February 04, 2015
Lobby Groups
How do Lobby groups impact government
decision making?
Pages 51-53
(also known as pressure groups, interest
groups and special interest groups)
February 04, 2015
What is "Lobbying"?
Lobbying is the intention of influencing decisions made by
legislators and officials in the government by Lobbyists.
A "Lobbyist" is someone hired by a group or organization
who try to influence the legislation of MPs and government
officials.
Lobbyists voice the views of groups on issues that affect
their members, products or services. These issues can
also affect all Canadians. Within the federal political
system, lobbyists provide different perspectives and indepth expertise on many issues.
February 04, 2015
So .... How does "Lobbying"
actually work?
How does it work
February 04, 2015
What kinds of laws
do these "Lobby
Groups" persuade
government officials
to pass?
February 04, 2015
Mothers Against
Drunk Driving
MADD has lead the way
and advocated for stricter
and harsher legal penalties
for drunk driving.
MADD has also lobbied
government law
enforcement agencies
across Canada to increase
check-stop occurrences and
impaired driving legislation.
Drunk Driving Ad
February 04, 2015
NSRA
Non-Smokers' Rights Association
Successful campaigns to obtain
public smoking by-laws in cities from
St. John's to Calgary. As early as
1977, Toronto Mayor David Crombie
referred to the NSRA as "the most
impressive and intelligent lobby I
have ever known."
Despite intense tobacco industry
lobbying, the NSRA convinced the
federal government to accept a world
precedent-setting warning system,
involving stark warnings that take up
30% of the front and back panels of
cigarette packs.
Pack Warnings
February 04, 2015
What are some ways or
techniques that Lobby Groups use
to influence the government?
February 04, 2015
But .... there are RULES for lobbyists!!
- Lobbyists must register with a Commissioner of
Lobbyists so everyone know who they are and
who they represent.
- The Federal Accountability Act requires
lobbyists to document all meetings with MP's and
government officials.
February 04, 2015
Think about it...
To what extent do lobbyists
represent Canadians? In
what ways do they help or
hinder effective government
decision making around issues?