Pressure Groups & Lobbyists Group Activity

Transcription

1 Social Studies 11 - Government Pressure Groups & Lobbyists Group Activity Individuals try to influence government, but so too do many groups. These groups may be religious, social, environmental or economic. They want government to pass laws that reflect goals that these groups consider vital. If they are well-funded, or are highly persuasive, even small groups can have a huge influence on government as a whole through their ability to influence politicians or to shape public opinion. Assignment: 1. First assign roles within your group. One person is to act as recorder; one person is to be the chairman, ensuring that the group stay on task and that all participate; one person will report to the class. Another person is responsible for preparing any graphic material that the presenter will use in his or her presentation. Additional members must contribute to discussion. 2. Using either the printed handout for your group or Internet research. Identify at least one key goal of the organization you have been assigned. 3. Decide what tactic will be used by your group to influence government. Should you work first to sway public opinion? Should you avoid the public and try to quietly influence the politicians directly. Make sure you have clear reasons for using the tactic you decided upon. 4. Design a campaign to influence government to pass a law favouring your goal. Identify what should be done and in what order. Be prepared to explain your reasoning to the class. All students will be marked by other group members, using the evaluation sheet provided out of a total of 5 marks. Each group will also be assigned a mark out of 2 by the teacher, based on his view of how each group worked during the time allowed for discussion. A further mark out of 3 will be given to the group s presentation. All students will, therefore, earn a mark out of 10, combining their personal mark with evaluation of the group.

2 Group Work Evaluation Sheet First and Last Name of Student Mark out of 5 (Note only one 5 can be given, up to two 4 s and any number of lower marks.) Comments (Provide an explanation of why anyone earned a 4 or 5. Also explain why anyone earned less than a 2).

3 Greenpeace Greenpeace is an international organization that was originally founded by Canadian environmentalists. It wants people to put the environment and peace before all other considerations. They currently focus on: Catalysing an energy revolution to address the number one threat facing our planet: climate change. Defending our oceans by challenging wasteful and destructive fishing, and creating a global network of marine reserves. Protecting the world s ancient forests and the animal, plants and people that depend on them. Working for disarmament and peace by tackling the causes of conflict and calling for the elimination of all nuclear weapons. Creating a toxic free future with safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals in today's products and manufacturing. Campaining for sustainable agriculture by rejecting genetically engineered organisms, protecting biodiversity and encouraging socially responsible farming.

4 The National Citizens Coalition This is a Canadian organization that stands for the defence and promotion of free enterprise, free speech and government that is accountable to its taxpayers. Their position is Classical Liberal in ideology. Their key areas of interest currently are: Reducing taxes for companies and individuals. Reducing the influence of government in people s lives. Ending government s participation in economic activities. For instance, they want to privatize government owned businesses, like the CBC. Getting rid of government regulation of business such as rules governing radio and television broadcast content by the CRTC or government regulation of farm production through marketing boards. Increasing the use of direct democracy having citizens vote directly on policy matters, rather than relying entirely on MP s to do so. Increasing Canada s military strength.

5 The Canadian Association of Retired People This is a Canadian organization that represents retired Canadians, though they advertise themselves as representing any Canadians over the age of 50, including those who have not yet retired. Today, more than 400,000 members support CARP's mandate to effectively promote the rights and quality of life of mature Canadians. Their key areas of interest currently are: CARP's mission is to promote and protect the rights and quality of life for older Canadians by: Developing practical recommendations to enhance health care, human rights and income. This involves maintaining and even increasing health care benefits, protecting property rights and making tax policies work in favour of older Canadians. Working with government on policy initiatives that help older Canadians. Providing information on key political and economic issues as well as lifestyle choices. Here they seek to inform older Canadians of issues to encourage them to be informed and involved. Negotiating group benefits and savings on services and products. This involves encouraging government to encourage and support these initiatives.

