12
Political
Activism
Key Terms
Collective Action Problem (p. 483) The notion that people whose interests are promoted by a group
will benefit from its efforts whether or not they actively participate.
Interest Groups (p. 469) A political organization that seeks to influence public policy without
competing for election.
Institutionalized Interest Groups (p. 474) Pressure groups that have become entrenched political
organizations.
Issue-Oriented Interest Groups (p. 475) Loosely-organized political organizations that focus on a
core issue.
Think Tank (p. 477) An organization that performs research as a means of public advocacy.
Lobbying (p. 478) Personal communication with public office-holders initiated by advocacy groups
as part of an effort to influence decisions.
Lobbyist (p. 479) A person or firm hired to communicate directly with public office-holders in order
to advance a client’s public policy agenda.
Manitoba Schools Question (p. 484) A formative dispute over the funding of education that
exposed religious, language, and intergovernmental tensions in Canada.
Slacktivism (p. 484) Actions taken by individuals to appear part of a social movement, but which
have no direct impact on the fulfilment of its objectives.
Social Movement (p. 481) A collection of members of the general public who share a public policy
concern and urge government action and changes to social values and behaviour.
Inside Canadian Politics
© Oxford University Press Canada, 2016
Review Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following interest groups promotes human rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals
and transgendered Canadians?
a) CARP
b) EGALE
c) MADD
d) CAPP
2. Which of the following are considered public interest groups?
a) Canadian Jewish Congress
b) National Action Committee on the Status of Women
c) Council of Canadians with Disabilities
d) All of the above
3. Which of the following is commonly referred to as the “Third Party” by Elections Canada?
a) Political Parties
b) Interest Groups
c) Media
d) Intergovernmental Organizations
4. The Frasier Institute is classified as which of the following?
a) Think tank
b) Issue-Oriented interest group
c) Institutionalized interest group
d) Lobbying firm
5. Which of the following is true about lobbying?
a) Lobbyists may exclusively be employed by a corporation.
b) Lobbying is a legitimate activity.
c) Lobbying is considered a profession.
d) All of the above are true.
6. The Government Relations Institute of Canada is NOT an interest group. True or False?
a) True
b) False
7. Which of the following issues were brought up during the Manitoba schools question?
a) Religious issues
b) Language issues
c) Intergovernmental tension
d) All of the above
Inside Canadian Politics
© Oxford University Press Canada, 2016
8. The Federal Commissioner of Lobbying in Canada is also an agent of Parliament. True or
False?
a) True
b) False
9. Which of the following is considered a self-interested interest group?
a) National Action Committee on the Status of Women
b) Canadians Rising up for Democracy
c) Save our Prison Farms
d) Canadian Banker’s Association
10. Which of the following is NOT an example of an intangible resource for an interest group?
a) Funds
b) Experience
c) Strong brand
d) Reputation
Discussion Questions
1. How has activism evolved over the years in Canada?
2. What are some of the success factors of interest groups in getting their message across?
Further Resources
Websites

MADD Canada
http://madd.ca/pages/
MADD Canada is a very successful interest group against drunk driving in Canada.

EGALE Human Rights Trust
http://egale.ca/
This interest group promotes human rights initiatives for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgendered communities.

Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation
http://www.taxpayer.com/
Inside Canadian Politics
© Oxford University Press Canada, 2016
This official website of a citizen’s advocacy group deals with taxes and government
accountability.

Canadian Labour Congress
One of the largest interest groups in Canada, the Canadian Labour Congress oversees
national and international unions and labour councils.

Save our Prison Farms
http://saveourprisonfarms.ca/
This website provides an example of an issue-oriented interest group in Canada.

Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/
This website provides an example of a think tank in Canada.

Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying in Canada
http://www.ocl-cal.gc.ca/eic/site/012.nsf/eng/home
This is the official website of the Federal Commissioner of Lobbying in Canada.
Articles/Books

M. Olson Jr., The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups (Cambridge:
Harvard University Press, 1965).
A book mentioned in this chapter, it briefly discusses the differences in organizational
behavior between small and large organizations and groups.

M. Smith, ed, Group Politics and Social Movements in Canada, 2e (Toronto: University of Toronto
Press, 2014).
This is an updated book on the accounts of social movements in Canada (such as the
Occupy Movement, feminism, LGBT rights, and others.) It also provides information on
factors that contribute toward the successes and failures of these movements.

S. Staggenborg and H. Ramos, Social Movements (Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2011).
This is an insightful introductory book on the history of social movements in Canada, as well
as a comparative perspective on international movements.
Inside Canadian Politics
© Oxford University Press Canada, 2016

W.D. Coleman, “Interest Groups and Democracy in Canada,” Canadian Public Administration,
30, (1987): pp. 610–622.
By using a theoretical approach, this article looks into how interest groups correlate with
principles of democracy in Canada.
RSS Feeds

Interest Groups and Advocacy (America examples)
http://www.palgrave-journals.com/iga/web_feeds.html
Answers to Review Questions
Multiple Choice Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
b (p. 470)
d (p. 475)
b (p. 469)
a (p. 477)
d (p. 479)
b (p. 480)
d (p. 484)
a (p. 480)
d (p. 475)
a (p. 473)
Inside Canadian Politics
© Oxford University Press Canada, 2016