Relevant. Effective. Advocacy.
Advocis Government Relations
Guide for Provincial Advocacy Committee Members
British Columbia
Grass Roots EngagementNovember 2011
2
Introduction
• First – Welcome and thank you!• Goal – give you the tools and knowledge to
effectively engage local politicians in order to advance our collective issues
• How this document is organized:– PowerPoint slides with notes section– Links to outside resources, tools and templates– Elected officials will be referred to as “Members”
3
Things we will cover
• Advocis Government Relations Strategy• What is a PAC and what do they do?• How Advocacy is organized and supported• What is my responsibility and what’s in it for me?• What is grassroots advocacy?• Activities to engage politicians• Defining your engagement as a PAC member
4
Things we will cover
• How-to guide to organising a meeting with your local Member– Goal of the meeting– Key terms– Successfully talking to your Member– Sept One – Arrange a meeting– Sept Two – Prepare for the meeting– Step Three – The meeting– Sept Four – The follow up– DOs and DON’Ts
5
Things we will cover
• Key messaging and support– Advocis– Provincial Focus– Federal Focus
• Training module - Role playing• Helpful links
6
Advocis Government Relations Strategy
Main drivers of our advocacy efforts:
1. Consumer protection, access and choice
2. Value of financial advice
8
Five Advocacy Pillars
3. Distribution of financial services and compensation
4. Supporting the business of financial advisors
5. Improving retirement income and financial security of Canadians
10
What is a PAC?
Provincial Advocacy Committee (PAC) Network
• PACs are province-wide committees comprised of Advocis members who are committed to being involved politically
• They are sub-committees of the National Government Relations Committee
11
What is a PAC?
Provincial Advocacy Committee (PAC) Network
• Created to provide advocacy support on regulatory and policy issues
• Develop a lobbying capability for our organization
12
PACs – What they do• Promote political involvement within Advocis’
membership and develop an effective network• Interact and communicate with Advocis members
and in particular chapter executives on advocacy initiatives
• Implement decisions of the National Regulatory and Government Relations Committees
13
PACs – What they do
• Identify provincial legislative and regulatory actions
• Evaluate relevant provincial policy initiatives and make recommendations to the National Committees of Advocis
• Coordinate with Advocis staff and the National Committees of the Board on major advocacy initiatives
14
How Advocis supports you
• Political engagement guide• Ongoing training• Communications• Advocis Government Relations Grid• Government relations web page
15
What’s my responsibility?
• The primary purpose of a PAC member is to develop a long-lasting relationship with local elected officials both provincially and federally so that we can better advocate for our profession when there are issues of interest or concern
16
What’s in it for me?
You are in fact:• Advancing issues that affect your industry and
ultimately your ability to make a living in your chosen profession
• Help protect my profession and consumers from unscrupulous and dishonest practitioners that tarnish our reputation
• Meeting opinion leaders and affluent members of your community that can help drive your business
17
What is grassroots advocacy?
• Simply put, advocacy is the "art of persuasive communication"
• Grassroots advocacy is the expression of popular support (or opposition) for a position that demonstrates the depth of constituent support and gives legislators an added degree of confidence in their position
18
What is grassroots advocacy?
• Advocis members deliver important services to the public that many legislators are not familiar with
• All you need is personal experience and factual information to back it up
• Then build a relationship with your local politician to deliver the message
19
Activities to engage politicians(and commitment level)
• Participate in Legislature Days (1.5 days) • Meet with politicians in their office (1 hour)• Attend local events where the politicians are
in attendance (varies)• Petitions, letters and emails (half hour)
20
Activities to engage politicians(and commitment level)
• Donate to local elected officials or attend fundraising events ($)– Some events are organized by Advocis members
• Volunteer on election campaigns (variable)• Participate in political associations (variable)• Social media – sign up for politicians’ Twitter and
Facebook (minutes)• Make presentations to Legislative Committees
(significant)
21
Defining your engagement as a PAC member
As part of the PAC we would like you to:• Participate in a Advocis Legislature Day or
related activity in your province, and• Engage your local elected representative face-
to-face two times during the year• Feel free to engage elected officials in any of
the other engagement activities outlined above if you want to do more
23
What's the goal of the meeting?
