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Government relations (GR) facilitates the education and exchange of information, experience and ideas between farmers and staff with key decision makers on Parliament Hill, and respective provincial governments. In engaging in this type of relationship building, we seek to influence and improve government policies, build relationships, and promote the chicken sector in Canada. Also commonly known as lobbying, government relations also means to communicate with a public office holder, directly or through grassroots communication regarding the making, developing or amending of federal legislative proposals, bills or resolutions, regulations, policies or programs and the awarding of federal grants, contributions or other financial benefits.
Working with elected officials of all levels, Senators, key public servants and political staff is a key component of the work Chicken Farmers of Canada does on behalf of the chicken sector. Government relations plays a central role in advocacy and education on behalf of its members—YOU!—representing the organization, its brand, and garnering support and guidance on various issues. Government relations at Chicken Farmers of Canada can also help you better understand how government in general works – from how a bill becomes a law, to how grassroots involvement can influence national policy, to the importance of building relationships with not only your local representative, but everyone along the chain of command.
Mandated by the Board of Directors, the role of government relations at Chicken Farmers of Canada is to ensure that the voices of our farmers are heard and recognized by decision makers, both domestically and internationally, when important agriculture, trade, food safety and animal welfare policy decisions are made.
The chicken sector in Canada makes a valuable contribution to the Canadian economy, and we are an important player in our domestic food chain. In addition to our 2,877 chicken farmers and 185 processors, the sector generates employment in not only farming and processing, but veterinary work, transportation, retail, restaurants and more. The sector helps sustain both rural and urban communities from coast to coast.
The sector:
Issues:
Chicken Farmers of Canada employs a variety of engagement practices in order to get our message across. Whether it is issues-based, or an ongoing conversation about a topic, farmers and staff perform different types of outreach on a daily basis. Some examples include:
From Private Member’s Bills, Committee studies, or government legislation, we keep the government apprised and accountable of how the work they do every day, can impact our sector, and Canadians’ food.
http://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members
Visit elections.ca to track down information on voting in your area, ensure you are registered to vote, and to learn more about your riding.
The Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada regulates and monitors all lobbying activity in the country. The office ensures transparency and accountability in the lobbying of designated public office holders, in order to increase the public’s confidence in the integrity of government decision-making. This category of designated public officer holders includes Members of Parliament, Senators, Ministers, Ministers of state, staff working in the office of Ministers, Ministers of State and the Leader of the Opposition in the House and in the Senate, deputy ministers, associate and assistant deputy ministers, as well as any individual who occupies a position that has been designated by regulation.
All Chicken Farmers of Canada Directors are registered as Consultant Lobbyists with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying, and as such, are required to report any communications they have with designated public office holders. If you are a member of your provincial board or engage in lobbying more than 20 per cent of your time over the period of a month, you may be required to file a registration with the Commissioner. If you had, or think you had, a reportable meeting with a designated public office holder, please contact the Public Affairs Unit at publicaffairs@chicken.ca with the details.
Liberal Party of Canada
Leader: Justin Trudeau
www.liberal.ca
920-350 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6M8
1-888-542-3725
Conservative Party of Canada
Interim Leader: Candice Bergen
http://www.conservative.ca/
1204-130 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5G4
1-866-808-8407
New Democratic Party
Leader: Jagmeet Singh
www.ndp.ca
300-279 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5J9
1-866-525-2555
Green Party
Interim Leader: Amita Kuttner
Parliamentary Leader: Elizabeth May
www.greenparty.ca
PO Box 997, Station B
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5R1
1-866-868-3447
Bloc Québécois
Leader: Yves-François Blanchet
http://www.blocquebecois.org/
3750, boul. Crémazie
bureau 502
Montréal (Québec)
H2A 1B6
1-514-526-3000
Chicken Farmers of Canada’s Public Affairs team is here to help get you engaged! You can reach us at publicaffairs@chicken.ca if you have any questions or require more information on how you can get involved in your community.
