Thinking Government: Public Administration and Politics in Canada,

449 Pages·2022·18.015 MB·English

by  David Johnson

THINKING GOVERNMENT
FIFTH EDITION

THINKING
GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
AND POLITICS IN CANADA
D A V I D J O H N S O N
FIFTH EDITIO N
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS
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© University of Toronto Press 2022
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Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: Thinking government : public administration and politics in Canada / David Johnson.
Names: Johnson, David, 1957– author.
Description: Fifth edition. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20220268525 | Canadiana (ebook) 20220268541 | ISBN 9781487506193 (cloth) |
ISBN 9781487524166 (paper) | ISBN 9781487533489 (EPUB) | ISBN 9781487533472 (PDF)
Subjects: LCSH: Public administration – Canada – Textbooks. | LCSH: Canada – Politics and government – Textbooks. |
LCGFT: Textbooks.
Classification: LCC JL108.J64 2022 | DDC 351.71–dc23
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Thinking
FMT
Government
Website
This text has an associated website of additional information relevant to the issues addressed here to
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help you deepen your knowledge of Canadian public administration. The website contains materials
that correspond to the chapters of this book. For each chapter, you will find features such as
• a summary
BL-FMSect-f • an extension section: case studies and white papers not included in the text and extensions of text
topics to provide more in-depth coverage or examples
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• study questions
• a quiz
• downloadable extras: PDF files of tables and figures
• key terms
• web links
The website also provides you with a special bonus chapter on Canadian administrative law. This intro-
BL-FMSect-lduces the basic concepts of administrative law, the roles of quasi-judicial administrative tribunals, their
relationship with the courts, and their relation to citizens. This is a side of government and govern-
ment–citizen relations that few of us see or think about, but it is nonetheless important.
Txt-FMSect
www.thinkinggovernment.com
WEBSITE

Contents
TOCPgNo
Acknowledgments ix
Abbreviations x
Introduction xiii
1 THINKING ABOUT CANADIAN SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENT 1
2 IDEOLOGIES OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE 45
3 INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE 81
4 MINISTERS AND CABINET DECISION-MAKING SYSTEMS 127
5 ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT DECISION MAKING 169
6 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 213
7 HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 253
8 ISSUES IN MANAGEMENT REFORM 301
9 ACCOUNTABILITY: RESPONSIBILITY, RESPONSIVENESS, AND ETHICS 329
10 THE CHALLENGES OF LEADERSHIP 367
Key Terms 389
Index 409

Acknowledgments
This fifth edition of ThI inking Government is the special chapter on Canadian administrative law
result of years of thinking, writing, and teach- found on this website. Both of these young women
ing about public administration in Canada. The are the epitome of the New Professional.
genesis of this book dates back over four decades, No book can exist without a publisher, and the
and countless students here at Cape Breton leadership and staff at University of Toronto Press
University have been the inspiration behind it. My (UTP) have been wonderful as they have supported
students over the years have been a very receptive the coming into being of this fifth edition. A big
audience and have helped to sharpen my thinking thank you is extended to Marilyn McCormack and
and teaching with respect to Canadian govern- her predecessors, Mat Buntin and Stephen Jones,
ment and its myriad power relations. I wrote for their vision and encouragement. And a number
this book with students in mind. I have tried to of people at UTP have been pivotal in seeing
produce a text that provides them with a solid this edition come together, notably Christine
foundation in Canadian public administration Robertson, Ani Deyirmenjian, Beth McAuley (The
while also being readable, accessible, and inter- Editing Company), Judith Earnshaw, and Judith
esting. I believe it is important for all Canadians Clark. Without their support, and the help of the
to be knowledgeable about the nature and working UTP sales and marketing team, this book would
of government and the exercise of power in our not exist.
society. Such knowledge is vital to our democratic I also thank the reviewers who read the earlier
purpose, and I hope this work is a modest means editions and whose constructive criticisms have
to that end. Of course, it is the students now read- made this a better book.
ing this book who can best judge whether I have Finally, this fifth edition of Thinking Government
succeeded. is dedicated to the memory of my dearly beloved
I must also express my gratitude to two former sister-in-law Joyce Babin – senior municipal public
Cape Breton University (CBU) students who are servant, well-informed and active citizen, world
now friends and colleagues. Alana Camp, a CBU traveller, and someone who always loved talking
MBA graduate, brought her expertise to bear in about and thinking about politics and government,
revising and updating the Thinking Government from the local to the provincial, national, and inter-
website, while also making it more engaging for national stages. Joyce made everyone around her
students, and Michelle Lahey, now a McGill Law smarter, sharper, and better. I hope and trust this
School graduate and practising lawyer, revised the book lives up to her ideals.
Acknowledgments ix