6 The Canadian Federation of Students This is a Canadian organization that represents mostly young Canadians, who are students. Their focus is on the needs of post-secondary students. This is a difficult task because post-secondary education is mostly funded by the federal (national) government, but administered by provincial governments. Important concerns of this group involve the following: Working to keep reduce tuition fees, or, at the very least, reduce their rate of increase. Keep the quality of post-secondary education high. Encourage government funding of university research and graduate school funding. Make post-secondary study available to all Canadians. Encourage government loan and grant programmes for students. Encourage educational savings plans for families. Raise awareness of student concerns and issues like date-rape. Encourage student exchange programmes and study-work arrangements with other countries.

7 The Assembly of First Nations The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is the national representative organization of the First Nations in Canada. There are over 630 First Nation's communities in Canada. The AFN Secretariat, is designed to present the views of the various First Nations through their leaders in areas such as: Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, Economic Development, Education, Languages and Literacy, Health, Housing, Social Development, Justice, Taxation, Land Claims, Environment, and a whole array of issues that are of common concern which arise from time to time. This is complicated by the fact that land, vital to native people, tends to be under provincial control, though native people themselves are a federal responsibility. Treaties therefore involve both levels of government and native people. Key areas that the Assembly is currently working to influence government include: Completing treaty negotiations and ensuring that governments honour the treaty commitments that they have made. Improving the social status of native people by improving education, health conditions and housing. While these are mostly provincial areas, federal funding of post-secondary education and health care means that the Assembly looks toward the national government for help. Getting government and the churches to pay settlements to native people who were abused by residential schools. Encouraging governments to seek new ways to deal with aboriginal law-breakers to change, rather than punish them.

8 The Mining Association of Canada This is an organization created by mining companies to encourage government and the public to support the work of this major Canadian industry. The organization is interested in helping its member companies succeed within Canada and encouraging the Canadian government to work with other countries to help them succeed in their international operations. Areas that the organization currently tries to influence government on include: Reducing or freezing customs and sales taxes. Keeping environmental laws industry-friendly, to prevent them from harming mining investment. Resisting increases in government regulation that would impose higher costs on mining companies. Making the public aware of the benefits of mining activity in employment and tax benefits for the nation. Encouraging favourable taxation policies to encourage investment and keep transportation costs low.

9 The Canadian Labour Congress This is an organization created by labour unions as a counter to the voice of business. Active in every aspect of the economic, social and political life of Canadians, from fair wages and safe working conditions to universal health care, equality rights, a sustainable environment, and much more -- unions make a difference in people s lives. The CLC traditionally supports the New Democratic Party, which has never been elected as the national government. However, it also lobbies the federal government actively for union and working-class interests. Currently, the CLC works toward include: Encouraging increases in pay, benefits and working conditions for all workers. Since government is a major employer, direct influence to secure this for government workers would also set benchmarks for private companies to follow. Encouraging provincial governments to increase minimum wages. In particular, introducing a $10 an hour minimum wage for those employed under federal jurisdiction. Encourage the passing of legislation to improve work-place safety. Encourage buying Canadian goods before those produced elsewhere. Protecting Canadian workers from job losses through globalization. Encourage laws that protect workers pensions and owed wages when companies employing them go bankrupt. Strengthening workers security by improving the Emloyment Insurance programme (EI). Keeping our current health care system publicly owned and universal.

10 The Fraser Institute This is an organization created by business and pro-business individuals to encourage free-enterprise and to produce studies that support business interests. The underlying ideology is Classical Liberal and the Fraser Institute generally supports a reduction in government involvement in peoples lives and in the economy. They support a reduction in regulation and encourage individual responsibility for providing services, rather than government doing so. Above all, free markets are seen as the solution to economic problems, so it seeks to encourage governments to reduce their activities as much as possible. Some areas that the Fraser Institute is currently seeking to influence include: Encouraging choices in schooling -- private schooling and charter schools (schools that are privately run or that are run under the direction of parent groups, rather than by governments.) This is intended to foster competition to improve standards. Encouraging tax reduction for the individual and for companies. Encouraging privatization of health care bringing market influences into this area. Reducing the burden of government regulations on companies. Reducing the power of labour unions which restrict labour market operations.