Interest/Pressure Groups CHAPTER 7 – CPW4U RASO
Interest/Pressure Groups
CHAPTER 7 – CPW4U
RASO
Interest/Pressure Groups
Groups that form
to promote a goal
and use the
political process to
achieve this goal
Types of Interest/Pressure Groups
One way to categorize these groups is
by their basic activity--
Groups based largely on economic
activity
Groups based on social justice or
environmental issues
Canadian Manufacturers and
Exporters
“CME promotes the continuous improvement of Canadian
manufacturing and exporting through engagement of
government at all levels.”
Sierra Club
“The Sierra Club's members are more than 750,000 of your friends and neighbors. Inspired by nature, we work together to protect our communities and the planet. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.”
Interest Groups
Some groups have full time lobby staff and other groups hire lobbyists when needed
Some groups are not exclusively interest groups but may occasionally lobby the government as part of their mandate
Canadian Cancer Society
“Prevention and advocacy are vital parts of our work. We ensure people have the information they need to reduce their cancer risk, and we lobby for public policies to make healthy choices easy choices.”
Lobbying
Appearing at committee meetings as witnesses
Speaking to Members of Parliament
Speaking to senior public servants
Using media
Access
Access to decision makers can be a
challenge for lobbyists
Large powerful organizations such as
the Canadian Manufacturers and
Exporters Association may have easier
access to a deputy minister than the
Sierra Club
Tips for Lobbyists
Find out what policies a government is working on in
your field, then present yourself as knowledgeable in
the field--you are more likely to get invited to help in
the formation of policy
The Canadian Medical Association does this