Policy Development Tool Kit

Transcription

1 2017/2018 Policy Development Tool Kit Building a better future for all Canadians Presented by: David Hurford National Policy Secretary, National Policy Committee

2 Policy Development Tool Kit 1 A note from the National Policy Secretary Friends and supporters, Hearing ideas from Canadians is what keeps our Liberal movement strong, growing, and innovative - and that wouldn t be possible without your involvement. The platform that Justin Trudeau and the Liberal team presented to Canadians in 2015 was based on a long thread of hundreds of thousands of conversations, and as we look toward the next election in 2019, new conversations and policy ideas will play an important role in shaping the future direction of our party and our country. That is why I am pleased to share our 2017/18 Policy Tool Kit, a one-stop guide to participating in - and helping to lead - a policy development process that will be the most open and innovative in Canadian politics. When Liberals moved forward with a new party constitution and by-laws last year, we committed to a policy process that would be more flexible, accessible, and interactive - and a process that would welcome new ideas from all Canadians. This Policy Tool Kit will help you get started with policy development conversations in your own community, and in doing so, ensure that our Liberal movement can continue our hard work together to build a better future for all Canadians. We will be updating the Tool Kit with more information as we move closer to the Convention, and we welcome your feedback and suggestions. Please send any comments to policy@liberal.ca. I look forward to seeing you at our 2018 Liberal National Convention in Halifax. My regards and thanks, David Hurford National Policy Secretary,

3 2 Policy Development Tool Kit In this document and online, you will find: An overview of the LPC policy process Useful tools to support continuous engagement The s National Policy Committee has developed this tool kit to be a resource for Registered Liberals that promotes continuous local engagement. Governance frameworks and guidelines Links to the election platform and recent Convention resolutions Questions and answers Ways to get involved! The tool kit will be updated on a regular basis and expanded to include: Information about provincial and commission policy processes Accountability reports Details about the 2018 Liberal National Convention in Halifax

4 Policy Development Tool Kit 3 Have Your Say Overview of LPC Policy Process This section of the LPC Policy Tool Kit provides an overview of the various elements of the LPC Policy process: purpose principles procedures continuous engagement policy resolutions national conventions national platform committee Purpose The purpose of the of the LPC policy process is to encourage participation of Registered Liberals in the public affairs of Canada by: advocating and supporting Liberal values, philosophies, principles and established policies providing forums for Registered Liberals to improve policies, provide input on public affairs and contribute to the election platform accommodating changing technology, conditions and electoral cycles endorsing and supporting elected Members of Parliament and nominated candidates Principles The LPC policy process must facilitate continuous policy engagement with Registered Liberals and promote diversity, bilingualism and gender equity. All Policy Secretaries/Chairs are responsible for facilitating a democratic and transparent policy process within their jurisdiction that promotes grassroots engagement with Registered Liberals, the LPC Constitution and By-Laws. LPC Caucus, Commissions, Provincial and Territorial Boards may sponsor policy proposals for consideration by the National Platform Committee and National Convention in accordance with these guidelines. Each sponsor that decides to submit policy resolutions to the National Convention must have at least one of their priorities considered by delegates. Regular reporting on the status of prioritized resolutions and platform commitments is a key element of the LPC Policy process. Procedures Provincial and Territorial Boards and LPC Commissions have flexibility to develop, select and prioritize policy proposals in a way that reflects their unique jurisdiction. However, their governance processes must: be democratic include meaningful engagement with Electoral District Associations and Registered Liberals promote innovation and accessibility comply with the LPC Constitution and Policy By-Law To be eligible for consideration, resolutions must meet quality specifications and timelines established in section four of LPC Policy Procedure Guidelines. The National Policy Committee is responsible for ensuring compliance with the LPC Policy By-Law and Guidelines - and making improvements as needed. Continuous Engagement The policy process begins with Registered Liberals meeting to share opinions and beliefs on issues of importance in their community. All LPC Policy Chairs/Secretaries are responsible for encouraging this active participation by Registered Liberals in the public affairs of their communities in a way that promote liberal values and facilitate forums where citizens can share ideas. This engagement can include: logistical support for Liberal MPs organizing policy town-halls, socials and/or community roundtable meetings in unheld ridings with LPC staff follow-up on prioritized resolutions through advocacy, correspondence and/or preparation of policy papers liaison with neighbouring riding associations and local Commission representatives communicating government-led engagement opportunities and regular progress reports on LPC platform implementation to key stakeholders surveys on important issues within federal jurisdiction being active in local/provincial community/charitable causes coffee parties/coffee house chats other creative ideas developed by Commissions, Provincial and Territorial Boards and Electoral District Associations (EDAs)

