1. Influencing Government

2. How can we participate in democracy between elections?
Get Connected
Speak Out
Contact Member of Parliament (MP), Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), local representative, or civil servants, who conduct the daily business of the government.
Writing letters to the editor, ing, blogging, social media, or participating in radio phone-in shows

3. Pressure Groups
Special interest groups, called pressure groups, organize to influence government policies and decisions.
Institutionalized pressure groups, are formalized, long term or permanent organizations such as the Assembly of First Nations
Issue-oriented groups are not permanent because their purpose is to accomplish limited aims and they usually disband once their goal is reached.

4. The Power of Pressure
A large enough group or one with majority support of the population can make demands upon a government
governments need public support to get voted in and stay in office
Can push for a referendum
Examples in Canada
Marijuana legislation
Prostitution laws reformed
Good neighbour laws*Kamloops

5. The danger with lobbyists
a person hired to represent the interests of a pressure group by influencing policy decision makers
can persuade governments to put in place policies that are not necessarily in the public interest.
- Tobacco lobbyists pressured government to deregulate advertising

6. Possible corruption
Lobbyists are often former public servants who could have swayed policy while still in office
- New laws required ex public servants to wait one year before entering a lobbyists position- but is that enough?

7. Can the Court Influence Government?
Yes but
courts are bound to interpret laws within the context of the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The court cannot make new laws as only the government can
The Court can block new laws and government actions that violate the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

8. Civil Disobedience
the act of intentionally breaking a law that is considered unjust.
- A form of protest used by U.S. civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.,
Civil disobedience is warranted only when the law itself causes significant harm.

9. 3 principles of civil disobedience
1. Civil disobedience should not involve violence.
2. Civil disobedience should be directed against laws that are
seriously harmful.
3. Civil disobedience requires taking responsibility for one’s actions. Willingness to face punishment shows the strength of one’s beliefs.

10. Swanson Occupation
A group of First Nations and environmentalists are occupying a salmon farm near Alert Bay, B.C., and say they won't leave until the provincial and federal governments revoke permits for illegal Marine Harvest Canada salmon farms in their territorial waters off the north end of Vancouver Island.
Farmed Atlantic salmon threatening wild salmon and herring stocks
-  fish appeared blind, deformed or diseased

11. The Threat is Evident
Unhealthy Farmed Salmon in Marine Harvest Canada salmon farms
Healthy Salmon