Outside Influences on Government Policy

People have always tried to influence Parliament because it makes laws and levies taxes.

Canada’s first parliaments were dominated by railway promoters

Churches, too, had a huge influence on politics and still do.

As did industrialists and farmers, who were the country’s biggest block of voters.

Along with groups like the Orange Lodge and their mirror image, the St. Jean Baptiste Society in Quebec.

What could the government do for these people?

Set taxes

Tariffs (taxes on foreign goods)

Give cash and land as subsidies (especially to railways)

Build infrastructure

Buy products and services (especially from construction companies.

The Way Governments Are Influenced

Bribery

Campaign contributions

Mobilizing the voters

Social pressure

Media pressure

World War I speeded up evolution. The small labour movement grew with the Oshawa GM Strike 1937 being a major watershed.

Churches and women’s groups pushed new policies like Prohibition

Governments had to deal with the Great Depression. The Debate:  How to stimulate business and get people back to work?

                  - ban unions?

                  - ban imports?

                  - cut taxes?

                  - more government spending?                 

                

}How  do you help the unemployed?

                       - Relief (welfare)

                       - work camps

                       - education (rare)

                       - Social Credit

                       - do nothing

World War II put worries about the Depression on the back burner. It caused the government to get involved in the economy, and, essentially, take it over.

Gave many more businesses leaders personal connections with decision-makers in Ottawa

Post-War Reaction (1950s)

-Public anger at “five percenters”

-Development of Public Relations

-PR’s use of wartime propaganda and advertising tools

The 1960s: Growth of "progressive" movements like feminism, environmentalism, into mainstream politics and culture.

By the 1970s, Union membership reached its peak while corporations began becoming international

Lobbying

Lobbyists are well-connected people who sell their expertise to business, interest groups, and even foreign governments.

In the 1970s and 1980s, they quickly grew and became a major player in political party fundraising.

They were unregulated

The Free Trade Election (1988)

Centered on the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement.

Anti-Free Trade side included the Liberals, NDP, Council of Canadians, environmentalists, unions.

Pro side was governing Conservatives, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Business Council on National Issues

Lobbying Rules

Applied to all lobbyists, corporate or “progressive”.

Lobbyists had to register. https://ocl-cal.gc.ca/eic/site/012.nsf/eng/00035.html

Can’t fund-raise for parties.

Accountability Act (2006) cooling-off period.

Governments expect to deal with organizations and corporations. They are ill-equipped to listen to individuals.

Where is democracy in this?

Powerful interests in Ottawa

Oil and pipeline companies

Banks

Free trade advocates like manufacturers’ groups. 

And are the media an interest group or an important part of the political system? 

Formerly Influential Groups

Unions

Environmental groups

Assembly of First Nations

Provincial premiers

Media 

And is Parliament just another “interest group”?

Do lobbyists and interest groups have more influence than they should with out bureaucracy, PMO, Department of Finance, etc .?

And how much influence do our elected representatives have in our system?  

Churches, too, had a huge influence on politicsChurches, too, had a huge influence on politics