5 4 Policy Development Tool Kit Useful Tools Links to information and documents that can help support continuous engagement activities: Previous election platform and LPC policy resolutions (liberal.ca/documents) Recruiting Flyer Electoral District Association Policy Chair (my.liberal.ca/policy) LPC Constitution (liberal.ca/documents) LPC Policy By-Law (liberal.ca/documents) LPC Policy Guidelines (liberal.ca/documents) Policy Resolutions To be eligible for consideration by the National Platform Committee and National Convention, policy resolutions must: respect Canada s Constitution and Charter of Rights and Freedoms be national in scope, within federal jurisdiction and focused on a public policy purpose express a judgement that LPC should take a position or press for action on an issue be factual and reflect consultation with recognized experts be the result of a democratic process that includes meaningful grassroots engagement with Registered Liberals be submitted to the National Policy Committee before November 27, 2017 not duplicate 2015 election platform commitments or priority resolutions from the 2016 and 2014 National Conventions be limited to 275 words with four sections: Title Preamble Direction Sponsor should be concise and quickly convey the subject of the resolution the situation or context that gives rise to the policy idea; why it is important statements based on objectively verifiable facts that start with WHEREAS identify third parties consulted in preparation of policy proposal identify actions the sponsor wants LPC to take in a statement or series of statements starting with, the phrase BE IT RESOLVED sponsor(s) name and contact link. Sample Resolution National Water Security Strategy WHEREAS water is a fundamental requirement for life, liberty and the security of the individual; WHEREAS numerous Canadian communities have, or continue to have water shortages and water quality challenges; WHEREAS water security faces increasing risk due to climate change; WHEREAS commercial water rights and permits are being sold for much less than fair value to Canadians; WHEREAS the sponsors of this resolution consulted researchers at the University of Saskatchewan and a wide variety of agriculture and environmental stakeholders across Canada in the preparation of this resolution; BE IT RESOLVED that the urge the Government of Canada to update and implement the 1987 Federal Canada Water Policy, with additional attention to: establishing priorities for the use of water and regulations for the sale of water; mapping, developing and protecting the inventory of Canadian water resources; and regulating industrial and commercial waste water emissions to the highest standards. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Canada urge the Government of Canada to consult with all the provinces, territories, First Nations, Metis, Inuit, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and all other relevant stakeholders to develop a comprehensive national water policy. (Saskatchewan) Contact: INSERT LPCS and/or phone information

6 Policy Development Tool Kit 5 National Conventions Provincial and Territorial Board (PTB)s, Commissions and National Caucus are invited to sponsor up to six prioritized policy resolutions at the 2018 LPC Policy Convention in Halifax. Territories are invited to submit a total of six resolutions comprised of two resolutions per Territory or any combination they agree to. The LPC Policy By-law also requires the National Policy Committee to ensure the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC) have an opportunity to provide feedback with respect to any proposed policy resolution pertaining primarily to Indigenous peoples before it is considered. These policy resolutions will be considered by the LPC National Policy Committee in four streams. To promote continuous engagement, PTBs may approve and prioritize additional resolutions for local/regional advocacy beyond the national convention and platform process with an understanding these are not deemed to be Party policy. PTBs, Caucus and Commissions submit six (6) resolutions each to National Policy Committee LPC Policy Secretary to forward these proposals directly to the National Platform Committee for consideration in the next election platform Top three (3) policies from each sponsor will be considered by Registered Liberals across Canada through an on-line workshop and prioritization process organized by the National Policy Committee. Top thirty (30) policy ideas identified by Registered Liberals through the online workshop will be debated and prioritized at the 2018 LPC Convention. LPC Convention delegates prioritize the top fifteen (15) policy ideas for the National Platform Committee. These priority resolutions will also require ongoing reporting by LPC. Platform Proposals 96 On-Line Resolutions 48 Convention Resolutions 30 Priority Resolutions 15 Voting and Prioritization Provincial and Territorial Boards (PTBs), EDAs, Commissions and Caucus PTBs and Commissions have flexibility to develop processes for voting and prioritizing policy resolutions for the National Policy Committee and National Convention as long as they comply with the LPC Constitution, Policy By-Laws and Guidelines. PTB and Commission processes should be published and proactively communicated to EDAs and local representatives as early as possible. To facilitate participation in remote areas and for Registered Liberals without computer access, the National Policy Committee will collaborate with LPC staff, PTBs and Commissions to consider alternate options and/or meeting locations during comment/ voting periods. National Caucus may develop and prioritize policy resolutions for the National Platform Committee and National Convention with the leadership of the National Caucus Chair. On-Line Voting The National Policy Committee will work with LPC staff to establish a common platform and security mechanism for an on-line comment and prioritization process in the lead up to National Convention. This on-line platform will include a code of conduct that prohibits anonymous, unprofessional and disrespectful commentary. Resolution sponsors must be prepared to maintain an on-line presence for their 1-3 National Convention priority resolutions. This will include links to background information and the designation of representatives to moderate respectful on-line debate for 30 days in January/February 2018.

