Relevant. Effective. Advocacy.
Advocis Government Relations
Guide for Provincial Advocacy
Committee Members
Alberta
Grass Roots Engagement
November 2011
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”
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Things we will cover
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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
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Things we will cover
• How-to guide to organising a meeting with
your local Member
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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
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Things we will cover
• Key messaging and support
– Advocis
– Provincial Focus
– Federal Focus
• Training module - Role playing
• Helpful links
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Advocis Government Relations Strategy
Main drivers of our advocacy efforts:
1. Consumer protection, access and choice
2. Value of financial advice
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Five Advocacy Pillars
1. Professionalism of financial advisors
2. Regulatory convergence
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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
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How Advocacy is organized
TFAAC Board
TFAAC Legal &
Regulatory Policy
Committee *
Sub-committe on
Investment
TFAAC Government
Relations
Committee *
Nine Provincial Advocacy Committee Executives
BC PAC Executive
Alberta PAC Executive
Saskatchewan PAC Executive
Manitoba PAC Executive
Ontario PAC Executive
Retirement income
Adequacy
Committee
Nova Scotia PAC Executive
Newfoundland & Labrador PAC Executive
New Brunswick PAC Executive
PEI PAC Executive
Task Forces as
needed
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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
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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
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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
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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
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How Advocis supports you
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Political engagement guide
Ongoing training
Communications
Advocis Government Relations Grid
Government relations web page
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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)
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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 faceto-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
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THE HOW-TO GUIDE
TO MEET WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL
IN FOUR EASY STEPS
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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:
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Elevate government awareness
Increase the credibility and visibility of Advocis
Achieve specific aims, as outlined by the PAC
Raise public awareness on important issues
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A few key terms
• The titles of elected officials:
– Federally
• Member of Parliament (MP)
– Provincially
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Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP)
Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)
Member of the House of Assembly (MHA)
Members of the National Assembly (MNA)
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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)
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Alberta Regulatory Framework
People and Bodies
Legislation
Minister of Finance
INSURANCE ACT
Ministry of Finance
Securities Act
The Alberta Insurance Council
Alberta Securities Commission
Investment Industry Regulatory
Organization of Canada
Mutual Fund Dealers Association
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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 jdasilva@advocis.ca
– We need to be aware of these meetings
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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”
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Step Three – The meeting
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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
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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
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DOs & DON’Ts
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Be Informed
Be Prepared
Appeal to reason
Tell the Truth
Personal Contact
Designate a Spokesperson
Be Early
Be Brief
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DOs & DON’Ts
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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
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Messaging support
Advocis will provide:
• Key Messages
• Background Notes
• “Leave Behind” document / material
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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.
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Sample Key Messages
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Sample Backgrounder
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Sample “Leave Behind”
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Helpful Links
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Recent Regulatory Bulletins
Recent Submissions
Advisor Voice
Advocis Regulatory Affairs Grid
Advocis Government Relations Grid
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Appendix – Provincial Legislatures
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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
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Appendix – Find Your MPP/MLA
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British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Federal
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Thank You Once Again for
Advancing your
Profession through your
Advocacy
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