Aspects of change in the Canadian federal public service
| Author | NORM McINTOSH |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-162X(199702)17:1<123::AID-PAD904>3.0.CO;2-5 |
| Published date | 01 February 1997 |
| Date | 01 February 1997 |
Aspects of change in the Canadian federal public service
NORM MCINTOSH
Consulting and Audit Canada
SUMMARY
This article is divided into two parts. The ®rst part looks at some signi®cant changes that have
taken place in Canada's federal public service over the last two or three years. These changes
include the introduction of new management techniques, new organizational structures and
new approaches to governance. The second part deals with my own organization, Consulting
and Audit Canada, including the rationale for our existence, the kind of work we do and the
issues we face. Both parts raise issues that are pertinent to the subject of public sector versus
private sector, in the context of service delivery. (&1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)
FORCES FOR CHANGE
What is driving the changes in Canada's federal public service? Like many other
countries, Canada is saddled with a large national debtÐabout $600 billion. Among
the many measures taken by the present government has been a sharp reduction in
the operating budgets of government departments, in fact, departmental budgets will
be $9 billion per year less in 1998/99 than they were in 1995/96. Over the same
period, the public service will be reduced by 45,000. More than any other factor, at
least in the short run, these reductions are radically changing the face of the
Canadian federal public service.
These reductions are happening at a time when the Canadian public's views of
government and its relationship with its citizens are changing. Rightly or wrongly,
Canadians are becoming increasingly cynical about politicians and bureaucrats and
are demanding more say in how the government is run.
While de®cit reduction and public disillusionment with government are issues
common to many governments today, there is also a third factor that is more
peculiar to CanadaÐthe issue of our national unity, and the threatened separation of
Quebec from the rest of Canada. This has given added impetus to the devolution of
federal powers to the provinces, which will have a major long-term impact on the role
of the Canadian federal government.
One could also take a moment to identify other change factors. Economic
globalization is forcing the government to become more ef®cient in order to compete
internationally. Also important is the changing demographic picture in Canada,
especially the general aging of the population (as the baby boom generation moves
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT, VOL. 17, 123±129 (1997)
CCC 0271±2075/97/010123±07$17.50
&1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Norm McIntosh is Director General, Corporate Services, Consulting & Audit Canada, 112 Kent Street,
Tower B, 11th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OS5, Canada.
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