7 6 Policy Development Tool Kit Convention Agenda and Presentations Sponsors will be required to identify three Registered Liberals who are prepared to speak in favour of their priority resolution(s) at the National Convention. LPC Policy Secretary will work with National Convention Chair(s) and LPC staff to establish a convention plenary schedule, coordinate moderators and confirm voting methods that facilitate more meaningful engagement. Emergency resolutions will be permitted at Convention in accordance with rules and procedures established by the National Biennial Convention Committee. National Platform Committee The Platform is the policy document the LPC Leader and nominated candidates present to Canadians during an election campaign. The Leader of the establishes a National Platform Committee prior to each federal election campaign in consultation with Campaign Co- Chairs and National Caucus Chair. The National Platform Committee will seek input from the National Policy Committee through the Policy Secretary. They will receive the policy resolutions submitted by PTBs, Commissions and National Caucus in association with the National Convention process and as described in section 4.1 and 4.2 of the LPC Policy Guidelines, available at liberal.ca/documents. Useful Tools to Support Continuous Engagement To help achieve the purposes of the LPC policy process, it must facilitate continuous engagement with Registered Liberals and extend beyond a traditional focus on convention and election cycles. The policy-making efforts of a local Electoral District Association (EDA) or Commission Section are strengthened when they are focused through the delegation of specific responsibility to a Policy Chair. Each LPC EDA is required to have one. If your EDA or local Commission chapter does not have a local Policy Chair, it is important to recruit one. All LPC Policy Chairs are responsible for promoting continuous engagement within their jurisdictions. This can include assembling a team or committee from a cross-section of local Registered Liberals and inviting nonpartisan members within the community and/or subject matter experts to participate. Suggestions Examples of continuous engagement can include: logistical support for Liberal MPs engagement in the community organizing policy town-halls/socials in unheld ridings with LPC staff follow-up on prioritized resolutions through advocacy, correspondence and/or preparation of policy papers liaising with neighbouring riding associations and local Commission representatives about community priorities regular progress reports on LPC platform implementation to key stakeholders surveys on important issues within federal jurisdiction being active in local and provincial community/ charitable causes coffee parties/coffee house chats other creative ideas developed by Commissions, Provincial and Territorial Boards and Electoral District Associations Research and Consensus No matter which kind of event your club or association creates, take steps to ensure participating members are informed for the topics and issues being discussed. Specific sources of information include: Statistics Canada and other government agencies your Liberal MP and other local elected representatives (they often know communities best!) on-line survey results economic and social policy advocacy groups Think Tanks and research institutions previous LPC policy resolutions and the 2015 election platform libraries and university departments, academic journals media reports Town Hall Meetings Public town hall meetings are used by MPs, Candidates, PTBs, EDAs and Commissions to be accessible and provide forums for the exchange of ideas that can help develop solutions to common problems. Town Hall agendas can include speeches, debate and questions. In addition to an invitation to local Liberals, promotion should be done visibly within the community such as notices in schools, grocery stores, community agencies, churches and community newspapers.

