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The OLIP Interns recently had the pleasure of meeting with Elliott Silverstein, the Director of Government Relations at the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), a valued and crucial partner of OLIP. Founded in 1913 as an advocacy organization, CAA has evolved into a not-for-profit federation that provides its over 7million members with a wide variety of services, such as emergency roadside assistance, travel services, and insurance. CAA is dedicated to improving automobile safety with a multifaceted and eclectic approach.
During our meeting, Mr. Silverstein explained to us the proactive approach that CAA utilizes in their advocacy, prioritizing road safety, environmental sustainability, and consumer rights. He underlined the importance of maintaining a robust security protocol to protect against auto theft, and how important vehicle security is to society at large, even teaching us about the proper steps to keep our cars safe at all times. As he explained, intentional safety precautions are necessary to mitigate risk.
Many of the interns were curious about his role in advocacy, a field that is integral to the operations at Queen’s Park. Integral to the advocacy that CAA provides is their methodical approach to the dissemination of information to stakeholders, conducting research on topics such as driving costs and new vehicle technologies. By engaging in unbiased, scientific research, the CAA provides well-informed advocacy efforts that effectively strive towards a safer and more consumer-friendly auto sector.
Mr. Silverstein has a stellar record of delivering on successful advocacy efforts, with his initiatives spanning across the provincial and municipal levels of government. He was incredibly gracious in offering his insights and lessons learnt from his plethora of experiences in the field, enriching our OLIP education.
Thank you very much to Mr. Elliott Silverstein and the CAA for coming out to meet us at Queen’s Park. We are extremely grateful for your continued support!