POLITICAL RISK IS BUSINESS RISK
A lobbyist, in your pocket.
Government decisions affect your organization, whether government relations is in your job title or not.
Pocket Lobbyist helps you understand how Canadian government works, what to pay attention to, and how to put that knowledge to work.
GR 101 / Foundations of Government Relations in Canada
Understand the system.
Know where to start.
Government relations is easier to approach when you understand how decisions are made and who is involved.
GR 101 takes you from the history behind our political system to developing and carrying out a strategy for your organization.
No prior political experience is required. Bring your questions and the issues you’re working through.
Explore the program →What we’ll cover
- Political HistoryThe history and ideas that shape Canadian politics.
- How Government and Politics WorkThe institutions, processes, and timing behind decisions.
- Decision-Makers and InfluencersWho does what, what matters to them, and how relationships develop.
- Lobbying and Government RelationsWhat lobbying involves and where it fits in your organization.
- Developing a StrategyWhat you want to achieve, why it matters, and how to approach it.
- Executing a StrategyPreparing for meetings, following up, and keeping the work moving.
Meet the founder
I’m Mel Caouette.
I launched Pocket Lobbyist in 2022 after spending more than a decade in and around politics. I’ve worked as a bureaucrat, a political staffer, and a private-sector strategist, and founded my own consulting practice.
That experience informs how I teach government relations: connect the political context to the decisions your organization needs to make. Political risk belongs in the same conversation as every other business risk.
More about my work →THE POCKET LOBBYIST NEWSLETTER
What’s happening in Canada?
There’s always another announcement, election, or policy debate to follow. The useful question is what it means for your organization.
Join us every Friday morning for a look at Canadian politics and public policy, with context to help you make sense of the week.