GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

As a member-driven organization, the Government Relations (GR) team works with Provincial Advocacy Committee (PAC) Chairs and the Advocacy Network to engage members on government advocacy initiatives. The Advocis GR team collaborates with politicians, staffers and other officials across the country towards the goal of improving the competitiveness of financial advisors and to ensure that the regulatory environment has the best interests of consumers at heart, while not hindering our members’ growth and prosperity.

Our ongoing grassroots approach to developing lasting relationships between members and elected officials is accomplished through the Advocacy Network and our PACs. The goals of both are the ongoing and timely delivery of:

• Coordinated advocacy support on a number of priority regulatory and policy issues

• Consistent positioning and messaging to elected and non-elected officials on their province’s specific issues

• An overall balanced lobbying effort driven by Advocis members and key GR and LRA staff

Returning to In-Person Political Outreach

In April 2022, we were able to host our first post-pandemic in-person Legislature Day in Saskatchewan. Members from across the province and staff met with members of the Saskatchewan Party’s Economic Committee and the NDP Caucus, where we had the opportunity to discuss the province’s title protection framework.

The meetings were followed by a reception in which over 30 MLAs, including the Attorney General and their staffers, were in attendance.

In preparation for Ontario’s June 2022 election, the GR team organized an Election Task Force to initiate a political outreach campaign. Between March and June, over 50 members of the Ontario Advocacy Network met with nearly 30 candidates from all parties recognized in the Legislature. The focus of these meetings was to establish, maintain and build on relationships and educate candidates on the important role that financial advisors play in securing the financial futures of their clients.

Following the Ontario election, Advocis’ AGC team and the Ontario PAC held an Ontario Queen’s Park Outreach Day on November 23 where members met with their local MPPs to discuss the strength of the small business sector and how members can support financial literacy initiatives in their ridings. Members and staff participated in over a dozen MPP meetings, including a meeting with the Liberal caucus.

Looking ahead, we plan to have a busy 2023 schedule with elections planned in Alberta, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba. Our members’ local voices will be critical to our success.