AOC Steps Up

Alberta One-Call Steps up Government Relations Efforts in 2021

Alberta One-Call (AOC) is stepping up its government advocacy efforts in 2021, with the creation of a Government Relations Advisory Committee that will support the organization as it seeks to advance its public policy goals.

The new Advisory Committee, to be comprised of a broad cross-section of damage prevention stakeholders, is part of AOC’s intensified focus this year on a number of critical policy objectives at the provincial and federal levels.

Among those objectives are the pursuit of comprehensive provincial damage-prevention legislation for buried and above-ground infrastructure in Alberta and the initial push for federal regulation to ensure applications to install and operate telecom infrastructure includes a mandate to register with AOC.

All of its policy objectives amount to a significant government relations challenge, which makes the new Advisory Committee an important first step in its 2021 public policy campaign, said Mike Sullivan, President of AOC.

“If only policy and legislative change was as simple as a line locate. Policy, regulatory and legislative change doesn’t happen with one call or one click. It’s a slow and sometimes frustrating process, but we recognize that’s as it should be. Governments at every level need to ensure all voices are heard and all interests are considered and balanced, especially when it comes to issues like public safety and critical infrastructure.”

The new Government Relations Advisory Committee, which is set to meet in the first quarter of the year to formalize its agenda for 2021, will provide AOC with access to industry insight, advice and counsel as it moves forward with its policy goals. 

In addition to the Advisory Committee, AOC this year enlisted the government relations consulting services of Concentric Public Affairs. 

“AOC has established a clear-sighted and focused government relations strategy for 2021, recognizing our objectives will take a concerted and coordinated effort. With the new Advisory Committee and the support of Concentric, we’ve taken the first important steps on that collaborative path,” Sullivan said.