Advice to Get the Most Out of the New Parliament

With every election comes change, whether it’s a new leading party, new members of Parliament and new roles. Here are some reminders to get the most for your organization for the next session in Ottawa. 

1. Do Your Homework 

With a new Parliament comes new players and new priorities. Start by doing research on the commitments, policies and strategies in the sectors that concern your organization. You then need to identify decision makers and influencers in the government, at both the political and bureaucratic levels, as well as the structures and processes in place and then figure out a way to get in front of those folks. 

2. Adapt Your Approach 

You need to adapt your overall approach to your immediate audience, regardless of political stripe. What might have worked for an established Minister might not be ideal for a new Parliamentary Secretary. Having a targeted and tailored approach helps with outreach and connecting with the individuals that form government and the opposition. 

3. Create Partnerships

Politicians, new and old, want to work with the community but it also has to be effective and easy for them to do so. While there is sometimes a role for the contrarian approach, trying to create partnerships will build more goodwill and will help you get to your goal faster. This is especially true if you can bring a crowd and other stakeholders along. 

And remember that government relations is not a sprint but rather a marathon. And that we’re here to help! 

 
Stewart Kiff is the President of Solstice Public Affairs, based in Toronto. His political career has spanned more than three decades, and he is still very active on both the grassroots and national levels. He was recently elected as the Ontario representative on the Conservative National Constitution Committee.