Government Relations (GRM)

This course introduces students to the basic theories, actors and contexts for the practice of government relations in Canada. Interest groups, governments, and how they interact will be described and students will analyze key strategies and tactics employed by government relations practitioners for their clients, associations, unions and corporations.

Government Relations practitioners are advocates for an employer/client and must be able to write accurately in a range of styles that are clear and concise. The practitioner must consider the possible outcomes of the proposed message to the relevant public and the employer/client. This course will help prepare students to make decisions about what information a message should contain in a given set of circumstances with regard to a variety of audiences.

This course explores the use of web-based platforms for the development, management and integration of online campaigns in support of government relations and public affairs objectives.Students will learn the underlying principles, theories and strategies used to shift public opinion through digital media. the use of digital and social platforms to persuade audiences and gain support. and strategies for achieving government relations goals through building awareness and support online. Students will sharpen their ability to make informed strategic and tactical decisions and understand the link between ideas and action. This course is designed to establish baseline knowledge of the tools, tactics, strategies and efficient utilization of digital technologies and platforms to support government relations objectives through public affairs campaigns.

In Government Relations, every conversation is a presentation, and every presentation is an opportunity to further your communications goals. Every time you speak to others, every meeting, every one-to-one, virtually and in person, you are presenting. Whether the setting is formal or informal, internal or external, being a skilled presenter is a must-have and not a nice-to-have. The effective communication of complex information is a hallmark of successful Government Relations. Policy analysis, strategic research data, campaign and program plans are just some of the information clients, policy makers, and senior management require. Success often depends upon being able to present ideas concisely and clearly with confidence and conviction, whether its a regular team meeting, a major client presentation or registered meetings with government. This course will introduce students to industry-standard presentation tools, as well as techniques for creating, developing, and delivering professional quality Government Relations presentations.

Public Policy affects and influences almost every aspect of our lives yet, despite its ubiquity, the nature, complexity, and methods of policy development and review are not well understood by many. This course is an introduction to the field of public policy and to the government practices and procedures that bring policy from conception to implementation. Government Relations practitioners seek to inform and influence government behaviour and decision making at all levels, therefore, a thorough understanding of the scope, nature and procedures of the public policy development process is vital to the public affairs practitioner.

Professionals responsible for the GR function must understand the vital role strategy plays. This course delves into the goals, objectives, strategies and tactics in a GR strategic plan that supports recommendations for a new policy or changes to an existing policy, at any level of Canadian government. Planning also includes the identification of key audiences internally and externally. A key vehicle to reach an external audience is often media. This course givens an in-depth look at the role media relations plays in the strategic plan. Understanding what media relations is, how to work with media and who the key media are in politics and public affairs is crucial to the role a GR practitioner will play in conveying a message to a targeted audience.

This course introduces students to the skills used for interpreting, conducting, presenting, and analyzing strategic research in government relations. Students will learn which research method to employ, how original research is conducted (complete with data collection and analysis), and how to present research findings to colleagues and clients. The goal at the end of this course is to help students understand how quantitative and qualitative research can be useful in professional government relations settings.

The government relations function exists to help organizations shape and respond to the actions of government and its regulatory function so they may have a say in their business environment. The function accomplishes this by developing and executing plans and strategies, and by employing tactics that help the organization to maintain a constructive dialogue and relationship with government at all levels and stakeholders. Managing alliances and stakeholder relations is a critical element in advancing government relations goals.

While government relations practitioners share similar skill sets across sectors, much of what they do it shaped by, and reflects, the nature of their work environment. This course examines how the GR function is managed in different environments, from the business/corporate sector, to private consultancies ranging from local sole practitioners to regional, national and international service agencies and “issue” and non-profit associations. The course also explores the underlying rationale behind the ethical and legislative constraints on certain types of actions to which all participants - politicians, political staffers and party supporters at all three levels of government - in the process are held accountable. Employing cases and examples as the foundation for understanding and analyzing the intersection between principles, theory and practice, this course explores the underlying management and ethical expectations to which management, or clients, hold GR practitioners.

There is more than one way to execute a government relations program or campaign. Through lectures, guest presentations, required readings, facilitated discussion and research, students will be exposed to the important strategic and tactical considerations for creating and launching effective government relations campaigns and programs.

Often ignored, the municipal level of government continues to grow in size and importance across Canada. Unlike both the federal and provincial systems, most municipal governments tend not to involve party structures, allowing individual Councillors to act as they see fit, issue to issue. The unique policy and decision-making structure of municipal government requires an active, involved, and nimble government relations approach. Integrating lectures, guest presentations, research and direct exposure to policy making in Canadas largest municipal environment, this course will introduce students to the dynamic structure and processes of municipal government. Key access points and the political and bureaucratic decision-making streams will be identified and described. Strategy, tactics, and the use of the most effective GR tools will be introduced analyzed and applied in both group and individual course work.

In GRM817, students will put the baseline knowledge of digital tools, tactics, and strategies and skills developed in GRM707 into practice. In the Digital Campaign Lab students will create, develop, and execute digital campaign ideas and experiment with digital tools, tactics, and strategies in order to learn how to run people-powered advocacy campaigns that support government relations objectives.

This course is a continuation of the Introduction to Government Relations Research presented in the first semester. Students will learn how to interpret, and present strategic research in government relations. Over the course of the term, students will understand how and why research is used to support a GR campaign, how research data is interpreted and presented to a client and which research method (quantitative and qualitative) is more useful in telling the GR story.