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The Jarislowsky Chair in Public Sector Management was established to explore how governance and management can adapt and improve so that the public sector can support democratic governments and deliver effective policies and services for Canadians.
Resource Hub
The Resource Hub was built by the Jarislowsky Chair in Public Sector Management to enable knowledge mobilization.
This ensures that information, evidence and insights are accessible, understandable and useful for those who need it. The hub is structured as a reference library containing articles, interviews, and speeches authored by the Chairholder Michael Wernick, alongside videos and podcasts.
Additional resources and information on events organized by third-parties have also been made available to enhance your knowledge of governance and public sector management but also to support you in extending your reach and accelerating your research.
Should you have any feedback pertaining to the resources stored within the hub, please use this feedback form.
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Current Issues
Eliminating toxic woke ideology: what could that mean in practice?
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre may be a Prime Minister in waiting. It seems reasonable to give greater scrutiny in the days ahead to statements that may soon have to be transformed into government policy through laws, regulations, administrative practices and institutional change.
Cabinet Making 101
2025 could be a year of three Prime Ministers, like 1984 and 1993. That means at least one and probably two times that a new Prime Minister will face the task of forming a first Cabinet and deciding how it should be…
Latest Resources
Letter from Ottawa: Navigating through a year of uncertainty
With a change of prime minister imminent and a new president over the border, the Canadian public service faces a year of change – at a time when the government is also in the midst of an efficiency drive. Michael Wernick sets…
Trudeau bows out: what future for the student community?
Original post on January 22, 2025 Article written by Tom Chazelle Schulze — Journalist The beginning of this year was marked by a major turning point in Canadian politics. The announcement on January 6th, announcing the resignation of Justin Trudeau as Prime…
Random resources
Michael Wernick has some advice
Brian Mulroney was the prime minister the first time Michael Wernick sat at the back of a cabinet committee room, taking notes. One time the young civil servant found himself transcribing John Crosbie’s remarks as the powerful fisheries minister recited arguments Wernick…
Experts pen letter of concern about Lansdowne 2.0
Five prominent Ottawans with decades of experience in budgets, law and municipal affairs have co-signed a letter to the mayor expressing concerns about the latest renewal of Lansdowne Park.
Events
The Jarislowsky Chair in Public Sector Management is committed to fostering a community for the members of the public service across all levels of government in Canada, scholars and practitioners.
Working with the political side
October 2024 at FSS
Political Administrative Interface
20 FEBRUARY 2025 Institut d’administration publique du Québec
Welcome Minister
27, 28 & 29 SEPTEMBER 2024 Faculty of Social Sciences & Jarislowsky Chair The FSS Challenge is an innovation competition that uses collective intelligence to imagine, create, and develop innovative solutions to social challenges. During the three-day competition, participants will pool their knowledge and expertise to develop a briefing book for a new federal government…
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Selected podcasts
Election week 3: the age of coercion
Election week 3: the age of coercion by Paul Wells History has entered the chat. Plus: the race in BC. And Shannon Proudfoot! Listen on Substack
Poilievre says he wants to cut the federal public service
Conversations with Ben O’Hara-Byrne Listen on apple.com, published on January 23, 2025 Guest: Michael Wernick, former clerk of the Privy Council and now Jarislowsky Chair in Public Management at University of Ottawa.
The Backbench #117: Man of Steel, Nation of Bloat
The government hired 110,000 workers over the past 10 years, did we get 110,000 times more efficient?
Our Knowledge Partners
GSPIA, the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
The Jarislowsky Chair in Public Sector Management is based at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA).
The Graduate School of Public and International Affairs attracts outstanding students and world-class scholars doing cutting-edge research. Housed in the nation’s capital, the GSPIA open doors on the national and international stage. The School is a center of excellence tied into a worldwide network of research and teaching collaborations.
It brings together multidisciplinary studies, theory and practice, bilingualism as well as a roster of Senior Fellows, comprised of distinguished policy professionals, to deliver transformational programs.
Governing Canada: A Guide to the Tradecraft of Politics
In this practical handbook, Michael Wernick shares candid advice and information that is usually only provided behind closed doors. From cautioning against common pitfalls for neophyte ministers to outlining the learnable skills that are needed to succeed, Wernick lays the business of governance bare.
It’s a first-time look behind the curtain at how government functions, and essential reading for anyone interested in the business of Canadian politics.
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