• The purpose is to make the elected representative and their staff aware of the issues, with clear key messages, then to ask for specific actions
• The general goals are to:– Elevate government awareness– Increase the credibility and visibility of Advocis– Achieve specific aims, as outlined by the PAC– Raise public awareness on important issues
24
A few key terms
• The titles of elected officials:– Federally
• Member of Parliament (MP)
– Provincially• Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP)
• Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)
• Member of the House of Assembly (MHA)
• Members of the National Assembly (MNA)
25
A few key terms
• Prime Minister of Canada - The Right Honourable (full name) Prime Minister of Canada
• Premier of a Province - The Honourable(full name), Premier of (Province)
• Provincial/Territorial Cabinet Ministers - The Honourable (full name), Minister of _______
• Members of a provincial legislative assembly - Mr./Mrs./Ms./Miss (full name) MLA or(MPP, MNA, or MHA)
26
BC Regulatory Framework
26
People and Bodies Legislation
Minister of Finance BC INSURANCE ACT
Ministry of Finance The BC Securities Act
The Insurance Council of British Columbia
Financial Institutions Commission of B.C.
Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
Mutual Fund Dealers Association
27
Step One – Arrange a meeting
• Call your Member’s local constituency office and request a meeting
• Provide the assistant with a brief written summary or an agenda about why you are calling – LINK
• Confirm the time and place of your meeting and clearly state your purpose of your meeting
• Before a meeting is secured contact:Juno Da Silva at [email protected]– We need to be aware of these meetings
28
Step Two - Prepare for the meeting
• Get to know your elected official• Prepare for your meeting
– Review key messaging about Advocis and the current issues in your province
– Be prepared to tell your personal story– Review your “Ask”
29
Step Three – The meeting
• Introduce yourself and Advocis• Explain the goals and objectives for your meeting• Provide your Member with a “leave behind”• Introduce and explain the issues you want to
discuss• Be sincere and passionate• Secure their commitment to communicate their
support to the proper minister, and the other Members of their caucus
• Take notes
30
Step Four - Follow up
• Write a thank you letter to your Member – LINK
• Ask them to keep you informed about their efforts and actions
• Call and thank the Member’s assistant• Let us know about your progress by filling out
our reporting form – LINK• Keep in touch with your Member
31
DOs & DON’Ts
• Be Informed• Be Prepared• Appeal to reason• Tell the Truth• Personal Contact• Designate a Spokesperson• Be Early• Be Brief
32
DOs & DON’Ts
• Be Polite and Professional• Make it Known that you Vote• When a Member Wanders off Topic• If a Member Doesn't Show don’t be
Offended• Stay Focused• Fill in the Response Form• Don’t Feel Intimidated
33
Messaging support
Advocis will provide: • Key Messages• Background Notes• “Leave Behind” document / material
34
Key Message - About Advocis
•Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, is the oldest and largest voluntary membership association of financial advisors and planners in Canada.
•With more than 11,000 advisors and planners in 41 chapters across Canada, Advocis members provide financial advice, product service and employee benefit planning to millions of Canadians in a number of areas including estate and retirement planning, wealth management, risk management and tax planning.
38
Helpful Links
• Recent Regulatory Bulletins• Recent Submissions• Advisor Voice• Advocis Regulatory Affairs Grid• Advocis Government Relations Grid
39
Appendix – Provincial Legislatures
• Parliament of Canada• Legislative Assembly of Alberta• Legislative Assembly of British Columbia• Manitoba Legislative Assembly• Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick• House of Assembly, Newfoundland and Labrador• The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories• Nova Scotia House of Assembly• Legislative Assembly of Nunavut• Legislative Assembly of Ontario• The Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island• The National Assembly of Quebec• The Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan• The Yukon Legislative Assembly
Appendix – Find Your MPP/MLA
• British Columbia• Alberta• Saskatchewan• Manitoba• Ontario• New Brunswick• Newfoundland and Labrador• Nova Scotia• Prince Edward Island• Federal
40