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OTTAWA BRIEFING: POLITICAL AND POLICY CLIMATE FALL, 2006

OTTAWA BRIEFING: POLITICAL AND POLICY CLIMATE FALL, 2006. Geoff Norquay Principal Earnscliffe Strategy Group. A MINORITY PARLIAMENT. PM challenge: right balance between leadership and minority reality, with majority the objective All parties in play all the time:

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OTTAWA BRIEFING: POLITICAL AND POLICY CLIMATE FALL, 2006

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  1. OTTAWA BRIEFING: POLITICAL AND POLICY CLIMATEFALL, 2006 Geoff NorquayPrincipalEarnscliffe Strategy Group

  2. A MINORITY PARLIAMENT • PM challenge: right balance between leadership and minority reality, with majority the objective • All parties in play all the time: • Private Members’ Bills are constant threat (Replacement Workers) • Gridlock scenario taking shape: • Accountability Act / Clean Air Act • Committee amendments to legislation and study delays • Balancing act for opposition: deny progress vs provide Harper with election ammunition

  3. HOW HAS OTTAWA CHANGED? • Streamlined structure with fewer Ministers and Cabinet committees • Minister Clement heads Social Affairs Ctee. and sits on key Operations Ctee. • A more centralized government / disciplined message control • Less is more: a tighter focus and fewer priorities • Still learning / still discovering / still adjusting to understand issues, choices and how to govern • More pragmatic / less ideological than expected / feared • Strong focus on “stuff that works” (election timetable) • New Clerk of the Privy Council—Kevin Lynch—is remaking the senior public service—more than 40 changes

  4. SOME KEY POLICY DIRECTIONS • FPT fiscal arrangements • Equalization, fiscal imbalance and new PSE transfer all in play • Harper “quid pro quo” is action on inter-provincial trade and mobility barriers • Reflects PM’s desire to simplify and disentangle federation • On the other hand…continuing federal roles in health care, infrastructure and post-secondary education • Deregulation, “smart regulation” and single windows for regulation • Competitiveness and productivity • Science and Technology review underway • To be addressed in detail in Spring Budget • Tax policy preferred over traditional support programs

  5. The Health Care Agenda • Canada Health Act • Chaouli decision largely removed “two-tier health care” as a political issue and created impetus for addressing wait times • Expect much less confrontation with provinces than previous government / Alberta leadership change helpful • Government will not fight experimentation with reasonable new delivery options • The system has predictable funding: $41B / 10 years $5.5B for wait times / 6% annual increase • Big question is how feds will exercise non-funding leadership role, eg., health human resources, research and innovation

  6. THE HEALTH CARE AGENDA—2 • Wait Times Guarantee • Government recognizing this will take some time, (18 months) but still strongly committed • Progress slower than expected due to measurement and data issues • Supporting strategies: research, technology, human resources • No more money without measurable results: health information technologies are key • “Sharing Success” Conference upcoming • Provincial standards vs national

  7. THE HEALTH CARE AGENDA—3 • Environment and Personal Health • Linkage to health and airborne pollutants to broaden issue from narrow focus on GHGs / personalization of environment and pollution issue / regulation of indoor air a first • Transfer of responsibility from public dollars to private investments in technology-driven improvements • Consultations on interim targets with key industrial sectors now proceeding / Gov’t seeking “early wins” • Other elements of package will continue to roll out this fall: Technology Fund, water and wastewater infrastructure, biofuels strategy, energy efficiency

  8. ENGAGING THE NEW GOVERNMENT • The tried and true approaches still apply: • Match the government’s agenda and timing • Positive and constructive approach • Consultation is in: Budget, employability and skilled labour force, fair and inclusive workplaces, accountability, children’s fitness tax credit, disability savings • Coalitions and/or 3rd party support are helpful • Keep working the bureaucrats, but also lobby MPs back home to build support for national agendas • House Committee/consultation presentations build credibility • In a minority Parliament, work all parties but recognize the government’s electoral timeline: stuff that works

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