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Nine fault lines and seams within the federal public service
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There are a number of fault lines and seams that are familiar to those of us who have worked within the federal service and have been engaged in efforts to improve its effectiveness. What follows lays out nine of them, with no attempt to rank them.
Twin challenges to the public service
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The public sector is entering another period where dramatic changes are coming. This is precisely the time to advocate for the importance of a dynamic, effective public service and to argue for mindful, smart management of these forces of change.
Diagnosing the elements of Tired Government Syndrome
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Parliament has returned in Canada for what’s likely a final session before the election. If history is any guide, the government will find it hard to make progress before the election – and whoever wins will need to look afresh at public sector reform
Transitions and reboots for the Canadian public service
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A new clerk takes the top job at a period of unusual attention and angst in the Canadian government. Political tumult is ever-present, even two years from an election, and planned restraint on public spending likely means tough decisions to come. All the more reason to celebrate the role of officials this Public Service Week
Letter from Ottawa: The changing of the political seasons – and royal eras
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Politics is gearing up again in Canada as summer turns to autumn. Michael Wernick, the former clerk of the privy council and secretary to cabinet, sets out the stakes in months – and years – ahead, and reflects on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II
Bulking up the Privy Council Office Isn’t the solution
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Original post on September 30, 2024 The next federal government we elect, whenever that happens, will have its hands full as Canada struggles with a stubbornly sluggish economy while global conflicts and trade disputes draw precious time and attention. Housing, climate, immigration, reconciliation, disruptions caused by AI – the list is a long one. By…
Report highlights strained relationship between public servants and ministers
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Original post on Sep 02, 2024 A recent report analyzing what makes a strong public service found that governments worldwide are grappling with building respect between ministers and bureaucrats. A former clerk of the Privy Council and an expert on parliamentary democracy and governance say the issue is prevalent in Canada. The Global Government Forum…
Are provinces with upcoming elections ready to deal with foreign meddling?
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Original post on Aug 30, 2024 As a longtime former public servant, Michael Wernick is listening when the Parti Québécois promises a third referendum on independence should it secure power in the next election. He thinks Russia is, too. “It presents an opportunity to disrupt and maybe even break up an important G7 country, so…
Letter from Ottawa: Time approaching for a deep pruning of the federal state in Canada?
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GGF’s Management and Workforce Monitor newsletter is taking a break in August, but here we share insight from Michael Wernick, the former clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to the Cabinet on the likely impact of the looming spending review
Preparing for Change: Examining Government Transition Dynamics in Election Cycles
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Today, we’re going to be talking about the “end times and new times” and the transition period as we head our way to an election. We’re going explore the topic of how governments prepare for these new times.
Letter from Ottawa: a new year begins quietly, but much lies ahead
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2024 has begun relatively quietly in Canada but the ripples of the past couple of years are still being felt. It will be a year for public servants to put on their bifocals, says Michael Wernick – working on near-term pressures, but trying to look to the horizon.
The pay-as-you-go proposal on cutting federal spending not as simple as advocates say
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Many politicians, advocates and pundits would like to discourage growth in federal government spending. Spending restraint (slower growth) or outright austerity (cuts) are legitimate paths that political parties can propose to voters. Ultimately voters choose between parties with different views on the appropriate size and role of government in the economy and society.
If spending is out of control, why are important federal services underfunded?
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Spending is just one tool in any federal government’s policy box. There are other ways to advance priorities. But spending is the most visible way to signal where the government’s prime concerns and values lie.
Experts pen letter of concern about Lansdowne 2.0
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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.
Almost 18,000 boxes still unopened after 50 years at National Archives
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The National Archives has yet to open almost 18,000 boxes of historical papers, including some received more than 50 years ago, the federal Heritage Department has revealed.
Cabinet’s privacy pendulum has swung too far in the wrong direction
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The black hole at the heart of Canadian democracy – cabinet secrecy – has come under sharp scrutiny in the past year. And just like a collapsed star, not much illumination is escaping into public discourse.
Stress testing Canadian governance
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Across Canada, the public sector struggled to put in place pandemic public health measures, provide emergency relief to households and businesses, and continue to deliver a vast array of services to Canadians. These efforts are now going through after-action reviews supported by an extensive array of officers and agents of Parliament.
New RCMP units to protect ministers, top bureaucrats from threats of political violence
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The RCMP is preparing to offer close protection services to both senior federal ministers and public servants in response to the rising threat of political violence, sources say.
Launching constitutional reform in Canada would be a terrible idea
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One of my vivid memories from a long career in public service was when I met Quebec’s then-premier, Robert Bourassa, in a hotel elevator in Charlottetown in August, 1992. It was the morning that the political accord was finalized. A little later, prime minister Brian Mulroney dropped by the federal delegation room to thank the…
Think of the managers: Non-union civil servants need raises, too
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During the current labour dispute Canadians will hear from the public-service unions and from the employer’s negotiator, the Treasury Board. There are only two ways the story can end. One is a negotiated settlement ratified by the union membership. The other is back-to-work legislation that imposes terms or sends issues off to binding arbitration. There…
LETTER FROM OTTAWA: Strikes and Other Storm Clouds are on the Horizon for Canada’s Public Service.
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Spring has taken its time to arrive in most of Canada this year. An April ice storm knocked out electricity to more than a million customers in Montreal and surrounding areas, creating flashbacks to a similar event in late 1998. However, arrive it has, and with it familiar and comforting rites, notably the ice hockey…