1. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca JSGS Professional Workshop Series Copyright ©Heather McWhinney, 2016 WRITING A CABINET DECISION ITEM

2. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca By the end of this workshop, you should be able to: o Understand the purpose of a Cabinet Decision Item (CDI) o Write a clear, concise, precise, reliable and consistent CDI item that meets the need of cabinet. o Understand common problems with CDIs WORKSHOP LEARNING OUTCOMES JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 2

3. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca WHAT IS A CABINET DECISION ITEM? JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 3 o A cabinet decision item (CDI) is a government document that sets out a recommendation to be considered by Cabinet or a Cabinet committee. o A CDI alerts Cabinet of the need to make a decision involving funding. o A CDI may be written on a number of matters, including policy requests, program requests, resource requests, implementation requests and legislation.

4. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o Most CDIs are between three and four pages long, but they do vary in length. Many contain lengthy appendices. o The format for CDIs differs among governments. LENGTH AND FORMAT OF CDIS JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 4

5. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o A CDI comes from a Minister but may be written by senior civil servants o Other government officials from various departments either have input or review the document before it is finalized. WHO WRITES CABINET DECISION ITEMS? JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 5

6. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca Documents should be: o Well organized, clear and concise o Practical and non-technical o Precise o Strategic o Objective o Reliable o Consistent CHARACTERISTICS OF CDIS JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 6

7. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca ACTIVITY: EVALUATING TWO VERSIONS OF A CDI JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 7

8. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca A common format includes the following sections: o Sender/recipient information o Title o Issue statement o Minister’s recommendations o Rationale for the recommendations o Considerations o Implementation plan o Announcement plan o Due diligence o Appendices THE FORMAT OF CABINET DECISION ITEMS JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 8

9. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o The title should say “Cabinet Decision Item” followed by a brief description. (The federal government requests that titles mention previous references to the matter, e.g., “as announced in the Budget.”) o The title is followed by name of the recipient (Prime Minister or Premier and Cabinet members. The latter are not usually mentioned by name). o The sender’s name follows (typically the Minister). TITLE, RECIPIENT AND SENDER JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 9

10. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o After the information on the sender comes the subject of the CDI. o It is usually introduced by “Re”: followed by a noun or noun phrase. SUBJECT JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 10

11. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o The issue statement presents the issue in one sentence, often as a question. o The issue statement connects the title to the recommendations that follow. o The issue statement should lay out the decision before Cabinet. It may include the words “whether to,” “how to,” or “whether and how to.” ISSUE STATEMENT JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 11

12. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o Presents a course of action for which the Minister is seeking support. o Begins with “It is recommended that Cabinet agree to” or “I recommend that Cabinet agree to” followed by approvals sought. o Presents the recommended actions in a parallel numbered list. o Presents the actions the Minister recommends but not alternative options or the rationale at this stage in the CDI. RECOMMENDATIONS JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 12

13. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca The actions are often presented in this order: 1.The recommended policy or initiative (may include specifics about the policy or initiative). 2.The roles and authorities of other Ministers involved in implementing the decision. 3.Policy instruments to be used used (i.e., legislative, regulatory, directive). 4.The source of funds, reallocation plan, funding required (including the reporting of cash and accruals). RECOMMENDATIONS (continued) JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 13

14. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o Outlines why action is required; provides origin of the issue. o Links reasons for action to strategic agenda. o Includes previous Cabinet considerations on the issue. o Presents main arguments to support the recommended option. o Describes other options considered and reasons for rejecting them. RATIONALE JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 14

15. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca Describes key issues involved in the decision. May include: o Assessment of risks involved with acting or not acting, including legal risks. o Outline of other options (may be covered under Rationale). o Adverse consequences; possible criticisms of implementation. o Outline of benefits (may be covered under Rationale). CONSIDERATIONS JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 15

16. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca May include also include: o Impacts on other provincial policies. o Provincial, territorial, regional or federal considerations and strategies. o International perspectives. o Impacts on privacy. o Gender issues. o Stakeholders and experts consulted and their views. CONSIDERATIONS (continued) JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 16

17. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o Provides anticipated timelines for key milestones. o Organized by date. o Should flag any implementation issues. o Should articulate strategies for managing risks; (may be presented separately from the plan itself in an appendix. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 17

18. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o Lists all press conferences, news releases, etc., which are planned. o Lists all individuals who should attend these events. o Should be organized by date, ideally in a table. o Details often included in an appendix. ANNOUNCEMENT PLAN JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 18

19. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o Provides financial, asset and Human Resource Implications, including reallocation strategies. o Articulates expected results and how they will be collected, measured and reported (i.e., identifies key indicators: social, economic, environmental). o Explains how the new policy or initiative will be reviewed (e.g., Provincial Auditor reports, strategic reviews, Treasury Board reviews, internal audits and program evaluations). DUE DILIGENCE JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 19

20. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o Failure to establish policy relevance and connections to the government’s strategic initiatives. o Failure to include precise evidence to support recommendations. o Other options not presented. o Rational isn’t clear. o Funding recommendations not made in recommendations section. o Organization is unclear. o Writing is wordy, with too many paragraphs and not enough bullets and white space. o Lists are not parallel. PROBLEMS WITH STUDENT CDIS JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 20

21. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca o A cabinet decision item (CDI) is a government document that sets out a decision to be considered by Cabinet or a Cabinet committee. o CDIs are formulaic and must be well-organized, clear, concise and strategic. o Student CDIs often have problems with organization and wordiness. They may also be missing crucial information such as other options and a funding recommendation. SUMMARY JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 21

22. www.schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca I would like to acknowledge Dan Perrins for his help with this presentation. Most of the information on format comes from the following guide: Government of Canada: Privy Council Office. A Drafter’s Guide to Cabinet Documents – Reports and Publications. (Ottawa, ON.)http://www.pco- bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=publications&doc =mc/guide-eng.htm.http://www.pco- bcp.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=information&sub=publications&doc =mc/guide-eng.htm REFERENCES JSGS PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOP SERIES 22