POLICY INVOLVEMENT - CANADA

International Seminar on Strategies and Agreements Between the Public Sector and the NonProfit

Sector

Estonia March 2005

Susan Carter

Voluntary Sector Advisor

Importance of Policy Involvement - Recognition

The government “will put into action the Accord …to enable the sector to contribute to national priorities and represent the views of those too often excluded” Speech from the Throne 2002

“In 15 years, how will we know that we have achieved success? Involving the voluntary sector in policy dialogue will be so deeply embedded that no one will think twice about it…and policy dialogue will be the accepted way of doing business for all departments” Clerk of the Privy Council Office 1999

Public Policy Process

Sector Input at each Stage of Public Policy Process

Issue Identification Agenda Setting Policy Design Implementation Monitoring and Impact Assessment

Code of Good Practice on Policy Dialogue

Based on Accord, applied to policy field Principles to underlie involvement in policy

– Value of voluntary sector– Mutual respect between government and sector– Inclusion– Accessibility– Clarity– Transparency– Responsibility– Accountability

Good practices by Government in policy dialogue

Consider impact of new or modified measures on voluntary sector (voluntary sector lens)

Establish regular dialogue with sector and make this known and accessible

Use full range of consultation and engagement Make available as many research findings and

data as possible

Good Practices by Government cont’d.

Seek out and draw on expertise in the sector Try to coordinate and simplify consultation on

related topics Ensure that fullest range of views is heard,

especially those most affected Provide feedback on results of dialogue and

decisions taken

Good Practices by Sector in Policy Dialogue

Strengthen their own knowledge and policy capacity

Strengthen understanding of how public policies are developed

Reach out to/include diverse parts of sector Reflect accurately views of constituents and be

clear about whose views are being represented

Good Practices by sector (cont’d)

Try to build consensus across sector on issues

Facilitate involvement by playing an intermediary role

Pursue opportunities to bring forward key and emerging issues to government

Identify and maintain contact with policy makers

Implementing and Monitoring Code of Good Practice on Policy Dialogue

In government, network of departmental champions, development of mechanisms for regular dialogue with sector, improving knowledge of sector and coordinating in some departments

In sector, collecting and sharing cases of good practice at work, communicating and training

together, look for opportunities to link sector to current policy priorities

Keys to Sector Involvement in Development of Public Policies

Recognition of sector value, expertise and voice

Recognition of legitimacy of sector involvement Policy capacity across sector Capacity in government to engage, receive,

respond and react

Initiatives within the VSI to build policy capacity and receptivity

Sector Involvement in Departmental Policy Development (SIDPD)

Policy Internships and Fellowships Guide on Public Policy Processes