Well, I've decided to move my blog from being embedded on the IPAC site (with its limitations) to using Blogger. This way, I can create a more diverse and bilingual blog.
J'ai decidé de transferer mon blogue du site de l'IAPC au site "Blogger". De cette façon je pourrai crée de meilleurs "posts"
Monday, July 13, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Back after a long delay
It's been a long time since I last blogged. I have been finishing an Executive program which has kept me very busy.....
Well that program is all done & I now have some spare time to blog once again. I will be attending the Lac Carling conference at Niagara on the Lake on Sunday till Tuesday and I will blog from there and will let you know what is happening at the conference.
IPAC has a number of new and exciting events coming up. Some are already on our site - for example the Mastering Employee Engagement & Organizational Change Conference on June 23rd and 24th. Other very special events and activities will be announced in the next week or so...stay tuned.
In the next number of weeks I will be attending a couple of conferences overseas and will blog from there as well as resume some video blogs.
Speaking of videos, check out our "video" of the Vanier Medal award ceremony that took place at the Supreme Court of Canada on April 20, 2009. Go to "Awards...Vanier Medal" on the left hand menu to see Margaret Bloodworth receive the Vanier Medal from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Well that program is all done & I now have some spare time to blog once again. I will be attending the Lac Carling conference at Niagara on the Lake on Sunday till Tuesday and I will blog from there and will let you know what is happening at the conference.
IPAC has a number of new and exciting events coming up. Some are already on our site - for example the Mastering Employee Engagement & Organizational Change Conference on June 23rd and 24th. Other very special events and activities will be announced in the next week or so...stay tuned.
In the next number of weeks I will be attending a couple of conferences overseas and will blog from there as well as resume some video blogs.
Speaking of videos, check out our "video" of the Vanier Medal award ceremony that took place at the Supreme Court of Canada on April 20, 2009. Go to "Awards...Vanier Medal" on the left hand menu to see Margaret Bloodworth receive the Vanier Medal from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Innovation and Risk
This week the Globe & Mail's ROB interviewed Tim Jackson, a Venture Capitalist from Kitchener-Waterloo. His message about calculated risk-taking in order to innovate and learning from our failures resonates.
I've known Tim, who is a partner in Tech Capital Partners for many years (all the way back to student politics days). In his interview he talks about learning from our failures and not being afraid to take calculated risks. The message he has for the private sector is one that applies amply to the public sector.
To link to the article in the Globe & Mail and the video.
We bemoan the minutest failures in government - they usually end up in BIG headlines in the newspaper - without realizing that, just as in life, not everything works out perfectly. This risk-averseness has resulted in the stifling of innovation and creativity and the explosion of so-called "accountability" agreements, which are nothing more than rules, rules and more rules. We forget that it is sometimes OK to fail as we can learn a lot from the failures. Now, if you keep repeating the same failure & you don't learn anything from them and you take unnecessary risks then you should be held to account.
Just as Tim espouses the need to "celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, and understand that failure is okay. You can't innovate without failure" in the private sector, I strongly believe that we need to celebrate innovation in the public sector as well.
I've known Tim, who is a partner in Tech Capital Partners for many years (all the way back to student politics days). In his interview he talks about learning from our failures and not being afraid to take calculated risks. The message he has for the private sector is one that applies amply to the public sector.
To link to the article in the Globe & Mail and the video.
We bemoan the minutest failures in government - they usually end up in BIG headlines in the newspaper - without realizing that, just as in life, not everything works out perfectly. This risk-averseness has resulted in the stifling of innovation and creativity and the explosion of so-called "accountability" agreements, which are nothing more than rules, rules and more rules. We forget that it is sometimes OK to fail as we can learn a lot from the failures. Now, if you keep repeating the same failure & you don't learn anything from them and you take unnecessary risks then you should be held to account.
Just as Tim espouses the need to "celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, and understand that failure is okay. You can't innovate without failure" in the private sector, I strongly believe that we need to celebrate innovation in the public sector as well.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Open Source Government
On February 19 and 20, 2009, IPAC in collaboration with MASS LBP, the British Council and Deloitte will be hosting the Canadian Premiere of Us Now -a new British documentary about the power of mass collaboration, government and the Internet.
Join us to discuss how the internet and new collaborative tools will change how government interacts with the public and how policy development will change. This phenomena is here to stay and is part of the move to "open source" government, where the collective intelligence of citizens is mobilized to develop solutions to societal issues.
We must move away from the closed policy development methodology to one that connects with citizens.
