Briefing Paper assignment

D Brown, Pols 321Fall 2012

Briefing Paper assignment

Goal: to prepare a briefing paper on one of the agenda items for the First Ministers ConferenceWeek of November 12-16: sign-up to a topic. Nov 26: Briefing paper is due.

What is a Briefing Paper?

Any document prepared for senior executives (e.g. Prime Minister, Minister, Deputy, President of Company etc.) to quickly and concisely brief them on a current situation and what you suggest they do about it.

Topics

Canada Health Act and other social programs

Equalization and the Territorial Funding Formula

Free Trade Agreements and Foreign Investment

Climate Change and Natural Resources

Your paper can be on a specific, more focused issue within one of the four agenda items listed above, e.g. health care, carbon tax, etc.

Contents

Every paper must include the following:Overview of your Government’s general intergovernmental strategy, including its approach to federalism

Background on the Chosen Policy Issue, and the main options in play.

Rationale for the preferred position of your government

Proposed Strategy for the Conference (i.e. how to achieve your goals).

Briefing Paper style

Short, clear sentences and paragraphs. Clear headings.

Graphs and numbers clearly presented.

Overview and Conclusion paragraphs that provide the key points up front.

Based on research, with a bibliography.

Overall length: aim for 10-15 pages, double-spaced.

Potential sources for preparing briefing material

Throne speeches

Budget speeches and documents

Premier/ PM websites (for individual governments) – media releases and speeches

Council of the Federation website

Media websites/ newspapers