June 2007 Issue
engineering
Engineers Canada
Creates a Special Type of Bridge
Reaching out to government is an important way to inform government and help shape policy, says Engineers Canada CEO.
BY MARIE LEMAY, P.ENG., ing.
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Council of Professional Engineers
Over the past few years, the CCPE — or Engineers Canada, as we now also call it — has been increasingly branching out to government to directly influence federal public policy. A significant initiative of this effort, our Bridging Government and Engineers project, has completed the first year of its implementation phase. As we build on the project’s momentum we are moving forward using the best practices developed from lessons learned.
Bridging Government and Engineers is a grassroots initiative that links Canadian engineers with their local MPs. Bridging engineers with key political decision-makers not only builds the federal government’s awareness of the engineering profession, but also enables engineers to make a valuable contribution to issues that affect Canadians at large.
We have succeeded in increasing our influence on government, with 80 BGE volunteers having been linked thus far with their local MPs. But there is still much to be done.
We have ambitious plans for the next phase of the project. We will work to continually increase volunteer numbers, to develop volunteer retention strategies, and to motivate volunteers in maintaining ongoing contacts with their MPs.
A number of BGE volunteers have reported enthusiastic responses from MPs and have been working with them to provide input on topics where Engineers Canada’s government relations issues intersect with their parliamentary responsibilities. As such, BGE complements Engineers Canada’s significant government relations activities and outputs by forging new relationships and strengthening existing bonds.
The key strength of the program is that the BGE volunteer resides or works in the MP’s riding. Having parliamentarians recognize that there are engineers in their constituency — engineers who make positive contributions to society at both the local and national levels — validates the profession in their minds.
By linking engineers with their local parliamentarians we are more effectively getting the voice of engineering heard at the grassroots level. Focusing our communications efforts on local ridings builds the profile of engineers and ensures that the profession can be a part of policy development.
Over the first year of implementation, we updated our BGE training materials, taking into account lessons learned during the pilot project and reflecting the changes in Ottawa’s political environment. We received positive responses from volunteers regarding the training presentations and supporting materials that we provide to assist them in maintaining an ongoing dialogue with their MPs.
A new website for BGE volunteers has also been launched, providing an important forum for volunteers to keep up-to-date with the program and its activities, and providing a platform for volunteers to share success stories. Volunteers are important resources to both Engineers Canada and the profession. We make every effort to support them and to ensure that they have the resources they require.
Being that BGE is a national initiative, Engineers Canada works in partnership with its constituent members to identify suitable candidates to take part in the program. Going a step further, several constituent members have developed their own grassroots outreach programs within their jurisdictions. We are working together, sharing common experiences in order to maximize the lessons learned, to identify the next series of volunteers, and to ensure that there is minimal duplication of efforts.
I urge you to help us build on BGE’s momentum. Our BGE volunteers educate the government on issues of importance to both the profession and society, which helps parliamentarians make better-informed policy decisions. By participating in BGE, volunteers are getting the voice of our profession heard on Parliament Hill.
WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
Contact Ken Machida
Engineers Canada
Manager, Government Relations
kevin.machida@engineerscanada.ca