We’ve heard from several OLW Network members – and OLW staff – that figuring out how Ottawa works is intimidating! And, that it's a major barrier to getting involved in water advocacy.
We want to minimize this feeling as best we can, by laying out all the relevant information.
That’s why we’re thrilled to announce “Government Relations Training” in December this year.
What
For three decades, Aaron Freeman has been learning our federal system inside and out to push environmental solutions through to public policy. He will lead us through two one-hour sessions:
- How Ottawa Works - How Federal Policies and Budgets are Made
- Thinking Like Government and Advancing your Issue
Each session will be informal, including a presentation, time for questions and concrete examples.
When & Where
Coming to a Zoom room near you! RSVP here to receive the event links via email.
Dec 1 @ 10am PST, 11am MST, 12pm CST, 1pm EST, 2pm AST, 2:30pm NST
Session 1: How Ottawa Works - How Federal Policies and Budgets are Made
Dec 8 @ 10am PST, 11am MST, 12pm CST, 1pm EST, 2pm AST, 2:30pm NST
Thinking Like Government and Advancing your Issue
Who
Open to everyone, you do not need to be an OLW member to sign up; we all have more to learn!
This opportunity was designed with OLW Network members and their partners in mind, given the requests for training we’ve heard from you over the years. We hope registration will mirror those requests!
Why Attend
Not directly involved in advocacy? No problem! It is still useful to understand how federal processes and policies support fresh water. Join us and:
- Learn about when we should be advocating on behalf of the waters.
- Identify where to go to understand the federal perspective on an issue.
- Figure out how to spot where the entry points are to make your voice heard.
- Find out how politicians maneuver and how to frame your ask in the right manner.
We sense that the freshwater community might underestimate how much impact the federal government can have on freshwater health. It’s easy to point to provincial jurisdiction or municipal responsibility and overlook the role the federal government plays. However, the feds play important roles in a number of very complex water issues – Indigenous, interprovincial, international, marine and navigable waters, etc. We all work alongside these issues. Let’s work together.
