UNews - Director of Government Relations

Government anouncements set stage

trevor.kenney — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:17:58 +0000

By RICHARD WESTLUND

This week will be very telling for Alberta's post-secondary sector as Alberta's Speech from the Throne is read (Feb. 7) and the Government of Alberta's budget is released (Feb. 9).

Alberta Finance Minister Ron Liepert has hinted that the budget will not include any large expenditures or adversely any deep cuts, and that the health and education sectors remain priority areas for the government.

The U of L has spent a great deal of time over the past year advocating for stable and predictable funding that reflects the institution's mandate. Any budget documents from this week's release will be available on the Government Relations blog (blogs.ulethbridge.ca/government-relations).

Cabinet tour hits U of L

In late January, Alberta cabinet ministers took part in an outreach tour of the province. Minister of Culture and Community Services, Heather Klimchuk, along with Advanced Education and Technology Minister, Greg Weadick, spent some time on campus looking at various facilities. Considering the cultural component to Klimchuk's responsibilities, she was shown the Digital Audio Arts facility as well as some of the Art Gallery's storage areas. Klimchuk had the opportunity to see some amazing pieces from the U of L Art Collection while on a tour last year as well. She understands the uniqueness of the Art Gallery's program as a valuable teaching resource for our students, as well as a cultural resource for the broader public.

Ministerial Decks

In an effort to make both elected and non-elected government members more aware of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's teaching and research strengths, the Government Relations Office is creating general briefings, or Ministerial Decks.

These general briefings are sent directly to managers, directors, assistant deputy ministers, deputy ministers, elected members and their staff, as well as made available on the U of L's Government Relations website (www.uleth.ca/president/government-relations).

In recent months, briefings related to the U of L's relevance in the agriculture industry and issues related to water and the environment have been created and released. The third installment, focusing on health and wellness, will be available shortly.

One of the challenges of this project is including only a few of the many compelling stories the U of L has to offer in these areas. The goal of these publications is to ensure the U of L is viewed as an institution that has a significant role to play in issues that resonate with the government and citizens of Alberta.

Richard Westlund is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's director of government relations.

This story first appeared in the February 2012 edition of The Legend. To view the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Lobbying Act must be kept in mind

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:46:55 +0000

More and more often, grant applications contain sections warning applicants that they are responsible for ensuring that anyone lobbying on their behalf is doing so while in compliance with Canada's Lobbying Act.

As individuals seeking grants complete applications across campus, I will take this opportunity to provide a cursory overview of what the Lobbying Act is and the measures the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ must take to ensure compliance. Further, I would encourage anyone who has questions about the act to visit the commissioner's website. The U of L Government Relations Office (A764) is available to answer questions that faculty or staff may have regarding the registry.

The Federal Lobbying Act dictates that universities (and a myriad of other private-sector and public organizations) must report specific lobbying encounters when speaking with Designated Public Office Holders (DPOHs). These individuals include cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, associate deputy ministers, MPs, Members of the Senate and any exempt staff working in the offices of these members.

The U of L is required to update its lobby registration on an ongoing basis. This registration contains general information about the institution, the grants it receives, the individuals that act in a lobbying capacity for the institution and the subject matter on which the U of L intends to lobby the federal government. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is also responsible for reporting its "oral and arranged" communication after a listed employee advocates for a benefit (whether financial or to influence policy or legislation) for the institution. These monthly communication reports must be submitted by the 15th day of the following month from when the interaction occurred. This is done through the Government Relations Office.

Faculty members have the academic freedom to speak to members of the federal government as persons with expertise. If a faculty member lobbies for a benefit to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, they, and their subject matter, must be included in the U of L's registration. However, if an employee or faculty member is advocating for the greater public good (and not a specific benefit) they are not required to register or report their interaction.

