PUBLIC SERVICE VALUES (Cont’d)

1. PUBLIC SERVICE VALUES (Cont’d) The “Swivel Service”? October 12th, 2006

2. The Public Service... • “The public service is there to remind elected leaders to do those things we should do but for which there is no immediate political gain.” Former Ontario Premier Bob Rae

3. Bureaucratic-Political Conflict • what if there is no evidence of conflict between bureaucratic and elected officials? • are bureaucrats doing their job? • i.e. “speaking truth to power” • “...reminding political officials of things they should do but for which there is no immediate political gain” • have elected officials been captured by the bureaucracy?

4. The Paradox of Public Service Values • bureaucratic domination • how serious a problem?? • depends on... • the model of democracy in question!! • bureaucratic surrender • how serious a problem?? • depends on... • the model of democracy in question!! • ...on which side would you err??

5. The Not-So-Civil Service: Power Resources and the Relationship Between Ministers and their Senior Civil Servants October 12th, 2006

6. Resources – Senior Bureaucratic Officials • expertise • policy • process • person-power • relationship with other departments • relationship with clientele

7. Resources -- Ministers • political legitimacy • expertise • political • vis-a-vis public • vis-a-vis cabinet • ability to manage relationship • outside expertise • competing lines of advice • relationship with cabinet, PM • relationship with public/media

8. Ministerial Resources and Public Opinion Polling • revolution in computer technology • costs of public opinion polling have dropped • exponential rise in the growth of public opinion polling by government departments • the role of the minister as the political antenna of the department may be becoming obsolete • senior bureaucrats probably have a better read of public opinion on a given policy issue

9. The Tenure of Ministers (the Constant) • “ministerial musical chairs” • move often and frequency has increased • effects on ministerial power • the traditional view • ministerial musical chairs weakens the power of minister • the counter-traditional view • avoids ministerial capture

10. The Tenure of Senior Public Servants (the change!) • the revolving deputy ministerial door • move often and frequency has increased • effects on deputy ministerial power • the traditional view • equalizes the relationship between DMs and ministers – both are short-term departmental residents • why? • an alternative view • strengthens the Centre (e.g PCO) • DM becomes representative of the Centre (e.g. PCO)

11. The Tenure of Ministers and their Senior Public Servants • changing patterns in the tenure of ministers and deputy ministers... • effects are ambiguous/contradictory • complex interaction between both patterns • power of ministers/DM in new environment is an open empirical question • HOWEVER... • relationships are changing • both changes are important in terms of relationships between departments and The Centre

13. Centralized Accountability: Collective Ministerial Responsibility • what is “responsible government”? • the executive must maintain the confidence of Parliament • what is collective ministerial responsibility? • all ministers must resign if the cabinet loses the confidence of Parliament • what constitutes having the confidence of Parliament? • what pre-conditions would the operation of collective cabinet ministerial responsibility require?

14. Centralized Accountability: Collective Ministerial Responsibility • requirements (enforced by PM) • cabinet solidarity • cabinet secrecy • cabinet documents exempt from Freedom of Information • the problem of leaks • why would cabinet ministers agree? • price of being in cabinet • collective self-interest

15. Centralized Accountability (Collective Ministerial Responsibility) and Diffuse Accountability (Individual Ministerial Responsibility) • the individual minister and cabinet • collective vs. individual ministerial paradox • ministers interest in maximizing their own latitude from cabinet control • ministers interested in maximizing cabinet’s ability to direct other ministries • the conundrum of cabinet solidarity/cabinet secrecy and individual ministerial responsibility • cabinet/departmental link • minister represents department in cabinet • minister represents cabinet to the department

16. The Structure of Government: Centralized and Diffuse Accountability • Prime Ministerial/Cabinet government is an attempt to ensure political control... • from the centre of government (Prime Minister and Cabinet) • AND over individual departments (Ministers) • structure of government is an attempt to balance between collective ministerial responsibility (centralized accountability) and individual ministerial responsibility (diffuse accountability)

17. Centralized Accountability (Collective Ministerial Responsibility) and Diffuse Accountability (Individual Ministerial Responsibility) • the individual minister and cabinet • collective vs. individual ministerial paradox • ministers interest in maximizing their own latitude from cabinet control • ministers interested in maximizing cabinet’s ability to direct other ministries • the conundrum of cabinet solidarity/cabinet secrecy and individual ministerial responsibility

18. The Structure of Government: The Balance of Centralized and Diffuse Accountability • cabinet structure and operation • size • cabinet committees • importance and number • balance between central agencies and line departments • line departments – e.g. HRSDC, DFO, Agriculture • central agencies – PCO, PMO, Finance, Treasury Board • role of the Deputy Minister • technically accountable to minister • appointed by PM • receives direction from PCO