The documentary will be screened in 4 locations across Canada:
Ottawa – February 19, 2009 from 10:30 to 12:30
Canada School of Public Service & the University of Ottawa
Toronto – February 19, 2009 from 19:00 to 21:00
Hart House & the School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Toronto
Calgary - February 20, 2009 from 12:00 to 14:00
Alberta College of Art & Design & the School of Policy Studies at the University of Calgary
Vancouver - February 20, 2009 from 19:00 to 21:00
The Tyee, Simon Fraser Unversity’s Centre for Dialogue and Junxion Strategy
Join director Ivo Gormley and distinguished guest panels to view and discuss this landmark documentary and the state of collaborative government.
To register (it's free) go to: http://www.masslbp.com/journal_detail.php?id=56
Join us to discuss how the internet and new collaborative tools will change how government interacts with the public and how policy development will change. This phenomena is here to stay and is part of the move to "open source" government, where the collective intelligence of citizens is mobilized to develop solutions to societal issues.
We must move away from the closed policy development methodology to one that connects with citizens.
The documentary will be screened in 4 locations across Canada:
Ottawa – February 19, 2009 from 10:30 to 12:30
Canada School of Public Service & the University of Ottawa
Toronto – February 19, 2009 from 19:00 to 21:00
Hart House & the School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Toronto
Calgary - February 20, 2009 from 12:00 to 14:00
Alberta College of Art & Design & the School of Policy Studies at the University of Calgary
Vancouver - February 20, 2009 from 19:00 to 21:00
The Tyee, Simon Fraser Unversity’s Centre for Dialogue and Junxion Strategy
Join director Ivo Gormley and distinguished guest panels to view and discuss this landmark documentary and the state of collaborative government.
To register (it's free) go to: http://www.masslbp.com/journal_detail.php?id=56
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Happy New Year
We are now into the year 2009….it looks like it is going to be an “interesting” year for Canada and the world.
We ended 2008 with the election of Barack Obama in the United States which marks a sea-change in American politics and society. The promise of change and hope for the future has resonated across the United States and throughout the world. The economic cards that he has been dealt will make it a very challenging term in office. How do you fix the economic meltdown that started in the US and has reverberated around the world? What do you do when you are projecting a deficit of over $1 trillion (over 7% of GDP) even before any stimulus package is layered on?
In Canada, our election led to the re-election of a minority government, albeit with more seats than the last time. The events of late November/early December in Ottawa underscored that politics in Canada is definitely not boring! We will all await the budget on January 27th to see what transpires. What kind of stimulus package will emanate from the budget – how much infrastructure spending will be included and how fast can shovels be put into the ground? Unless the projects are ready to go and have passed all the necessary approval, including environmental assessments, it will take at least a year to get a shovel in the ground. I’m sure that all the public servants in charge of infrastructure have their list of projects that are ready to commence almost immediately.
Governments mustn’t forget that all sectors of the economy are facing tough times. Though I understand the reduction in public servant travel and attendance at conferences as a good public positioning, it does have consequences on the economy as well. In addition, how are public servants going to learn about best practices in other jurisdictions, debate ideas and develop their skills if they are not allowed to attend conferences? In the late 90’s, governments all across the country denuded their policy capacity. There has been a substantial push to rebuild this capacity. But it is not good enough to just hire people – employers also have an obligation to provide them with learning opportunities. That is what a good learning organization does! Eliminating the ability to attend conferences, seminars etc is a short-sighted reaction that may save a few pennies but will have a longer term detrimental impact on governments ability to intelligently and innovatively respond to societal needs.
Well that’s my first post for 2009 and my only New Year’s resolution is to write more posts and do more video blogs.
We ended 2008 with the election of Barack Obama in the United States which marks a sea-change in American politics and society. The promise of change and hope for the future has resonated across the United States and throughout the world. The economic cards that he has been dealt will make it a very challenging term in office. How do you fix the economic meltdown that started in the US and has reverberated around the world? What do you do when you are projecting a deficit of over $1 trillion (over 7% of GDP) even before any stimulus package is layered on?
In Canada, our election led to the re-election of a minority government, albeit with more seats than the last time. The events of late November/early December in Ottawa underscored that politics in Canada is definitely not boring! We will all await the budget on January 27th to see what transpires. What kind of stimulus package will emanate from the budget – how much infrastructure spending will be included and how fast can shovels be put into the ground? Unless the projects are ready to go and have passed all the necessary approval, including environmental assessments, it will take at least a year to get a shovel in the ground. I’m sure that all the public servants in charge of infrastructure have their list of projects that are ready to commence almost immediately.