At various times, individuals throughout campus are involved in projects that involve interacting with the Federal Government. Again, the Government Relations Office can help to ensure you are fulfilling the legal requirements of the federal Lobbying Act. More information can be found online at www.ocl-cal.gc.ca/eic/site/lobbyist-lobbyiste1.nsf/eng/home.

Richard Westlund is the Director of Government Relations at the U of L. In an effort to better inform different parts of our campus and external communities about the various government relations activities that occur at the U of L, he has started a blog. Visit it at blogs.ulethbridge.ca/government-relations

This story first appeared in the November issue of the Legend. For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Championing the U of L mandate

trevor.kenney — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:57:30 +0000

By RICHARD WESTLUND

A key part of most successful government relations strategies is to identify and utilize champions for your cause. For federal initiatives, the
U of L has found a literal champion of its own.

The Deputy Minister ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Champion Program is an initiative housed in the Canada School of Public Service, and is aimed at strengthening linkages between the Government of Canada and Canadian universities.

Earlier this year, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge was granted membership into this program. Subsequently, Dr. James Ralston, the Comptroller General of Canada, was named as the U of L's ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Champion.

Ralston received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, his Master of Arts (Economics) from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Ottawa and a Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science) from Carleton ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. Beginning his career with the Provincial Auditor of Alberta, he later joined a national accounting/consulting firm in Edmonton and Ottawa. He was appointed the Comptroller General of Canada after working for the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) for 15 years.

The role of a deputy minister champion is flexible. In speaking with my counterparts across Canada, it is clear that relationships between universities and deputy minister champions vary greatly and are unique to each institution. It is hoped that the relationship between Ralston and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will create new opportunities for our students and faculty, such as stronger co-op arrangements between the
U of L and the federal government, the facilitation of interactions that link U of L research and teaching strengths with appropriate federal departments and continuous information sharing of university and government directions and priorities.

Ralston has been an eager and willing partner with the U of L from the outset of the champion program. He had already taken the time to tour the U of L and meet with a variety of folks from different parts of campus, including meetings with President Mike Mahon, Provost Andrew Hakin, the Career Resources Centre and our co-op programs office. He also toured the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building, the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience and the U of L Art Gallery.

Now that Ralston has an understanding of the programs offered and research conducted at the U of L, he is in a better position to identify links and opportunities between the federal government and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Furthermore, he is in a better position to represent U of L interests and, when appropriate, facilitate and advise on effective strategies.

Richard Westlund is the Director of Government Relations at the U of L. In an effort to better inform different parts of our campus and external communities about the various government relations activities that occur at the U of L, he has started a blog. Visit it at blogs.ulethbridge.ca/government-relations

Lobbying Act Sees Significant Change

trevor.kenney — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:55:40 +0000

At one time, the federal Lobbying Act seemed geographically removed from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Most of the individuals the U of L was required to report its lobbying interactions with were located in Ottawa or, to a lesser extent, other major Canadian cities.

With a new regulation in place that brings Members of Parliament and Senators into the rules that govern lobbyists, it is particularly important that the broader U of L community become aware of how the landscape has changed.

The Lobbying Act dictates that organizations must report specific lobbying encounters when speaking with Designated Public Office Holders (DPOH). Up until last month, these individuals included cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, associate deputy ministers and their exempt staffs. The federal government has now broadened this list of individuals to include, among others, MPs, Members of the Senate or any exempt staff working in the offices of these members.

The U of L is required to update its lobby registration on an ongoing basis. This registry contains general information about the institution, the grants it receives, the individuals that act in a lobbying capacity for the institution and the subject matter upon which the U of L intends to lobby the federal government. The U of L is also responsible for reporting its "oral and arranged" communication after a listed employee advocates for a benefit (whether financial or to influence policy or legislation) for the institution. These monthly communication reports must be submitted by the 15th day of the following month from when the interaction occurred. This is done through the U of L's Government Relations Office.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ faculty members have the academic freedom to speak to members of the federal government as persons with expertise. If faculty members lobby for a benefit for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, they, and their subject matter, must be included in the U of L's registry. However, if an employee or faculty member is advocating for the greater public good (and not a specific benefit), they are not required to register or report their interaction.

