FMC Briefing PapersFMC Briefing Papers

D Brown, Pols 321D Brown, Pols 321Fall 2009Fall 2009

Briefing Paper assignmentBriefing Paper assignment

Goal: to prepare briefing papers relevant to your Goal: to prepare briefing papers relevant to your role (or your team’s role) in the First Ministers role (or your team’s role) in the First Ministers ConferenceConferenceBy Nov. 11: each team (delegation) to provide By Nov. 11: each team (delegation) to provide an email outline of your planned contents: what an email outline of your planned contents: what and whoand whoNov 18: each team to provide a draft set of notes Nov 18: each team to provide a draft set of notes to the instructorto the instructorNov 26: final version of briefing book is due. Nov 26: final version of briefing book is due.

What is a Briefing Paper?What is a Briefing Paper?

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

Variants on the Briefing PaperVariants on the Briefing Paper

Simple notesSimple notes summarizing key facts to educate summarizing key facts to educate or to remind the Minister or executive about the or to remind the Minister or executive about the situation (e.g. economic, fiscal, statistical, situation (e.g. economic, fiscal, statistical, policy)policy)

Longer Longer position papersposition papers outlining the outlining the government’s perspective and proposed position government’s perspective and proposed position on a specific issueon a specific issue

Speaking notesSpeaking notes to guide the Minister in to guide the Minister in addressing the issue in a conference or meetingaddressing the issue in a conference or meeting

Briefing Paper styleBriefing Paper style

Short, clear sentences and paragraphs. Short, clear sentences and paragraphs. Clear headings.Clear headings.

Graphs and numbers clearly presented.Graphs and numbers clearly presented.

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

Based on research but not academically Based on research but not academically argued. argued.

Briefing papers requiredBriefing papers required1.1. Overview of your Government’s general Overview of your Government’s general

interests and situation – population, interests and situation – population, economy, party standings in legislature, etc. economy, party standings in legislature, etc. (2 pages)(2 pages)

2.2. Overview of general intergovernmental Overview of general intergovernmental strategy / approach to federalism (2 pages)strategy / approach to federalism (2 pages)

3.3. Background and Position on the each of the Background and Position on the each of the three Agenda Issues (2-3 pages each)three Agenda Issues (2-3 pages each)

4.4. Overview Strategy for Conference (2 pages)Overview Strategy for Conference (2 pages)

5.5. Speaking Notes for First Minister (3 pages)Speaking Notes for First Minister (3 pages)

Potential sources for preparing Potential sources for preparing briefing materialbriefing material

Throne speechesThrone speeches

Budget speeches and documentsBudget speeches and documents

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

Council of the Federation websiteCouncil of the Federation website

Media websites/ newspapersMedia websites/ newspapers

Team task/ Individual RolesTeam task/ Individual Roles

Teams should determine the briefing Teams should determine the briefing needs of each delegation (what’s going needs of each delegation (what’s going into your briefing book)into your briefing book)

Team members divide up the work.Team members divide up the work.

Aim for 10-15 pages of material for each Aim for 10-15 pages of material for each team member (including tables, charts, team member (including tables, charts, etc.).etc.).