Governments mustn’t forget that all sectors of the economy are facing tough times. Though I understand the reduction in public servant travel and attendance at conferences as a good public positioning, it does have consequences on the economy as well. In addition, how are public servants going to learn about best practices in other jurisdictions, debate ideas and develop their skills if they are not allowed to attend conferences? In the late 90’s, governments all across the country denuded their policy capacity. There has been a substantial push to rebuild this capacity. But it is not good enough to just hire people – employers also have an obligation to provide them with learning opportunities. That is what a good learning organization does! Eliminating the ability to attend conferences, seminars etc is a short-sighted reaction that may save a few pennies but will have a longer term detrimental impact on governments ability to intelligently and innovatively respond to societal needs.
Well that’s my first post for 2009 and my only New Year’s resolution is to write more posts and do more video blogs.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
'Twas the night before Christmas
A friend sent me the following "modernized" version of the old classic. I don't know who wrote it, but is very apropos given the economy, politics and the markets in the last little while....
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the House
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The MPs had scattered – some thrilled beyond doubt,
That vacation came early with the G-G's timeout.
In the halls of Finance, a few souls still did toil.
Christmas Eve? Bah – they will burn midnight oil!
All parties' ideas must get thrown in the mix,
There's a budget to write, an economy to fix.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang to the window to see what was the matter.
There were Layton & Harper, looking madder than spit,
And the PM was yelling, "You want what deficit?!?"
"GM got $4-billion (with the Chrysler boys, too),
And there'll be billions more before it's all through.
I'm paying the most – not that whining McGuinty,
So don't you accuse me of being too flinty."
And the bald man – who's quick with a zinger or two –
Said: "You've got all the vision of Mr. Magoo,
Your budget will flop, at the end of the day.
You'd better start packing for old Stornoway!"
On Bay Street that night, you could hear not a peep,
The bankers went home. (To rest? Or to weep?)
When out popped a man – this was no jolly fellow,
And at the top of his lungs, oh my, did he bellow!
"Forget Dasher & Dancer, & Prancer & Vixen,
I call Clark, & Waugh, & McCaughey & Nixon!
I demand you lend money, and nearly for free!"
Santa Claus? Nope – it was Gov'nor Carney.
Everyone's got a wish at this time of the year,
Especially now, when the gloom is severe.
For bankers worldwide, just one gift will suffice:
An end to declines in the average home price.
Sprott wants more gold, more commodities stuff,
But Santa says no: "I think you've got enough."
But here's the wee secret poor Eric doesn't know:
Saint Nick lost 10 grand on the Sprott IPO!
For Potash's Doyle, Christmas presents are moot,
For the elves just can't top all that stock-options loot.
Some gifts would require intervention from heaven,
Like Mike Z's request to avoid Chapter 11.
Some folks like carols – a-wassailing they'll go,
But not grumpy Balsillie – that'd be RIM's CEO.
Even after the crash, he still has lots of green,
But he never stops asking to have his own team.
EnCana's big cheese doesn't like Christmas tunes.
(Country & western is what Eresman croons.)
But since oil fell hard, the man can't shake the blues,
And he sings about how breaking up's hard to do.
For Conrad the jailbird, at least it's not cold,
But it burns him to see Radler out on parole.
And who's that poor man on the steps of BCE,
Who cries over & over: "But we have solvency!"
When he opens his stocking, Don Lindsay, from Teck,
Hopes not to see coal
(it's how he got in this wreck).
Dominic's list, to no one's surprise,
Has only one item: "Please make equities rise."
"Can't help you," said Santa. "Though I sure wish I could.
A turn in the markets would do all of us good.
When my journey is done, I look forward with dread,
To informing the elves their pension fund's in the red."
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim, from beneath his white locks,
"Merry Christmas to all – & to all some good stocks!"
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the House
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The MPs had scattered – some thrilled beyond doubt,
That vacation came early with the G-G's timeout.
In the halls of Finance, a few souls still did toil.
Christmas Eve? Bah – they will burn midnight oil!
All parties' ideas must get thrown in the mix,
There's a budget to write, an economy to fix.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang to the window to see what was the matter.
There were Layton & Harper, looking madder than spit,
And the PM was yelling, "You want what deficit?!?"
"GM got $4-billion (with the Chrysler boys, too),
And there'll be billions more before it's all through.
I'm paying the most – not that whining McGuinty,
So don't you accuse me of being too flinty."
And the bald man – who's quick with a zinger or two –
Said: "You've got all the vision of Mr. Magoo,
Your budget will flop, at the end of the day.
