What Happens in Government During the Summer?

As soon as the heat arrives, the news cycle quiets down, summer programming takes over from the usual commentators, and we collectively ponder existential questions like: is August the new July? 

What about government? Yes, ministers take vacations, and so does their staff, but the government machine as a whole never takes a break. When you work in government relations, it is important to choose your moments carefully and to understand the rhythm to which elected officials and their offices are subject. To simplify, the political summer can be divided into three distinct periods.

The Post-Session Period

In the governmental and parliamentary world, the pace is relentlessly fast. Regardless of political party, the end of the spring session is synonymous with exhaustion. It marks the end of a marathon that has been running since last September. The end of the National Assembly’s work is not, however, synonymous with a slowdown for government. In fact, not yet!

Post-session announcements are often attributed to a desire by governments to influence public opinion before the summer break. While not entirely false, especially during pre-election periods, it is not the whole story. In reality, the more frequent announcements and travel during this period are better explained by the logistical freedom that comes with agendas freed from parliamentary obligations. 

In the weeks leading up to the end of session, many ministerial teams are working to finalize bills or advance their files internally. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are normally taken up by life on the Hill. In the final two weeks, Fridays are added to the mix. Once it is over, teams find themselves with a great deal of scheduling flexibility. Meetings, travel to the regions, and announcements become easier to fit in. This window is short-lived, however. The Saint-Jean-Baptiste festivities in the ridings, a slower news cycle, and everyone’s vacations arrive quickly. 

For an organization, this period should be seen as a potential window for moving forward on files that do not require legislative changes. If you are based in the regions, it is also worthwhile to find out as early as May what ministerial teams are planning. A minister or opposition critic passing through might be interested in visiting your plant or meeting your employees.

The In-Between: Vacation Time and Summer Activities

Government never closes. Each office must maintain on-call coverage. Ministers travelling abroad must arrange for a replacement who will officially assume their duties by Order-in-Council. In the opposition, research teams take turns on standby to respond to news as it breaks. The Cabinet and ministerial committees take a three-to-four-week break, at the discretion of the Premier. Since the pandemic, ministers have been able to alternate between virtual and in-person attendance in Quebec City during the summer. Staff and elected officials take the opportunity to spend time with their families.

At the same time, summer is the season for constituency outreach. As any elected official will tell you, summer activities are plentiful. Corn roasts, public markets, festivals, and neighbourhood celebrations, organizations and municipalities compete creatively to animate Quebec. Every region has events that elected officials cannot afford to miss. For example, in early July, the Premier was seen with his MNA Claude Reid at the Valleyfield Regattas. It is an enjoyable way to stay connected to the public and to renew one’s pride in being Quebecois.

This period runs from early July to the first week of August. With rare exceptions, staff and elected officials do not take the entire time off. It is therefore a favourable period if you would like to schedule a meeting on a file that is not in the news, provided you are not on vacation yourself!

The Pre-Session Period

Around mid-August, everyone is back. There is a sharing of summer reflections. Everyone has had a chance to step back. Plans are made for the coming year and, more specifically, for the parliamentary return. What issues do we want to put forward? The pre-session caucuses of each political party mark the start of the fall term. Opposition parties will want to generate news to draw attention to their activities and highlight the issues they consider priorities. The government will want to do the same, but in its case, the goal will be to steer in its favour the attention it naturally receives.

Does your organization have a public affairs component? You should also take stock in preparation for the parliamentary return ahead. What issues would you like to see addressed in both the media and political spheres? What positioning do you want to advance? Politics is, more often than not, a matter of aligning the stars. Having a strategy and preparing in advance allows you to seize opportunities when they arise, and above all, to still enjoy whatever summer days you have left!