Nursing and the Political Agenda

Meeting with a Parliamentary Committee

One of the duties of politicians in Ottawa – both members of Parliament and senators – is to participate in parliamentary committees. Committees have a defined mandate related to one or several areas of public policy such as finance or environment. Decisions about the agenda of a particular parliamentary committee can be influenced by its members, the government, non-governmental organizations – whether not-for-profit or for profit – and individual Canadians. Parliamentary committees, which are made up of representatives of all political parties, can direct research and hold hearings on issues. They also are responsible for reviewing draft legislation. The committees often solicit briefs or presentations. Sometimes a committee will direct invitations to particular experts and organizations. On other occasions the committee will post a general electronic notice.

Tips on Presenting to Parliamentary Committees

• Know the issues and concerns of committee members.
  • Check the parliamentary website www.parl.gc.ca for reports of the committee
  • Talk to the clerk of the committee
  • Contact the researcher of the committee
  • If possible, before you appear, attend a meeting of that committee

• Prepare a statement – no longer than 10 minutes – which does the following:
• Positions the credibility of you or your organization on the issue(s) being explored.
• Articulates your position vis-a-vis the issue(s).
• Provides the rationale for the position. This means referencing scientific evidence, anecdotal evidence and results of surveys, etc.
• Identifies the “ask” – what action do you want the committee and/or Parliament to take?
• Relates your message to the mandate of the committee and the responsibilities of Parliament.

• Before your appearance, contact a few members of the committee to determine their interests and priorities related to the subject and/or your position on it.
   
• Check with the Lobbyists Registration Branch of Industry Canada to see if you should be registered.
   
• Bring copies of the statement; the committee clerk will distribute copies if they are available in both official languages.
   
• Generally, following a presentation – or a panel of presenters – members of the committee will ask questions to clarify the points raised or to validate the do-ability of the “ask”.
   
• Take notes on the questions asked and their source.
   
• Following the meeting, followup with the committee staff and with individual committee members on specific questions.