Title of Presentationin Verdana Bold

Managing the Government Agenda

Priorities and Planning Presentation Canada School of Public Service

August 1, 2007

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OverviewOverview

Role of Privy Council Office (PCO)

Transitions of Government

Managing the Government’s Agenda

The role of Cabinet

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Privy Council OfficePrivy Council Office

Dual Role Prime Minister’s department Cabinet Secretariat

Provides strategic policy advice, policy coordination

Management of Cabinet Protects integrity of decision-making Cabinet and Cabinet Committee meetings Advises Cabinet/Committee chairpersons Records Cabinet decisions and informs the system

Ensure coherence with the government’s broad agenda

Challenging and enabling departments to achieve their policy and program goals within the government’s broad policy framework

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PCO StructurePCO Structure

Fluid structure flows from its role in supporting PM and Cabinet

Basic building blocks are secretariats each headed by an Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet grouped into branches headed by a Deputy Secretary Intergovernmental Affairs is an exception, headed by a DM

Roles of secretariats (examples): support for Cabinet and its committees advice on appointments, mandates and government organization legislation and counsel issues security and intelligence communications

Officers are recruited from line departments and serve in the PCO for a limited period

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The Clerk of the Privy CouncilThe Clerk of the Privy Council

Provides direct support to the PM from the perspective of the values, traditions and the public service

Provides advice and support to the PM in areas of special concern to his role as head of government

Assists the PM in providing cohesion, support and advice to the Ministry as a whole to ensure that the Cabinet decision-making system operates according to the design of the Prime Minister

Serves as the principal link between the PM and the Public Service of Canada

Responsible to the PM for the institution’s overall performance and its effective management

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Transitions of Government – Setting Transitions of Government – Setting a new government agendaa new government agenda

Occur often in the Parliamentary system and vary considerably from transition to transition:Election of new government (2006)Re-election of government (2004)New Prime Minister without election (2003)

Critical for Government to quickly establish its control of the agenda – depends on high-quality, public service advice during transition period

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Transition StagesTransition Stages

Pre-election Preparations

Election Campaign

First Ten Days of Briefing and Decisions

Speech from the Throne

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Advantage Canada:Economic and Fiscal Policy

Government Agenda 2007Government Agenda 2007

Crime and Safety

Accountability

International Leadership

Environment More action to protect the environment and the health of Canadians

Standing up for Canada’s interests and values on the world stage

Making Canada’s institutions more democratic and more accountable

Continued efforts to make our streets and communities safer

Controlled federal spending

Lower taxes

Helping families and seniors

Restoring fiscal balance

Building a stronger economy

ST

RO

NG

ER

SA

FE

RB

ET

TE

R

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Managing the Government’s Managing the Government’s AgendaAgenda

Platform Commitments

Speech from the Throne

Mandate Letters

P&P and Cabinet Retreats

Agenda Speeches

Budgets

Ongoing dialogue and discussion

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The role of Cabinet: Cabinet The role of Cabinet: Cabinet Committee StructureCommittee Structure

Cabinet

Priorities & Planning

Operations

Policy Committees

•Sets Strategic Direction •Ratifies Committee Recommendations

•Considers policy proposals•Issues Committee Recommendations

•Manages/considers emerging issues•Manages Parliamentary strategy•Manages communications•Issues Committee RecommendationsTreasury Board

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CabinetCabinet

Forum for collective discussion of important issues facing the Ministry and the country

Venue for: fostering a shared understanding and cohesion around the

government’s overall direction and agenda exchanging views on major national, regional and cross-

cutting policy issues building consensus around potentially divisive issues

Generally 3-part agenda: Parliamentary Strategy Key Communications Messages Policy issue discussion + appointments

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Priorities and Planning CommitteePriorities and Planning Committee

Provides strategic direction on government priorities

Provides strategic direction on expenditure management

Ratifies policy committee recommendations

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The Challenge FunctionThe Challenge Function

Public interest, national interest

Role of government

Federalism, role of federal government

Partnership

Efficiency, Effectiveness and Affordability

Sustainability

Process – Transparency and Consultation

Maintaining focus and advancing the Government’s agenda

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