Why Your Organization Should Consider Hill Days in Ottawa

October 12th, 2023 - Parliamentarians are back on the Hill and so are the organizations seeking to influence them. What do organizations do when they go to Ottawa, and why is it important? We spoke with two of our Blackbird Government Relations team members, Tom Potter and Lucas Borchenko , to get their insights.??

Why do organizations go to Parliament Hill??

Organizations go to the Hill to share their stories and ideas directly with ministers, parliamentarians, political staff, and department officials. They often advocate for policies, funding decisions, legislation, or regulatory changes. Showing up on the Hill is an important way to communicate ideas directly to decision makers.??

Blackbird works with clients to strategize which decision makers are best suited to meet with and who can help advance their goals. We secure those meetings for clients and help our clients prepare for meetings by creating compelling key messages and briefing materials.??

When do organizations come to the Hill??

Advocacy days on the Hill need to be scheduled during weeks that the House of Commons and Senate are sitting to maximize access to parliamentarians. Organizations sometimes try to time their meetings to coincide with important committee hearings, other deliberations, conferences, and/or other events.??

Blackbird Strategies provides advice about when is the most strategic time to come to Ottawa, ensuring clients’ time spent in Ottawa is maximized in the most effective and productive way.?

What does a typical “Hill Day” schedule look like??

Hill Days are full days that tend to begin bright and early. Meetings are often held in many different locations across Ottawa, throughout the Parliamentary Precinct. Blackbird ensures clients have briefing packages that take care of all the details – from where to be to what to bring – so our clients can focus on delivering the message and making the ‘ask’.?

What happens after meeting decision makers??

The follow-up is just as important as the meetings themselves.?

We join you in your meetings to make following up easy. After meetings conclude, Blackbird’s Government Relations team works with our clients to identify and track action items that emerged from meetings, draft thank you letters to Parliamentarians or staff, and begin any immediate next steps.??

Why show up to Ottawa when you can meet decision makers online??

After three years of virtual meetings, we all understand how valuable in-person conversations can be in communicating effectively and building long-term relationships. Coordinating formal Hill Days is the most efficient, cost-effective, and valuable means for organizations based outside of Ottawa to have their message heard by decision makers.??

By concentrating meetings over the course of a few days, organizations can maximize their time in Ottawa while creating a visible presence on Parliament Hill and building lasting relationships.?

About the Team??

Tom Potter is Blackbird’s Director of Government Relations. He brings several years of parliamentary affairs and communications experience to his role at Blackbird.?

Lucas Borchenko is a Senior Consultant with Blackbird, specializing in Government Relations. He has a passion for youth politics and experience working on elections at every level of government.?