The federal election on Oct. 21, 2019 provides opportunities to connect with newly elected or re-elected government representatives at the outset. The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network and Ryan Clarke of Advocacy Solutions hosted this webinar, How to Have Your Voice Heard During the Oct. 21, 2019 Federal Election, on Oct. 3, 2019, to help participants: · Better appreciate the difference between federal and provincial roles in healthcare; · Use specific advocacy engagement tactics aimed at candidates, including developing your own key messages; and, · Understand the importance of reaching out to the newly (re)elected MPs after Oct. 21. Ryan Clarke, LL.B., is the founder of Advocacy Solutions (www.advocacysolutions.ca), which was founded in 2003 to provide a voice to organizations and individuals through the development and implementation of impactful advocacy strategies. Ryan was educated at McMaster University in Hamilton where he received both an Honours B.A. and a Masters Degree in Political Science. He then went on to study law at the University of Western Ontario, where he graduated in 1993. Ryan began working in Hamilton, practicing exclusively in the area of family law for almost three years. In 1997, he became a Special Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Energy, Science and Technology. He was the Minister’s policy advisor on all issues within the Science and Technology Division. Ryan joined Glaxo Wellcome (now GlaxoSmithKline Inc.) in 1999, where he was a Senior Manager, Public Affairs, specializing in public policy and government relations at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Through Advocacy Solutions, Ryan has taught and trained thousands of individuals to be more effective advocates, across Canada and internationally.

1. How to Have Your Voice
Heard During the Oct. 21,
2019 Federal Election
October 3, 2019

2. Overview
1.Election Snapshot
2.Federal/Provincial Roles in Health Care
3.Engaging Local Candidates
4.Reaching Out to the New MPs
5.Questions
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3. Election Snapshot (CBC Poll Tracker, Sept. 26th)
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4. Overall Structure
• In general, health care in Canada is publicly funded, but privately
delivered
• This means that while the vast majority of health care services
are “free” at the point of use, they are delivered by private
providers i.e. physicians
• The provinces are constitutionally responsible for the
administration and delivery of health care services under s. 92.7
of the Constitution Act, 1867:
• The Establishment, Maintenance, and Management of
Hospitals, Asylums, Charities, and Eleemosynary (charitable)
Institutions in and for the Province, other than Marine
Hospitals
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5. Assist in financing provincial
and territorial health care services
through fiscal transfers
Set standards and principles upon
which transfers are contingent
Deliver health care services to
specific groups
Provide and fund other
health-related functions
Federal Role
The role of the federal government is to:
House of Commons

6. Canada Health Act, 1984
The Canada Health Act (1984) is Canada’s federal health
insurance legislation
It establishes the criteria and
conditions related to insured
health care services – the national
standards – which the provinces
and territories must meet in order
to receive the full federal cash
transfer contribution
Historically, insured
services are largely
restricted to care
delivered in hospitals
or by physicians

7. Canada Health Act, 1984
The Act states that "the
primary objective of
Canadian health care
policy is to protect,
promote and restore the
physical and mental well-
being of residents of
Canada and to facilitate
reasonable access to
health services without
financial or other
barriers”
To do so, the Act lists a set of
criteria and conditions that the
provinces and territories must follow
to receive their federal transfer
payments: public administration,
comprehensive-ness, universality,
portability, and accessibility
There is also a requirement that the
provinces ensure recognition of the
federal payments and provide
information to the federal
government

8. Provincial/Territorial Role
Administration of their health insurance
plans
Planning and funding of care in hospitals
and other health facilities
Services provided by physicians and
other health professionals
Planning and implementation of health
promotion and public health initiatives
Negotiation of fee schedules with health
professionals
BC legislature
Ontario legislature

9. Delivery vs. Financing
• Health care delivery refers to the manner in
which medical services are organized, managed
and provided
• In large measure, health care is delivered
through private providers
• The health care industry is the second largest
employer in Canada (over two million people)
• They can be divided into three types of services:
Primary care Secondary care Additional care