8 Policy Development Tool Kit 7 Policy Forums General meetings of local Registered Liberals can be an integral element of the LPC policy process. Successful events require: a focused agenda distribution of relevant information before the meeting respectful dialogue, and a chair with a strong grasp of the rules of procedure outreach to the broader community an openness to new ideas! Panel Discussions Panel discussions require detailed planning because they are more structured and normally focus on hot policy issues. Panelists can be political, non-partisan, or both. They should each bring specialized expertise on an issue or represent opposing viewpoints. Each panel member should receive equal time (5-10 minutes) to present their position. With the assistance of a meeting chair, the audience can be encouraged to ask questions and protect ample time for discussion. An advertised social period can be built into the program so interested participants have time to meet informally. Discussion Groups If you are having difficulty organizing a single large event, a modest series of smaller events or on-line forums may be productive. Small groups of five to eight people, gathering regularly to discuss can result in ideas, additional engagement opportunities and other constructive outcomes quite effectively. These groups should still have a strong leader to keep discussions on track. Policy Socials Policy socials allow members to discuss issues in an informal setting. A knowledgeable specialist can be invited to give an informal talk to a group in someone s home or intimate community gathering place. Open discussion, questions and answers should follow. A chair should be named to facilitate the discussion. Light refreshments can be served and further socializing encouraged after group discussion has ended. Q&A Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Are these LPC Policy Guidelines only in place for this Convention or are they permanent? The guidelines only apply to the 2018 National Convention and 2019 election. That said, they have been developed with an understanding that if they prove to be effective in supporting the goals of the LPC Constitution and Policy By-Law, they could be generalized and adopted more permanently. This will be assessed after the 2018 Convention. I would like to work with a team of people and prepare a policy paper. Are there some supporting documents or guidelines on how policy papers are to be prepared? While the National Policy Committee has not developed a standard format for policy papers, PTB and Commission policy Chairs may prepare reports in a professional format with an understanding: the National Policy Committee should be made aware of the project and have an opportunity to provide feedback; the sponsor s governing body will approve reports prior to distribution; and the Policy Paper is not recognized as LPC Policy. Section 2.1 and 4.1 of the LPC Guidelines requires PTB and Commission processes to be democratic and include meaningful engagement with EDAs and Registered Liberals. Who is responsible for ensuring this happens and how will it be measured and/or enforced? The National Policy Committee is responsible for ensuring the LPC Policy By-Law and Constitution is followed. With regard to ensuring each sponsor s process complies with provisions for democracy and grassroots participation, each proponent is responsible for demonstrating how their processes meets standards established in section 2.1 and 4.1. What are the timelines for PTBs, commissions to publish policy process guidelines? Will a sample be provided? PTBs and Commission should complete and release their policy processes as soon as possible. With regard to a sample template, the LPC Policy Guidelines provide an optional template for PTB and Commissions. No other format has been established to offer sponsors maximum flexibility in the development of their own unique engagement plans.

9 8 Policy Development Tool Kit Q5 Section 4.1 of LPC Policy Guidelines requires all resolutions to be within federal jurisdiction. How does the National Policy Committee define federal jurisdiction? Each proponent is responsible for demonstrating within their resolution how the policy meets standards established in section 4.1 of the policy guidelines including federal jurisdiction as defined by the Canadian Constitution and Charter of Rights and Freedoms and must be able to defend their compliance if challenged. Q9 According to section 6.3 of the LPC Policy Guidelines, sponsors will only have 7-10 days to blend their resolutions to reflect on-line feedback. How can sponsors to achieve this tight timeline? Section 6.3 provides sponsors with a three month window to blend resolutions from November 27, 2017 to February 28, While resolutions cannot be altered during the 30 day on-line comment period, discussions between sponsors about blending can be ongoing to ensure all parties can hit the ground running when the on-line comment period closes. Q6 Section 4.1 of the LPC Policy Guidelines requires policy resolutions to be factual and reflect consultation with recognized experts. How do we do this and how do we know where to find experts? Q10 How will Commissions and PTBs communicate with Registered Liberals regarding blending decisions, as described in section 6.3 of the LPC Policy Guidelines? Depending on the issue they have identified as a priority, there are many ways a sponsor can locate policy experts on an issue. This can include: reviewing relevant media reports; contacting a college, university or think tank; reaching out to relevant sector associations; and meeting with provincial and municipal officials. Designate an appropriate leader from your policy team to contact these experts by phone or them to arrange an introductory meeting. You may also wish to canvass Registered Liberals and campaign volunteers in your district to see if there are any people who have work experience or academic credentials in a particular field. Q11 Each sponsor will be required to facilitate this communication through the same channels by which they communicated their policy process. LPC staff and National Policy Committee may assist and advise as needed. Section 6.4 of the LPC Policy Guidelines requires resolution sponsors to identify individuals to moderate on-line discussion about their policy proposal for one month. What if the sponsor is not able to do thisparticularly since at least one person should be able to speak both languages? Q7 Q8 Section 4.1 of the LPC Policy Guidelines requires policy resolutions to be factual and reflect consultation with recognized experts. How do we do this and how do we know where to find experts? The previous resolutions can be found at liberal.ca/documents. Why are sponsors only allowed to send 6 priority policies to National Convention? In response to significant demand from Registered Liberals to reduce the total number of resolutions at the National Convention, section 4.2 of the LPC Policy Guidelines invited PTBs, Commissions and National Caucus to sponsor up to six prioritized policy resolutions. To promote continuous engagement, Section 4.3 provides PTBs with an opportunity to approve and prioritize additional resolutions for local/ regional advocacy with an understanding these are not deemed to be Party policy. Q12 By identifying this requirement early in the process, we believe most PTBs and Commissions will be able to identify individuals to moderate on-line discussion for a short period of time. Sponsors will have maximum flexibility in selecting these individuals. For example, they may identify three individuals from their jurisdiction to moderate discussion of all their resolutions. If a Commission or PTB is having difficulty with requirement, the National Policy Committee and LPC staff will work with them to identify solutions. How will online commentary be moderated to ensure it remains respectful? Section 6.2 of the LPC Policy Guidelines requires the National Policy Committee to work with LPC staff to establish a common platform and security mechanism for an on-line comment and prioritization process. This online platform will include a code of conduct that prohibits anonymous, unprofessional and disrespectful commentary. As is the case with current LPC social media platforms, this approach will also

