Appearing Before a Parliamentary Committee

Description

What you will learn

Senior public servants are often summoned to testify before a House of Commons or Senate committee. This is an essential part of the accountability role the executive branch of government must perform with Parliament. Our half-day customized training course is designed to give you and your colleagues a strong basis of preparation and confidence for testifying in front of a Parliamentary Committee.

• How Parliamentary committees work
• The roles of the committee chair, clerk, and both government and opposition MPs
• The accountability of ministers and public servants to Parliament
• The procedures and politics of committee appearances
• How to testify, what to say, and how best to say it
• Practical guidance and tips for a successful committee appearance

The IOG advantage

• You will be taught by former senior public servants who have actual committee testimony experience
• You will hear ‘how it really works’ from either a sitting government or opposition MP or a recently retired MP
• You will engage in an interactive mock-testimony session in a committee format with your colleagues
• You will watch an actual case study testimony, dissected for you to show the real-life dynamics of committee testimony

Who should take this course

• ADMs, DGs, and senior EX-level public servants who may be called upon to testify before a Parliamentary committee as part of their responsibilities
• Parliamentary affairs units and officials involved in preparing departmental colleagues for committee appearances
• Communications officials who must prepare or respond to committee appearances by departmental colleagues
• Political staffers who may be called to testify