Public Policy and Government Relations

Public policy often seems out of reach and too complex to deal with, yet we all want to make important changes in our society. Many of us are concerned about affordable housing, youth unemployment, homelessness, the cost of education, the justice system, health care, environmental sustainability, child care, first nations, human rights, social inclusion, diversity, etc. Voluntary sector organizations working on policy issues want to know how government operates, why things are done certain ways, how they might get involved in policy development, and how they can work collaboratively with others to advance the public good.

Our work in this area focuses on exploring the relationship between government and the voluntary sector, understanding policy capacity and challenges within the sector, and developing tools, resources, and strategies at an organizational or sector-wide basis. This has included research, training and professional exchange programs.

Key projects include CVSRD’s involvement in the Policy Internships and Fellowships Program and the facilitation of the Public Policy and Government Relations module, a graduate-level seminar course.

Policy Internships and Fellowships Program
The Policy Internships and Fellowships Program (PIAF) was an innovative Program funded by the Capacity Joint Table of the Voluntary Sector Initiative with several goals in mind. These included developing policy knowledge, experience, and skills in both the voluntary sector and the federal government and enabling the voluntary sector to become a more viable partner in the development of public policy. PIAF gave policy staff the opportunity to work in the other sector for a period up to 10 months. To qualify, policy staff must have been employed full time and worked within:

1. The voluntary sector to undertake a placement within a federal government department.
2. A federal public servant to undertake a placement within a voluntary organization using the Interchange Canada Protocols.

Summary Reports and Final Reports
A total of 14 exchanges took place under the PIAF program. In 2003-2004 five public servants successfully undertook placements in the voluntary sector. In 2002-2003 three public servants and six practitioners from the voluntary sector successfully undertook their placements. To see their innovative policy work please refer to the papers posted below.

To view the PIAF Summary Reports of June 2003 and June 2004 "Policy Internships and Fellowships—Bridging the Policy Dialogue Between Voluntary Organizations and the Federal Government" please select the following files:

Policy Internships and Fellowships, Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development and the Centre for Public Sector Studies, 2004 (PDF, 316 Kb)

Policy Internships and Fellowships, Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development and the Centre for Public Sector Studies, 2003 (PDF, 736 Kb)

PIAF Final Reports of 2003-2004

PIAF Final Reports of 2003-2004 Insurance Liability in the Voluntary Sector: A Threat to Survival? by Roberta Bustard (PDF 93 Kb)

Work-Life Public Policy: Vision to Reality by Christine Dockman (PDF 337 Kb)

On the Other Side of the Fence: Tale of the Public Sector from a Different Perspective by Marie Katia François (PDF 91 Kb)

Valuing Difference and Creating Connections: The Importance of the Voluntary Sector to Federal Policy Development by Susan Hollick-Kenyon (PDF 103 Kb)

The Potential for Policy Dialogue between the Voluntary, Community-based Sector and Federal Departments in Newfoundland and Labrador by Larry Peckford (PDF 154 Kb)

PIAF Final Reports of 2002-2003

Evaluating the consultation and collaboration strategies used with the Supporting Communities Partnership in Hamilton, Ontario by Alan Bentley (PDF, 258 Kb)

Consultation, Collaboration, Change: The Path to Public and Voluntary Partnerships in Criminal Justice Policy—It's a Matter of Crime by Helen Friel (PDF, 253 Kb)

Policy Capacity: Common Values, Strategic Approach and Managed Expectations by Dorothee Gizenga (PDF, 251 Kb)

Working Towards Greater Public Involvement in Policy Development: Some Reflections by Barbara Hill (PDF, 214 Kb)

National Voluntary Health Organizations: Stakeholders in Canada's Health by Karen Hill (PDF, 447 Kb)

Just Visiting? More than meets the eye! Government and Community Working Together for Families by Joanne Murray (PDF, 144 Kb)

Government—Non-Profit—Communities: Can they work together to advance the children's agenda? by Janice Nelson (PDF, 214 Kb)

Support for a Ground-Up Approach to Public Policy Development by Amy Seabrooke (PDF, 187 Kb)

Bringing Together Community and Government: A Unique Opportunity by Cathy Wright (PDF, 261 Kb)

This project was managed by the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development in partnership with the University of Victoria's Centre for Public Sector Studies.