10 Policy Development Tool Kit 9 include taking steps to block and report inappropriate online activity. Governance Framework and Guidelines Q13 Will there be opportunity to have weighted voting at the National Convention in favour of policy resolutions with support from more than one sponsor? Section 1.4 of the LPC Policy Guidelines says each sponsor that decides to submit policy resolutions to the National Convention must have at least one of their priorities considered by delegates. Beyond that, the guidelines do not contemplate any additional weighted voting provisions. This does not preclude PTBs and Commissions from incorporating weighted voting techniques as part of their policy selection and prioritization processes. The (LPC) s Policy Process is governed by: LPC Constitution LPC By-Laws LPC Policy Guidelines Rules and Procedures for National Convention (pending) PTB procedures (pending) Commission procedures (pending) All of these documents can be found on liberal.ca/documents Election Platform and LPC National Convention Resolutions Q14 Q15 How will we vote for policy resolutions on-line and at the National Convention? Final decisions regarding voting techniques will be made by the Convention Planning Committee, LPC Policy Secretary and LPC staff closer to end of this year and the National Convention. The goal is to use technology that provides for real-time electronic voting and/or ranking of resolutions. The LPC Policy Guidelines provide PTBs and Commissions with maximum flexibility to develop innovative on-line voting and prioritization tools for their respective processes. Why can t we mandate priority policy resolutions for the election platform? LPC Leaders and Campaign Committees have a positive track record of adopting Party resolutions into our election platforms and we expect this to continue in the future. The Liberal government is already acting on many of the policy resolutions approved at our 2016 National Convention in Winnipeg. The LPC Policy By-Law requires the Leader to establish a National Platform Committee prior to each federal election campaign in consultation with Campaign Co-Chairs and National Caucus Chair. The National Platform Committee will seek input from the National Policy Committee through the Policy Secretary and receive the policy resolutions submitted by PTBs, Commissions and National Caucus as described in section 4.1 and 4.2 of the LPC Policy Guidelines. The National Policy Secretary will also report regularly on status of the status of approved LPC priority resolutions. The 2015 election platform and policy resolutions approved by delegates attending National Convention Policy Plenary sessions in 2014 and 2016 are available online National Convention: Winnipeg Approved Workshop Resolutions 2015 LPC campaign platform 2014 National Convention: Montreal All of these documents can be found on liberal.ca/documents Get Involved Visit liberal.ca/get-involved to find more information on ways you can participate. To become an active participant in the Liberal Party of Canada s policy process,you must become a Registered Liberal. Join the team and make a read difference in your local community. Sign up to volunteer. Be in the know. Sign up for updates or follow us on social media. Find out what is going on in your community and across the country by attending an event. A donation, however small, makes a big difference - make a donation or a monthly commitment today.