![]() |
Français | Contact Us | Help | Search | Canada Site | ||||
What's New | FAQs | Glossary | A-Z Index | Home |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() Progress
The government has made good management a key priority and is now entering a more active and comprehensive phase in its commitment to modernize public sector management. But much work has already been done to support this increased pace and scope of change over the past almost two years. This document provides an overview of the government’s track record to strengthen Canada’s public sector management and to be the accountable, responsive and innovative government Canadians expect. Good public sector management not only matters – it is an essential underpinning to good policy, good programs and good services for Canadians. Making Continuous Management Improvement a Priority – Key MilestonesThe government’s approach has been to act decisively and to make changes to ensure the federal public service is accountable and transparent, effective and efficient, and provides better service to Canadians. Building on previous work including Results for Canadians and the coming into force of the Public Service Modernization Act, the Prime Minister announced, on December 12, 2003, an ambitious agenda to strengthen the social foundations of Canadian life, build a twenty-first century economy, and ensure Canada’s independent place in the world. These commitments: Attaining the Highest Ethical Standards and his announcements of A New Approach and Changing Government, included measures to strengthen public sector management. The government took immediate steps to address management failures related to sponsorship, advertising and public opinion research activities outlined in the November 2003 Report of the Auditor General, including:
On March 24, 2004, the President of the Treasury Board presented a first set of initiatives to Strengthen Public Sector Management. On February 23, 2005, the Government reiterated its commitment to Strengthen and Modernize Public Sector Management in Budget 2005 and announced additional measures to achieve this. Accountability is based on three principles:
The government has acted and continues to act in each of these areas. 1. Clarifying Rules and RolesThe government has put in place a number of measures to clarify rules and roles and responsibilities. In particular, it has:
As well, as the first step in its two-year initiative to renew its management policy suite, aimed at streamlining and clarifying policy requirements and consequences, the government has reformed its official languages policy framework. 2. Strengthening Integrity of Audit and OversightThe government has introduced a package of further measures to bring the clarity and discipline of audit practice to the management of the public sector. These changes are part of an ongoing, comprehensive initiative that also includes a new Policy on Internal Audit. The new policy, in particular, will lead to:
Other accomplishments since December 2003 include:
3. Strengthening TransparencyTransparency and accountability go hand-in-hand - transparency allows citizens to make judgements about the government’s effectiveness in ensuring solid managerial accountability. The government introduced a comprehensive package of measures to further guarantee a high level of transparency regarding its operations, including proactive disclosure of information, bringing more Crown corporations under the Access to Information Act, reporting on the government’s spending and actions on commitments and priorities, and developing in collaboration with the private sector a Code of Fair Contract Practices, an integrity pact with suppliers, that will consolidate all existing measures in place to ensure contracting is conducted in an open, fair and transparent way. Other accomplishments since December 2003 include:
Strengthening the Professional Public Service of CanadaTo support the talent that is in the public service, the government began to clear away layers of complex rules and burdensome process in human resources. It introduced the Public Service Modernization Act in 2003, the first significant change to human resource legislation in four decades. Other accomplishments since December 2003 include:
Strengthening Government ResponsivenessThe government has taken a citizen-centred, single-window, service improvement approach to service delivery in order to better respond to Canadians’ needs and expectations. It has:
Furthermore, to protect the health and safety of Canadians, ensure a sustainable environment, and create the conditions for an innovative and competitive economy, the government:
Strengthening the Internal Operations of GovernmentTo increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its internal operations, the government:
What Does This All Mean?Together these measures represent a balanced approach to continuous improvement in public sector management to support more effective, efficient and responsive service to Canadians. This means that in the public service:
Together, these allow us to build for the future, and to provide better service to Canadians.
|
|
![]() |
||||||||
|
![]() Top of Page |
Important Notices |