Political Action Network. OSPE’s Political Action Network (PAN) was established in 2006 as a grassroots initiative aimed at influencing policymakers at the provincial level. XXX provides OSPE members with the opportunity to advocate for their profession, complements OSPE’s government relations activities, helps OSPE spread its message across the province, and raises the profile of engineers. Overall, meetings with Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) support OSPE’s advocacy agenda and enable members to see firsthand how they can influence decision-makers. Why We Need Engineering Input in Public Policy: Today, public policies frequently involve complex engineering systems. However, policies are often made without the benefit of engineering input. Engineers and engineering-degree holders possess the technical knowledge and skills required to identify and develop engineering solutions that can maximize societal benefit, while minimizing unintended consequences. The range of complex policy issues facing decision-makers presents a great opportunity for engineers to contribute to the province and society as a whole. PAN Ambassador Requirements: • Be an OSPE member in good standing; • Cannot be a member of PEO’s Government Liaison Program (GLP); • Must live in a riding requiring PAN representation; • Participate in a training session with OSPE staff; • Have an enthusiastic desire to be a strong voice for the engineering profession; and • Provide OSPE staff with a summary after the meeting. Role of OSPE Staff: • Contact constituency office to arrange a meeting between a PAN representative and their MPP; • Provide the PAN representative, the MPP, and the PEO GLP Representative with briefing materials before the meeting; • Arrange conference calls between PAN and GLP representatives to review materials and answer any questions in advance of the constituency meeting; • Respond to MPP requests for information or clarification of issues; and • Send a thank you letter to MPP after meeting.
