First Year Integration Conference

DREAMING BIG: Plugging engineering students into public policy

and making a differencePresented by:

Howard Brown, PresidentBrown & Cohen Communications & Public Affairs

and Government Relations Consultant, Professional Engineers Ontario

McMaster UniversityJanuary 2012

Professional Engineers Ontario’s Government Liaison Program: Background & Success to Date

Why should engineers get involved with public policy?

What YOU can do to get involved with public policy

Agenda

Public Policy Can Be a Force For Change

Nelson MandelaPresident of South Africa

Barack ObamaPresident of the United States

Pierre TrudeauPrime Minister of Canada

Benazir Bhutto Prime Minister of Pakistan

Golda MeirPrime Minister of Israel

Pierre Poilievre, P.Eng.Conservative MP Nepean-Carleton

Marisa Sterling, P.Eng.Liberal MPP Candidate

Toronto-Danforth

Young P.Eng Leaders

Government Liaison Program

• Improve government understanding• Same side of the table• Relationships between the 36 PEO chapters

Since 2005…

PEO’s Government Liaison

Program Results

The GLP had a goal of having 11 engineers in the 2011 legislature

• Queen’s Park days

• Over 80 MPP meetings

• Presentations to legislative committees

• GLP updates to PEO members

• Town hall meetings

Set up the Ontario Engineering Student Public Policy Initiative with a goal of having 27 engineers in the 2027 legislature

PEO now has a strong student membership program (Since 2001, now 9800 members strong)

Ontario Professional Engineers Act with 66 amendments

PEO’s GLP Initiatives

Ontario Centre for Engineering

and Public Policy

Engineers in Ontario have a hand in:1. Fair Access to Regulated Professions

Act - 20062. Green Energy and Economy Act - 20093. Water Opportunities and Water

Conservation Act - 20104. Open for Business Act - 2010

But not limited to these alone…- Health care- Environment- Infrastructure- Food Safety

Why Should Engineering Students Get Involved?

Engineers duty to society • The duty to public welfare above clients or

employers.

Engineers duty to employers • Acting as faithful agents or trustees,

regarding client information as confidential and avoiding or disclosing conflicts of interest.

Engineers duty to clients • Must disclose immediately any direct or

indirect interest that might prejudice (or appear to prejudice) their professional judgment.

YOU put the public first:

WHY Engineers?

The connection between engineers and politicians: Carrying the Leader

TorchBoth are natural leaders in our community

Both are problem-solvers

Both understand that every action is part of a bigger picture

Both put the public good ahead of all elseHoward Brown engages

future engineers at PEO’s student conference

Who are the next great leaders?

Why Should YOU get Involved?

YOU can make a difference…• Raise an issue you’re specifically concerned about

• Chance to get your point of view across

• You have a certain expertise that would be valuable

• You think we need better people in government

• You follow the news and read the newspaper

How can I make a difference?

How can I participate in change?

How do I get my voice heard?

GET INVOLVED…

So many questions… one answer

What can students do?

Get INVOLVED in the Community& on Campus

•Charity organizations •Community groups

• Non-profit organizations

• Local sports teams

• Boards of Trade

•Ethnic or faith-based organizations

• Join student or residence council, clubs and engineering societies

• Attend campus events and political party meetings

Find party by following the issues VolunteerAttend fundraisersAttend ConferencesMake donations

Take an interest in an issue and act on it.Environmental issues, affordable housing, the economy, urban planning, climate change, etc.

Get INVOLVED in Politics

Choose a Party

Get INVOLVED in Politics & Engineering Societies

School/Workplace

• Organize/attend campus events with local MPPs

• Get involved in professional organizations like: Consulting Engineers Ontario, Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, Engineers Canada or Engineers Without Borders

Sign up for the GLP Weekly

• glpweekly@peo.on.ca

And Write, Write, Write!

• Articles for Engineering Dimensions

• Articles for The Journal of Policy Engagement

• Other engineering, science and business publications

• Student and local newspapers

The McGill Four MPs (NDP)

Laurin Liu, MP

Charmaine Borg, MP

Mylène Freeman, MP

Matthew Dube, MP

MP from Churchill, Man., and is now the ninth candidate vying to succeed the late Jack Layton as party leader. Just 29 years old, she is also the youngest candidate.

Nikki Ashton, MP

Questions? Comments?

Thank you!

For more information or to get involved, contact:

Howard BrownBrown & Cohen Communications & Public Affairs321 Brooke Avenue, Toronto, ON M5M 2L4www.brown-cohen.com

416-844-1180howard@brown-cohen.com