You'd better start packing for old Stornoway!"
On Bay Street that night, you could hear not a peep,
The bankers went home. (To rest? Or to weep?)
When out popped a man – this was no jolly fellow,
And at the top of his lungs, oh my, did he bellow!
"Forget Dasher & Dancer, & Prancer & Vixen,
I call Clark, & Waugh, & McCaughey & Nixon!
I demand you lend money, and nearly for free!"
Santa Claus? Nope – it was Gov'nor Carney.
Everyone's got a wish at this time of the year,
Especially now, when the gloom is severe.
For bankers worldwide, just one gift will suffice:
An end to declines in the average home price.
Sprott wants more gold, more commodities stuff,
But Santa says no: "I think you've got enough."
But here's the wee secret poor Eric doesn't know:
Saint Nick lost 10 grand on the Sprott IPO!
For Potash's Doyle, Christmas presents are moot,
For the elves just can't top all that stock-options loot.
Some gifts would require intervention from heaven,
Like Mike Z's request to avoid Chapter 11.
Some folks like carols – a-wassailing they'll go,
But not grumpy Balsillie – that'd be RIM's CEO.
Even after the crash, he still has lots of green,
But he never stops asking to have his own team.
EnCana's big cheese doesn't like Christmas tunes.
(Country & western is what Eresman croons.)
But since oil fell hard, the man can't shake the blues,
And he sings about how breaking up's hard to do.
For Conrad the jailbird, at least it's not cold,
But it burns him to see Radler out on parole.
And who's that poor man on the steps of BCE,
Who cries over & over: "But we have solvency!"
When he opens his stocking, Don Lindsay, from Teck,
Hopes not to see coal
(it's how he got in this wreck).
Dominic's list, to no one's surprise,
Has only one item: "Please make equities rise."
"Can't help you," said Santa. "Though I sure wish I could.
A turn in the markets would do all of us good.
When my journey is done, I look forward with dread,
To informing the elves their pension fund's in the red."
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim, from beneath his white locks,
"Merry Christmas to all – & to all some good stocks!"
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Politics Canadian Style
Well, what can I say? Whoever said that Canadian politics were dull must have been disabused of that notion over the last few weeks.
There are many more worthy commentators and pundits - from the whole of the political spectrum - who have weighed in on the "Rumble on the Rideau", so I will not try to go over any of that well trodden ground. What I want to comment upon, however, is what appears to be the lack of understanding by Canadians of how a Parliamentary Democracy functions. We are not the United States, where the President is directly elected by the people (albeit through the arcane Electoral College system - so maybe I should say "directly, sort of".
The failure to understand our system is attributable, I believe, to the lack of civics education in schools. I remember when I was growing up (lo those many years ago), that in elementary school, we learned all 50 states and their capitals before we were taught anything about Canada! I distinctly recall that some of the other kids in the class thought that there were 4 provinces in Canada, that the capital was either Toronto or Montreal (though one said Mexico City!), etc. I don't know if this is still going on, but one thing for sure is that there does not seem to be an understanding of our political system. I believe that we need to teach students how our political system works - at all orders of government. This is how we will engage Canadians in the process of nation building and maybe lessen the cynical view the public has of government.
Apart from that diatribe, I wanted to make one other comment about the last few weeks - that comment is contained in the video below from the Daily Show by Jon Stewart - yes Canada has made the Daily Show...enjoy!
There are many more worthy commentators and pundits - from the whole of the political spectrum - who have weighed in on the "Rumble on the Rideau", so I will not try to go over any of that well trodden ground. What I want to comment upon, however, is what appears to be the lack of understanding by Canadians of how a Parliamentary Democracy functions. We are not the United States, where the President is directly elected by the people (albeit through the arcane Electoral College system - so maybe I should say "directly, sort of".
The failure to understand our system is attributable, I believe, to the lack of civics education in schools. I remember when I was growing up (lo those many years ago), that in elementary school, we learned all 50 states and their capitals before we were taught anything about Canada! I distinctly recall that some of the other kids in the class thought that there were 4 provinces in Canada, that the capital was either Toronto or Montreal (though one said Mexico City!), etc. I don't know if this is still going on, but one thing for sure is that there does not seem to be an understanding of our political system. I believe that we need to teach students how our political system works - at all orders of government. This is how we will engage Canadians in the process of nation building and maybe lessen the cynical view the public has of government.
Apart from that diatribe, I wanted to make one other comment about the last few weeks - that comment is contained in the video below from the Daily Show by Jon Stewart - yes Canada has made the Daily Show...enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
