Government Relations
Governments at the federal, provincial, and local levels exert considerable influence on the University of Alberta. The Government Relations office provides senior strategic planning and counsel to improve the University's working relationship with the three traditional levels of government, as well as the emerging influence of Aboriginal governments in Canada.
The office works collaboratively with senior administration and the faculties to coordinate and plan the University's relationship with governments. It works closely with the President to provide planning and strategic counsel for the President's trips to meet senior government officials in Ottawa. The Government Relations team organizes ministerial visits and keeps key government ministers and officials informed on the key issues affecting the University.
The team also supports the University's broader efforts to affect public policy considered favourable for the support of its teaching and research activities. It provides critical support on matters relating to all orders of government to the President, the senior executives, the Board of Governors, the faculties, and other members of the University community. This mandate is fulfilled by four core activities undertaken currently by the Government Relations team: relationship building; strategic counsel; intelligence gathering and issues scanning; and coordinated communications, deployment, and issues management.