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President's Message – Government Relations 101
July 17, 2025
For my final President’s Message, I have decided to talk about government relations (GR) as it is new to me and to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). Government relations work means different things to different organizations. For most, it means responding to something a government has done that impacts the organization. It usually takes the form of a letter expressing the view of the organization and why the proposed policy is supported or why it should be changed. If there is a pre-existing relationship with a government official, it might also involve a staff member making a phone call to discuss the issue. I call this the “working behind-the-scenes” approach. The second type of GR work is more assertive. It involves proactively communicating with elected officials, staff, and members of the civil service directly. Initially this type of GR is all about building political relationships and familiarity with what the organization represents, but once those bridges are built, it becomes much easier to work on the agenda of the organization. Think of it like getting someone’s attention before asking them for a date. This second form of GR work is more time-consuming and costly for the organization. Why? To do it properly, you need to get members of the organization attending the meetings and not just hire a lobbyist to speak on your behalf. Having multiple members representing different aspects of the organization at each meeting is even better. Unfortunately, the costs of travel and lodging can quickly eat up a budget.
A second expense involves hiring someone or a group of people who is/are familiar with the government (municipal, provincial, federal) you are targeting. GR firms come in all shapes and sizes, but the 1 thing they all have in common is knowledge about how the government works and who the key decision makers are. Most firms employ a cadre of people who have had previous affiliation with each of the major political parties involved in that legislature. Their job is to open doors and arrange meetings with the people the association needs to contact.
Considering the increased costs, why would an organization choose this second approach? For argument’s sake, let’s suppose that a government has promised to do something your organization supports, and you believe the majority of people are in agreement. Your organization sends a letter of support speaking for your 5000 members. Another organization, which opposes the idea but only has 600 members, holds meetings with 2 elected officials of the government and 1 member of the opposition, explaining face-to-face why they oppose the idea. They are able to answer questions and leave background material to be shared with other government officials. At the same time, individual members of their organization approach local politicians telling the same story. Who do you think is going to have more influence on the government’s decision-making process?
Let’s now talk specifically about CVMA. Why should we be doing GR work? We have taken the behind-the-scenes approach in the past, so why change course?
Active GR helps CVMA to ensure the interests of our members are heard and taken into account by policymakers.
The Government often relies on associations as trusted sources of information when making decisions. Establishing credibility with politicians ensures CVMA’s perspective is heard and considered when critical decisions are made. Policies are frequently drafted by people who may not fully understand the intricacies of a specific industry. Without a dedicated advocacy effort, CVMA risks being overlooked or misrepresented in the policy-making processes.
Government relations is not just about responding to current issues; it’s also about advancing long-term strategic goals. The CVMA needs to be looking ahead, working to shape government policy for the benefit of our members over the long term. This requires foresight, planning, and a strategic approach. Building a network of advocates, cultivating relationships with key decision-makers, and influencing legislation in a positive direction takes time, but the benefits and long-term gains can be substantial.
Here is a current example of CVMA being forwardthinking and GR active. Our profession is in the middle of a workforce shortage. The CVMA has been aware for some time that there are numerous internationally trained veterinarians waiting to take the 2 practical exams [the Presurgical Assessment (PSA) and the Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE)] that are needed to obtain their qualifications to join our profession. Furthermore, we all know there are multiple qualified candidates available to fill the seats at the 5 veterinary schools. The CVMA, in conjunction with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM), has approached the Government with a solution. Let’s build a National Testing Centre on the Saskatoon Campus that will allow the PSA and the CPE to be offered on a frequent schedule, clearing the backlog of candidates, while at the same time providing space that would allow WCVM to increase its class size. The net result would be more veterinarians for the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, as well as the rest of Canada. The CVMA went to Parliament Hill and did a series of meet and greets with members of Parliament of all parties to get our name and interests known. At the same time, we reached out to other associations that depend on our profession and formed a coalition of 10 that supported the project. We then went back to Parliament Hill with our partners and held meetings with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development, the Bloc Québécois Critic for Agriculture, Agri-Food and Supply Management, representatives of the NDP (New Democratic Party) and the Conservatives, and most members of committees focused on agriculture. The WCVM did their own government relations outreach provincially and once support was confirmed, CVMA reached out to the Agriculture Ministers of all the other provinces looking for national support. The project to build the National Testing Centre is now well-known on Parliament Hill. It has received enough attention in the provinces that it will hopefully be on the agenda for the next Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers of Agriculture meeting.
None of this could have happened without an active GR program and personally it has been a lot more fun playing offense than reacting to what lands on CVMA’s desk.
The last year has been a blast. Thank you all for the opportunity to serve our profession.
- Tim Arthur
