The Political and Bureaucratic Executive in Canada Pols 341 Canadian Public Administration Dr. Douglas Brown

Readings in Johnston, Thinking Government Chap 3 – Institutions of Governance Chap 3 – Institutions of Governance PM, cabinet, department structure PM, cabinet, department structure Crown agencies, regulatory agencies Crown agencies, regulatory agencies Chap 4 – Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Cabinet Decision-Making Systems Chap 4 – Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Cabinet Decision-Making Systems Min/DM relations, role of central agencies Min/DM relations, role of central agencies Differences in governance style and organization:-- Chrétien, Martin and Harper Differences in governance style and organization:-- Chrétien, Martin and Harper

Political and Bureaucratic Executives Key functions: PM, Cabinet, Bureaucracy PM, Cabinet, Bureaucracy Key organizational forms Comparing political and bureaucratic roles

Functions of the PM Leader of the governing party Selecting and keeping the cabinet Directing and shaping the public service Making appointments Leading the parliamentary caucus, directing government business in Parliament Chief communicator for the government

Functions of Cabinet Individual ministerial responsibility (for each full portfolio, but also “junior” ministers have a role) Collective ministerial responsibility (all for one; one for all) Consensus decision-making Broader representative roles (province, language, gender, ethnicity, occupational background etc.)

Functions of the Bureaucratic Executives Administration of government policies Implementation of legislation and regulations Management of public funds …While being Professional, non-partisan, career-oriented Direct command and control through hierarchical organizational “permanent custodians of the permanent problems”

Forms of Bureaucratic organization Direct departmental organization under ministerial portfolios Agriculture Agriculture Citizenship and Immigration Citizenship and Immigration National Defence/ Veterans Affairs National Defence/ Veterans Affairs Central agencies PCO, PMO PCO, PMO Treasury Board Secretariat, Finance Treasury Board Secretariat, Finance

Other forms Arm’s length agencies Crown Corporations (Via Rail, Canada Post) Crown Corporations (Via Rail, Canada Post) Regulatory agencies (National Energy Board) Regulatory agencies (National Energy Board) Agents of Parliament (Elections Canada, Auditor General, etc.) Agents of Parliament (Elections Canada, Auditor General, etc.)

Political vs. Bureaucratic The roles and careers of elected officials differ from appointed officials Partisan considerations are not the same as the public interest Non-elected “Partisans” include: Party officers Party officers PMO and Ministerial staff PMO and Ministerial staff Occasional cross-overs from the bureaucracy Occasional cross-overs from the bureaucracy

Politics/ Administration Dichotomy How to distinguish partisanship from public interest? How to divide policy from administration? The policy role of the public service: Defining policy options Defining policy options Proposing policy solutions, implementation Proposing policy solutions, implementation In practice the distinctions blur, but still vital to maintain.

Political Neutrality Both political and bureaucratic executives have a policy role Merit principle is the rule Public servants have political rights Public service no place for personal views Bureaucrats are normally anonymous Loyalty to the Government is essential

Work of a Political Executive (Minister) Constituency work Cabinet and caucus meetings Question Period Media relations Interest groups Meetings with Deputy and senior staff Getting re-elected is job 1

Work of a Bureaucratic Executive (Deputy Minister) Advice to, management of, the Minister Advice to, and reporting to, Prime Minister, Clerk (PCO), Treasury Board, etc. Relations with key stakeholders Direction/ collaboration with senior staff on policy options, program options, implementation, daily management Leadership to Department as a whole

The Special Obligations of the Public Service (Johnson) To deal with people as citizens To respect the rights of citizens To treat all citizens equally To professionally implement and administer public policy To serve the political executive in developing public policy To uphold the law To serve and promote the best interests and traditions of the public service To serve and promote the public interest