Government relations and advocacy is an activity carried out by the MS Society staff and/or volunteers which supports the mission by seeking to improve government policies, private industry practices and/or public attitudes. Government relations and advocacy work can take many forms but must always be non-partisan. At the Ontario Division we are primarily concerned with provincial and municipal issues, however there are local issues that require a national approach.
Government relations take place municipally (locally), provincially and nationally or sometimes simultaneously at all three levels, and targets elected officials, political advisors and public servants. Non-governmental advocacy takes place locally, provincially or nationally and usually targets members of the public, media, external for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and private industry.
Who
we are
The Government Relations and Community Social Action Committee
(OSAC) was established in 1986 to provide advice to the Ontario
Division Board of Directors on provincial government relations
and social action issues affecting people with MS and their
family members.
The committee is comprised of MS Society members, volunteers and staff from across the province. The committee reports regularly to the Ontario Division Board of Directors on matters requiring action. In addition, the Chair of OSAC sits on the MS Society's National Government Relations Committee.
The members of the Government Relations and Community Social
Action Committee are:
To promote a better understanding of the issues affecting people
with MS and their families, the MS Society prepares position
papers examining key government policies and programs. The
following
are short descriptions and the links to reports available here.
2013 Pre-Budget Submission. The MS Society’s submission paper to Ontario’s Minister of Finance and to the Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs in preparation of the 2013 budget.
Submission of Patient Evidence on Fampyra. Read the MS Society’s patient group submission to the committee to evaluate drugs at the Ontario public drug program in October 2012.
2012 Pre-Budget Submission. MS Society’s submission to Ontario’s Minister of Finance and to the Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs in preparation of the 2012 budget.
Let’s Talk Report of MS Society Chapters in the HNHB LHIN. A summary of community engagement discussions that took place in MS Society Chapters participating in the Society’s Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) Engagement Pilot Project in the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant (HNHB) LHIN
Accessibility Creates Opportunity: Preventing and removing
barriers for people with MS. A response to a government request
for input on the framework for an Ontarians with Disabilities
Act
