Relevant. Effective. Advocacy.

Advocis Government Relations

Guide for Provincial Advocacy Committee Members

Alberta

Grass Roots EngagementNovember 2011

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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

• 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– 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 advisors2. 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

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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

• 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 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

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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:– 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• 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

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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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Recent Regulatory Bulletins• Recent Submissions• Advisor Voice• Advocis Regulatory Affairs Grid• Advocis Government Relations Grid

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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

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Thank You Once Again for Advancing your

Profession through your Advocacy