10. Delivery vs. Financing
• Health care financing refers to how medical services are
paid for
• In large measure, health care is financed through public
funds, but that is evolving
• Total health care spending in Canada was expected to
reach $242 billion in 2017, averaging $6,604 per person
• Financing comes from three primary sources:
Public Private Out-of-pocket

11. Key Message Development
Identification…
• Requires that you be able to take an array of information
and distill it down to its simplest form
• Requires that you separate fact from fiction
• When advocating on behalf of a group, consensus on the issues
is required

12. Key Message Development
Framing…
• Develop 3 key messages that explain the salient points of your
issue in simple language
• Each one should be 25 words or less
• “4 Cs Rule” – they must always be clear, compelling, concise and
consistent
• Practice presenting your 3 key messages to someone who has no
knowledge of your issue

13. A Model For Developing Key Messages
1. What is the problem?
2. What is the impact of the problem?
3. What would it look like if we
solved/didn’t solve the problem (also
known as the “Call to Action”)?

14. Developing Your One ‘Ask’
The whole reason we do advocacy…
• ONE – because you are going to ask for what you need, not a list of what
you want
• Requires one to make choices and potentially reach a consensus (just as it
does when developing your 3 key messages)
• Build your ‘ask’ into your ‘call to action’ key message to help ensure you
deliver it
• Sometimes opportunities will present themselves that will make the ‘ask’
very timely

15. Election Engagement
1. Reviewing the Party Platforms
2. Attending an All Candidates Meeting
3. Talking to Candidates at the Door
4. Asking the Candidates/Parties to Answer Questions
5. Asking the Candidates/Parties to Sign Pledges
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16. Reviewing the Party Platforms

17. Attending an All Candidates Meeting
• Forum to hear what local candidates have to
say about the issues
• Opportunity to introduce yourself and
deliver your three key messages
• Potential chance for you to educate the
candidates by asking a question
• May be able to interact with local media in
attendance
• Opportunity to use social media to highlight
your impressions of the candidates

18. Talking to Candidates at the Door
• Print out your key messages on a piece of
paper and keep them near the door of
your home
• Practice delivering them so that if a
candidate shows up, you’ll be ready
• Write down their response to your issue
• Ask to take a photo with the candidate
and share it on social media (along with a
brief summary of your discussion)
• Ask if you could follow-up with further
comments/questions
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19. Questions to Candidates/Parties
Question 2: National Pharmacare Program
The Canadian Cancer Survivor Network believes that all people residing
in Canada must have timely, consistent, equal and equitable access to
safe and effective therapies, including treatments and medications, as
well as the information, diagnostics, care and support that they need.
The Pharmacare Council’s Final Report called for a universal, public
Pharmacare program that is portable, accessible regardless of ability to
pay and residency, and the importance of working together with
patients and citizens as key stakeholders.
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20. Questions to Candidates/Parties
Question 2: National Pharmacare Program
A. What is your party’s position on the creation of and timeline for a
universal public pharmacare program with a national formulary that
would be developed by an independent group of experts that
would assess the safety and cost-effectiveness of medication?
B. Will your party support a new federal equalization payment for
national pharmacare so that all provinces are able to cover the
same comprehensive range of prescription drugs, with timely new
additions on a regular basis?
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21. Candidates Signing Pledges

22. Reaching Out to New MPs
• Use pre-drafted social media content to congratulate your local winner on
election night
• Send a letter of congratulations to your newly (re)elected MP shortly after
election day, ideally asking for a meeting
• Follow up on questions/pledges/other interactions that you may have had during
the election period
• Refine your one ‘ask’ to now be tangible i.e. write a letter on my behalf to the
Minister of Health
• Look for opportunities to bring value to the relationship with your MP i.e.
materials, information, community events
• Ideally establish a sustained dialogue in which you’re meeting on a regular basis
to move your issues along
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23. Ryan Clarke, LL.B.
ryan@advocacysolutions.ca
QUESTIONS.