Preparing for a Meeting with Government
- Who exactly are you meeting with? Who do they report to?
- How can they influence a decision?
- What specific action can they take to advance your cause?
- What other info can they provide?
Use ‘GEDS’ to find the right person, with the right job
Keep a list of questions you’ll want to ask
Leave behind only what is directly relevant to the action they can take
What Officials Can and Cannot Do
What they CAN do:
- Guard against knee jerk political decisions
- Take decisions on delegated authority
- Develop options for the Minister to consider
- Give cost implications and a proposed implementation plan
- Stall implementation
What they CANNOT do:
- Commit to policy change
- Give definitive direction
- Implement major ideas without political approval
What Members of Parliament Can and Cannot Do
What they CAN do:
- Provide access to the government
- Help you navigate the system
- Raise awareness of your cause
- Pose a Question in Question Period
- Make statements in the House
- Support Amendments in Committee
What they CANNOT do:
- Make policy decisions
- Intervene in departmental decision-making
What Ministers Can and Cannot Do
What they CAN do:
- Make decisions on the business of their department
- Bring in outside info / different points of view
- Ask that a new idea be evaluated
- Question the material that is presented
- Refuse to sign off
What they CANNOT do:
- Unilaterally change a policy decision
- Create a new policy without departmental consultation, analysis and evaluation
- Unilaterally implement a decision