At various times, individuals throughout campus are involved in projects that involve interacting with the federal government. The Government Relations Office can help to ensure you are fulfilling the legal requirements of the federal Lobbying Act.

For more information on this issue, check it out online at www.ocl-cal.gc.ca/eic/site/lobbyist-lobbyiste1.nsf/eng/home

Richard Westlund is the U of L's director of government relations and can be reached at 403-332-5251 or at richard.westlund@uleth.ca

Lobbying Act Sees Significant Change

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:48:48 +0000

At one time, the federal Lobbying Act seemed geographically removed from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. Most of the individuals the U of L was required to report its lobbying interactions with were located in Ottawa or, to a lesser extent, other major Canadian cities.

With a new regulation in place that brings Members of Parliament and Senators into the rules that govern lobbyists, it is particularly important that the broader U of L community become aware of how the landscape has changed.

The Lobbying Act dictates that organizations must report specific lobbying encounters when speaking with Designated Public Office Holders (DPOH). Up until last month, these individuals included cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, associate deputy ministers and their exempt staffs. The federal government has now broadened this list of individuals to include, among others, MPs, Members of the Senate or any exempt staff working in the offices of these members.

The U of L is required to update its lobby registration on an ongoing basis. This registry contains general information about the institution, the grants it receives, the individuals that act in a lobbying capacity for the institution and the subject matter upon which the U of L intends to lobby the federal government. The U of L is also responsible for reporting its "oral and arranged" communication after a listed employee advocates for a benefit (whether financial or to influence policy or legislation) for the institution. These monthly communication reports must be submitted by the 15th day of the following month from when the interaction occurred. This is done through the U of L's Government Relations Office.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ faculty members have the academic freedom to speak to members of the federal government as persons with expertise. If faculty members lobby for a benefit for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, they, and their subject matter, must be included in the U of L's registry. However, if an employee or faculty member is advocating for the greater public good (and not a specific benefit), they are not required to register or report their interaction.

At various times, individuals throughout campus are involved in projects that involve interacting with the federal government. The Government Relations Office can help to ensure you are fulfilling the legal requirements of the federal Lobbying Act.

For more information on this issue, check it out online at www.ocl-cal.gc.ca/eic/site/lobbyist-lobbyiste1.nsf/eng/home

Richard Westlund is theU of L's director of government relations and can be reached at 403-332-5251 or at richard.westlund@uleth.ca

U of L uses recent minister visit to full advantage

trevor.kenney — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:23:52 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is a key contributor to building Alberta's knowledge-based economy. Add that to its many specific contributions to the economy and social well-being of the citizens of southern Alberta, and it was only fitting that eight Alberta government cabinet ministers spent the vast majority of their recent Lethbridge visit on the U of L campus.

The visit, part of a province-wide initiative, saw Doug Horner (advanced education and technology), Dave Hancock (education), Mel Knight (sustainable resource development), Yvonne Fritz (children and youth services), Lindsay Blackett (culture and community service), Jonathan Denis (housing and urban affairs), Len Webber (aboriginal relations) and Heather Klimchuk (Service Alberta) all attend.

The morning began with a tour of Markin Hall – the future home of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Management. In the context that the province is looking to diversify its economy by serving more as a financial hub for Canada, Markin's Finance Trading Floor, and its educational possibilities, was a key element of particular interest. Similarly, the Nursing Skills Lab, currently under construction, will train nursing students in a uniquely hands-on, innovative setting. It was not lost on the visiting ministers that placing the Faculties of Management and Health Sciences in the same building would create more opportunities for collaboration between faculty members, yielding new approaches of better-managing an expensive health-care system.

The Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building (AWESB) was next on the schedule, with distinguished water researcher Stewart Rood welcoming the ministers with a tour of his lab. The government has mandated to "ensure the province has the quality and quantity of water needed now and into the future to support the environmental, economic and social needs of Albertans" and the research work being done at the AWESB promises to play a key part in fulfilling this policy.

The morning tour ended with provost Andrew Hakin addressing the ministers, detailing how the U of L has positioned itself to best serve the post-secondary needs of Albertans, all the while pursuing a research mandate that will improve the quality of life for people throughout the province.

The evening tour featured a reception and presentation about the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Gallery.

Dr. Josephine Mills, the director/creator of the gallery, explained the origin of the collection, its purpose in teaching and how the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ connects with the broader community by sharing the works through exhibitions, publications and the web. The gallery is an important asset to the U of L in that it is used for educational, research, advancement and cultural purposes on campus and beyond. The ministers were introduced to a range of important works that revealed the collection's breadth and significance.

The evening concluded with a meal on campus that invited the Board of Governors, senior administration, deans and others. It was an opportunity to further build links between the
U of L and the provincial government.

This was a significant opportunity for the U of L to showcase itself. There is great geographic distance between Lethbridge and Edmonton and access to government members often involves significant effort and travel. Having eight ministers on campus at the same time is a rare opportunity, and the U of L used the occasion to its full advantage. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ also expressed a desire that similar visits would become of strategic importance to the Government of Alberta in the future.

Richard Westlund is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's director of government relations

Calgary a key U of L market

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:08:17 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge plays a unique and significant role in providing thousands of Calgarians access to a personal, high-quality, comprehensive educational experience. Additionally, faculty at the U of L conduct research that is both relevant to the Calgary economy and to the quality of life for Calgarians.

With that in mind, Calgary MLAs listened with great interest to a recent presentation made by U of L vice presidents Dr. Andrew Hakin and Nancy Walker.

Hakin highlighted the U of L's evolution as a comprehensive ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, while also detailing the institution's emphasis on providing access to post-secondary education. The Calgary numbers are compelling.

In Fall 2009, the U of L was the choice of 2,680 Calgarians, which accounts for one-third of our total student body. The number of students at the Calgary campus hit an all-time high with 524 students enrolled. Last year, 278 students from SAIT, Mount Royal, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and Bow Valley College transferred to the U of L.

Hakin detailed the U of L's strategic plan and how its key elements focus on a continuing commitment to all students.

Questions from members of the Calgary caucus suggested that many of them were already engaged in the issues of the post-secondary sector, while some comments showed a direct understanding of the U of L's strengths and advantages.

Justice Minister Alison Redford commended the U of L on the work it is doing in neuroscience, highlighting discoveries that are being made at the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience and the influence they have on government policy.

MLA Manmeet Bhullar, a former Parliamentary Assistant for Advanced Education and Technology asked how changing demographics might affect enrolment at the U of L.

While the number of 18 to 24 year-olds living in southern Alberta will decrease over the next decade, Hakin sees the city of Calgary as a real opportunity of growth for the U of L.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Len Webber was interested in the state of student housing on campus, learning that the U of L is working towards increasing the number of beds on campus and that success in creating more spaces will enhance the student experience.

The U of L recognizes Calgary as a key demographic and that building and maintaining links to the city are vital as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ moves forward.

Richard Westlund is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's director of government relations

U of L pegged as Water Hub

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:10:28 +0000

World Water Day (Mar. 22) served as the perfect occasion for Assistant Vice-President (Research) Dr. Lesley Brown to make a major announcement. Sharing a stage with federal environment minister Jim Prentice, they announced the creation of the Water and Environmental Science's Water Hub at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The Hub, which will be developed over the next two years, will serve as a data repository and will be an authoritative public source of information, providing tools to analyze water and environmental data. This data will be used by governments, industry, academia and the public to make more-informed decisions regarding water, and will create a better understanding of this resource by these stakeholders.

Prentice, who announced $1.5 million in funding to support the project, explains that the government needs reliable water data to make better decisions concerning water.

