did not have cheers and rallies

7. Issues • There are usually a few key issues parties try to address in their political platforms in modern day elections. • Healthcare • Economy • Social Justice • Environment • Taxes are also a key point to elections, however, taxes have an influence on all of the above four issues. • In 2004, heath care, corruption in government, taxes, social welfare programs, and the environment were the most important issues to Canadians. • PM Martin and sponsorship scandal

8. Discussion • What would be some important issues to you now? To you in the future? Why?

9. How Are Policies Developed? • Our government collects and spends billions of tax dollars each year. How this money gets spent and collected depends on Government policy. Government polices fall in several areas: • social (heath and education) • financial (taxes, money supply) • international (defense, trade, foreign relations) • public works (transportation, construction) • resources (fisheries, agriculture, energy) • legal (justice)

10. Policies • Polices are managed by different departments or ministries. • Policies deal with the wants and needs of society. • Large numbers of people are consulted for opinions as facts and information are collected. • Policies have consequences, good and bad, long term and short term. • http://www.conservative.ca/media/ConservativePlatform2011_ENs.pdf • **hint hint** This is something you’d use for your project!

11. Major Influences on Policy • Governments and political parties create policies around their core beliefs; however, they must respond to many influences.

12. Political Party Membership • People who join and work locally for political parties are referred to as grassroots • Members from each riding can become delegates to party conventions • Delegates can discuss policy with party leaders • Delegates directions are put forth as resolutions - if passed, a resolution becomes a policy • Many parties support membership at 14 years of age and have youth wings

13. Civil Service Advice • The executive branch of government employs thousands of civil servants • Top civil servants are experts and advise the government on policy details

14. Judicial Opinion • The influence of the courts on policy has increase since the passage of the CCRF in 1982 • Government legislation must comply with the Charter • Courts can override laws that do not respect the Charter

15. More Influences • Economic Realities • Economic conditions affect policy decisions - is there enough money to deliver on their promises ? • International Pressures • Foreign policy, defense and trade all depend on relationship with other countries • Most importantly is the relationship between Canada and the United States • Intergovernmental Concerns • Polices of one level of government and influenced by the demands and needs of other levels of Government

16. Interest Groups • Interest Groups are groups of informed citizens that come together to pursue common causes or goals • They try to influence policy makers • Many groups focus their efforts on the courts and interpretation of the Charter

17. Consequences of a Policy • To assess what "good" is would include policies that are designed to: • do what is best for most people • protect the weakest in society • provide fairness and equity • create cleaner, healthier community

19. Interest Groups and Policy Makers • Instead of joining a political party: • Interest Group: a collection of individuals who pursue common political goals; might represent those with a similar profession or focus on one specific policy objective; goal is to pressure governments to pass legislation that is favorable to their particular group or cause, or alter current legislation that has already been passed; exs: Canadian Council of Business, the Council of Poverty, and the National Citizens Coalition • Pressure Group: essentially the same thing as an interest group but tend to have less funds and are not as well organized; exs: Tobacco Manufacturers, the Arts Council, and the Canadian Medical Association • Lobby Group: derives from people waiting in the lobby of the government buildings in order to attempt to influence their decisions; many lobbyists are professional who are paid to lobby the government, usually for big businesses (like former politicians)

20. How Do They Influence Government Policy? • develop publicity campaigns to change the way people think i.e. MADD • develop a critical series of contacts within the media and the government • appear before parliamentary committees or royal commissions • conduct polls and surveys • make campaign contributions to parties that favor their views • organize and take part in demonstrations, protests, and rallies • fundraise • ***The media and the internet has changed how these groups operate over the last decade*** • ***The more contact interest groups have with the government the better chance they have with influencing policy. Sometimes at the same time one group is fighting for one thing, a second group is fighting for the opposite ***

21. Spectrum of Influence • Some interest groups can afford to hire professional lobbyists • Sometimes interest groups are "umbrella" organizations • Ex: The Insurance Bureau of Canada promotes the interests of many insurance companies, giving each company a stronger voice than they would if each insurance company lobbied separately • Remember, anyone can form an interest group!

22. page 66 in text • What do you think? Homelessness and Public Spaces

23. RMR: Online Privacy, Warning Shots, NDP Race, No Debate, The War On Fun, etc. http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/The_Rick_Mercer_Report