The Political and Bureaucratic Executive in

Canada Pols 341

Canadian Public AdministrationDr. Douglas Brown

January 2013

Readings in Johnston, Thinking Government

Chap 3 – Institutions of Governance

PM, cabinet, department structure

Crown agencies, regulatory agencies Chap 4 – Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Cabinet

Decision-Making Systems

Min/DM relations, role of central agencies

Differences in governance style and organization:-- Chrétien, Martin and Harper

Political and Bureaucratic Executives

Key functions: 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-makingBroader representative roles (province, language, gender, ethnicity, occupational background etc.)

Work of a Political Executive (Minister)

Constituency workCabinet and caucus meetingsQuestion PeriodMedia relations Interest groupsMeetings with Deputy and senior staffGetting re-elected is job 1

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”

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

Forms of Bureaucratic organization

Direct departmental organization under ministerial portfolios Agriculture Citizenship and Immigration National Defence/ Veterans Affairs

Central agencies PCO, PMO Treasury Board Secretariat, Finance

Other forms

Arm’s length agencies Crown Corporations (Via Rail, Canada Post) Regulatory agencies (National Energy Board) Agents of Parliament (Elections Canada,

Auditor General, etc.)

Political vs. Bureaucratic

The roles and careers of elected officials differ from appointed officialsPartisan considerations are not the same as the public interestNon-elected “Partisans” include: Party officers PMO and Ministerial staff 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 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 rulePublic servants have political rightsPublic service no place for personal viewsBureaucrats are normally anonymous Loyalty to the Government is essential

The Special Obligations of the Public Service(Johnson)

To deal with people as citizensTo respect the rights of citizensTo treat all citizens equallyTo professionally implement and administer public policyTo serve the political executive in developing public policyTo uphold the lawTo serve and promote the best interests and traditions of the public serviceTo serve and promote the public interest