"To make good decisions, governments in Canada need good information – and it's not as though you can just turn on a tap to get it. We need knowledge generated by scientists and researchers who can provide the evidence for informed decisions about freshwater use," says Prentice.

In addition to announcing the investment at the U of L, Prentice also announced $750,000 for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan to develop software that can be used as a tool to help energy developers make environmentally responsible decisions on power plant locations by determining impact on water quantity and quality in the area.

The funding announced for the Universities of Lethbridge and Saskatchewan was made in tandem with the Government of Canada's $2.5 million investment in the Global GEMS/Water – the Global Environment Monitoring System Water Program run through the United Nations Environment Programme.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Water Hub will increase the impact of Canada's contribution to the UN's Global Environmental Monitoring System by hosting large data sets supporting the international exchange of information. Further, the web-based tools developed in the Hub will allow for more informed decisions to be made internationally.

Brown points out that this announcement affirms the international impact of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's renowned water program.

"While the unique issues in southern Alberta influenced the genesis of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's water research focus, we are poised to make a difference internationally. This announcement is an example of this fact," she says.

Richard Westlund is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's director of government relations

U of L works to educate new cabinet ministers

trevor.kenney — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:32:52 +0000

We are only a month into the new year, but there have already been some significant changes to both the provincial and federal political landscapes. These changes will pave the way for a renewed effort by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge to continue a dialogue with the government about our strengths and challenges.

Speaking provincially, two former-government MLAs crossed the floor and a cabinet shuffle occurred that included some interesting changes. The most notable changes included Edmonton-based MLA Gene Zwozdesky becoming minister of health, while Calgary MLA Ron Liepert moved to energy. Former Sustainable Resource Development Minister, Ted Morton, became minister of finance and enterprise. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will spend time during the coming months educating all new ministers about the impact the U of L makes in their respective areas in terms of teaching and research.

Doug Horner remained minister of advanced education and technology, but was also named Deputy Premier. This certainly speaks to the influence Horner has at the cabinet table.

There were a few other changes that have the potential to change the political landscape for southern Alberta. Former Minister of Agriculture, George Groeneveld, was moved from cabinet (his riding is situated just south of Calgary) leaving minister Rob Renner of Medicine Hat the sole minister south of Calgary. Groeneveld visited our campus three or four times during his tenure as minister and always expressed a willingness to understand the positions of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

The U of L, as it has done in the past, will make efforts to build relationships with all relevant ministers through meetings and tours of campus.

While the Lethbridge-area is without a minister, the four government members that are geographically close to the U of L have been handed duties above that of a private member. Lethbridge-West MLA Greg Weadick, for example, has been named parliamentary assistant to the minister of advanced education and technology. The U of L will certainly count on Weadick to help advance ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ messaging to his colleagues in government.

Other local appointments include Cardston-Taber-Warner MLA Broyce Jacobs becoming the parliamentary assistant to the minister of agriculture and rural development, Livingstone-Macleod MLA Evan Berger remaining in his role as parliamentary assistant to the minister of sustainable resource development and Little-Bow MLA Barry McFarland being named as a member of the treasury board.

A small cabinet shuffle also occurred at the federal level this month, but the biggest news, as far as the U of L is concerned, is the announcement that Lethbridge MP Rick Casson will not seek another term in office. Casson, a former employee of the U of L, helped move along many files for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. He knocked on doors to advance initiatives and was never hesitant to pick up the phone to ask about how a government policy might impact our institution. His work on our behalf was impressive. He will be certainly missed on the federal scene and will leave big shoes to fill.

Building relationships with elected and non-elected government members is important in ensuring effective communication between the U of L and decision-makers in Edmonton and Ottawa. Senior administration at the U of L has already begun to engage and re-engage government members to ensure productive working relationships are forged.

Richard Westlund is the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's director of government relations

UNews - Director of Government Relations

Government anouncements set stage

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