Government Relations Committee

The purpose and operations of the TFAAC Government Relations Committee are subject to the TFAAC Board policy “Statement of Committee Governance”.
The Government Relations Committee is responsible for:

• Maintain confidentiality, as outlined in the TFAAC Board Confidentiality Agreement
• Oversee strategies to further develop the provincial grassroots lobbying capability of the Provincial Advocacy Committee (PAC) network across Canada
• Oversee strategies to develop the national grassroots lobbying capability through the development of a roster of Advocis members that have and are willing to develop relationships with federal MPs to enhance Advocis’s profile with the federal government
• Set priorities for Legislature Days and other political events and activities across Canada to promote and advance the goals of the Association and its members to elected officials
• Develop and approve initiatives to implement Advocis’s government relations strategy
• Carry out the Committee’s mandate in the interests of the TFAAC Board
• Report regularly to the TFAAC Board
• Review, annually, the Terms of Reference and forward same to the TFAAC Governance Committee
• The Government Relations Committee can bring forward issues raised by a PAC to the Legal and Regulatory Policy Committee for its consideration
• These issues will be brought forward by the Chair of Government Relations and the Vice President, Government Relations, who also sits on the Legal and Regulatory Policy Committee

• The Government Relations Committee shall be composed of a Chair, plus 1 representative from each of the nine Provincial Advocacy Committees (PACs)
• Each PAC shall recommend a PAC member to serve on the Government Relations Committee
• The Committee shall be appointed by the TFAAC Board
• The Chair shall be appointed by the TFAAC Board for a term of 1 year and shall oversee the ongoing operations of the Government Relations Committee with support from Advocis staff
• The Chair shall recommend a Vice Chair to assist in the operation of the Government Relations Committee to be approved by the TFAAC Board
• The Vice Chair can be selected from 1 of the 9 PAC representatives or can be in addition to the PAC representatives, depending on need
• A member of the TFAAC Board shall be appointed to act as Board Liaison to the Government Relations Committee, who will also serve as Board Liaison to the Legal and Regulatory Policy Committee
• Staff Liaison shall be the President & CEO or their designate

• 1-year term based on regular and meaningful participation.

• A minimum of 5 members present in person or by phone, at regularly scheduled Committee meetings
• Decisions may be taken by consensus vote as described above, in addition to during teleconference and in person meetings, by electronic means, which shall include electronic-mail and faxes

• By consensus whenever possible
• Any question shall be referred to Robert’s Rules of Order
• Chair to receive information, agenda and minutes first for approval
• Agenda and meeting material to be distributed at least 2 working days in advance
• Chair and Vice Chair shall not have a vote
• Any tie will give Chair a casting vote
• 48 hours’ notice is required for special meetings
• Government Relations Committee business to remain with the Committee until it is agreed to communicate this business beyond the Committee

• Where necessary in the opinion of the Government Relations Committee
• Technical advisors may sit through 1 or more meetings

• A minimum of 3 meetings a year by teleconference. One possible face-to-face meeting annually
• Absence of 3 meetings, a member’s commitment is to be reviewed

• Only with approval of the Board
• To be reviewed annually