Participating in Federal Public Policy: A Guide for the Voluntary Sector

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Guide sections

Module 1 – What is public policy and why is it important to become involved?

The guide begins with an overview of why it is important for voluntary organizations to become involved in public policy dialogue. It outlines how advocacy is part of the public policy process and reviews the history of policy involvement by voluntary sector organizations in Canada.

The objective of this module is to understand what public policy is, how it affects your organization, why it is important to be involved and to understand advocacy as part of the public policy process.

Module 2 – Navigating the systems and the rules

This module provides a description of the federal government structure as well as the federal policy process and the possible levels of involvement. It also provides an overview of the voluntary sector and describes the federal regulations governing voluntary organizations.

The objective of this module is to realize the complexity of the federal government and the policy development process, understand the contributions of the voluntary sector and be aware of how to access current regulations for registered charitable organizations and to differentiate between non-profit organizations, charities and voluntary organizations

Module 3 – Where do you want to go? Developing a strategy to influence public policy

This module guides you through the internal policy development process including a step-by-step guide to developing a public policy input strategy.

The objective of this module is to be able to develop a strategic policy position relevant to your organization’s mission and know how and where to gather facts to substantiate your policy position.

Module 4 – How do you want to get there? Implementing your strategy

This module helps you understand the numerous ways in which you can work with government (among other players) to influence public policy. It outlines the various approaches you can use and where to get more information.

The objective of this module is to understand approaches that you can use to generate interest in your organization’s policy position and influence public policy dialogue plus to recognize the importance of saying thank you.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Capacity Joint Table and Secretariat staff for their leadership and insight in bringing this document to life as well as the members of the Policy Sub-Committee for sharing their knowledge and experience in the development of this guide. We would also like to acknowledge background writing and research for this project by Ginsler and Associates Inc., Amy Lightfoot and Glen Milne’s Policy workshops. Also, we would like to thank those who agreed to review this document, providing additional comments and thoughts.

An important note

Voluntary organizations vary considerably in their composition, legal status, objectives and methods of operation. The information in this document is written generally and may not fit the exact needs of your organization. It is meant as a starting point to address some of the issues facing many voluntary sector organizations. The Voluntary Sector Initiative cannot give legal or other professional advice. You may need to consult with a lawyer or other professional to ensure that the information in this document fits with your organization’s concerns and issues and does not jeopardize your organization in any way.

All Web site references were checked as of October 27, 2003.

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