For those outside the dim hue of Parliament Hill, it may seem like another layer of bureaucracy and political wrangling has descended. On top of the current House committees, Senate committees, and Cabinet committees the Prime Minister announced the creation of 26 Conservative Caucus Advisory Committees. But given their formal role, they could have a real impact on new legislation before it’s tabled in Parliament.
While most agree that their value “will be in the pudding”, there’s no question that anytime you give MPs access to a Minister there’s going to be an impact.
Anyone’s who’s spent time in the government lobby around question period knows that a Minister is never very far from an MP’s ear. But now, the feedback will be more organized –especially around government legislation and submissions to cabinet. The committees of six MPs and three Senators will have input into newly tabled legislation with a dedicated page in the minister’s submission to cabinet.
Stakeholders can be forgiven for tiring of yet another committee – but with a formalized role in the late stage of the policy process, Advisory Committees cannot be ignored. Businesses can rest assured however, that the Advisory Committees will be void of the partisan rhetoric and dramatic flair that normally accompany the House and Senate committees that serve as platforms for subject specific policy debate – they’re private and are comprised only of Conservatives.
The good news for stakeholders is that the Advisory Committees are made up primarily of the MPs and Senators on the relevant House and Senate committees – those likely already in their normal contact plans. Chaired by the Ministers’ Parliamentary Secretaries, the Advisory Committees are significant as they provide a window into legislation before it is tabled.
Astute participants know that in today’s hyper partisan minority environment occupied with competing priorities, helping government understand the impacts of legislation is more important than ever. Adding an additional avenue via MPs and Senators on the Advisory Committees is one more opportunity for outreach on top of the normal bureaucratic and political routes used for upcoming legislation.
Elected members, for all their talents, share a common ability to advocate. In fact, they don’t arrive on the Hill unless they’ve advocated so well that tens of thousands of their closest ideological friends marked an x on a ballot. It’s why they’re here, and MPs are constantly engaged in advocating on behalf of their constituents with government officials, their elected colleagues, and cabinet ministers.
Let’s see how their new window into the legislative process works out…
