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.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tribute to Ken Kernaghan
Tonight IPAC officially launched its latest book, "Professionalism and Public Service: Essays in Honour of Kenneth Kernaghan" at a reception in Ottawa.
This incredible book was co-edited by David Siegal of Brock University and Ken Rasmussen of the University of Regina. The book includes chapters on areas of public administration that are of interest to Ken Kernaghan and these are areas where Ken provided his incredible insight. What is outstanding is the breadth of this volume. The topics cover all major areas in public administration and is an indication of Ken's contribution to public administration in Canada and around the world. The chapters were written by some of the best in Canada ans is a must read for anyone interested or working in public administration. Get it now!!
Apart from some introductory remarks from yours truly, David Siegal spoke of Ken's incredible career in teaching, researching, writing about and thinking about public administration. Ken was always on the leading edge of innovations in public administration. Not only is he a thought leader, but he is also a gifted teacher and a person who has bridged the academic-practitioner divide.
Kudos to Ken!!
To see some pictures from this wonderful evening please click here
This incredible book was co-edited by David Siegal of Brock University and Ken Rasmussen of the University of Regina. The book includes chapters on areas of public administration that are of interest to Ken Kernaghan and these are areas where Ken provided his incredible insight. What is outstanding is the breadth of this volume. The topics cover all major areas in public administration and is an indication of Ken's contribution to public administration in Canada and around the world. The chapters were written by some of the best in Canada ans is a must read for anyone interested or working in public administration. Get it now!!
Apart from some introductory remarks from yours truly, David Siegal spoke of Ken's incredible career in teaching, researching, writing about and thinking about public administration. Ken was always on the leading edge of innovations in public administration. Not only is he a thought leader, but he is also a gifted teacher and a person who has bridged the academic-practitioner divide.
Kudos to Ken!!
To see some pictures from this wonderful evening please click here
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
In the News
When I was up in Whitehorse, I was interviewed by the Whitehorse Star...here is the story....
Institute promotes public service excellence
By Stephanie Waddell on November 21, 2008
LEARNING CURVE APPRECIATED - Gabriel Sekaly, seen Wednesday in Whitehorse, says his trip north also gave him the opportunity to learn how the public service operates in the territory.
It should come as no surprise that Gabriel Sekaly ended up working in the public service.
The chief executive officer for the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC), who’s visiting the territory from Toronto this week, grew up in Ottawa, where his father had worked for the federal government.
Sekaly’s grandfather and great-grandfather were also civil servants.
These days, in his role with the IPAC, Sekaly’s job sees him working to improve public service at all levels of government across the country and, in some cases, internationally, with the IPAC’s mission being “to promote excellence in public service.“
Sekaly travelled to Whitehorse at the invitation of the IPAC’s Yukon chapter on Monday. He met with officials from the four orders of government in the territory and informed them of the services the organization offers to public servants.
“I could see a good opportunity to share information,“ Manon Moreau, chair of the IPAC’s Yukon chapter, said in an interview Wednesday following a noon meeting with city council and senior management.
The visit also meant raising the profile of the IPAC and letting the many government workers in the territory know of the services and programs the IPAC offers, she said.
That’s exactly what Sekaly did as he went over the IPAC’s initiatives with city officials.
With a membership of 3,100 public servants, academics and others interested in the world of public administration, the organization has conducted research, published books and papers and done projects overseas.
One of its more recent international programs has Ontario partnering with Uganda. Another has seen work done in Ghana to help develop a better decision-making process.
Many of the efforts have seen the Canadian contingent learn from the countries they are partnering with, Sekaly said.
New projects that will be happening on the home front are set to look at the value of the public service, stressing its importance and encouraging individuals to seek careers in the field.
Another project, he said, will look at developing a possible policy on what the ideal population might be for the country and how that can be achieved.
Coun. Jan Stick pointed out in many cases, that’s out of the hands of government officials.
Fort McMurray, Alta. serves as a prime example, she continued. While government officials have tried to do what they can to help control the population, it’s been out of their control, given the number of jobs in the community. “It took them over,“ she said.
Sekaly said countries like Australia and New Zealand have policies in place around population. Some countries facing uncertain futures around climate change now may consider it the right time to look at it, he added.
The organization is also continuing its efforts in building leadership through a number of programs.
After meeting with Yukon government, municipal and Council of Yukon First Nations officials, Sekaly noted the public service plays quite a different role in the Yukon compared with southern Ontario.
Recalling his years working in Ontario’s Department of Finance, Sekaly noted few people he talked to understood what he did or would recognize him if he saw them in the street.
That’s not the same in Whitehorse, where individuals run into bureaucrats around town regularly, he said.
Along with giving him a chance to let Yukoners know what the IPAC does, Sekaly noted the three-day trip also gave him the opportunity to learn how the public service operates in the territory.
Institute promotes public service excellence
By Stephanie Waddell on November 21, 2008
LEARNING CURVE APPRECIATED - Gabriel Sekaly, seen Wednesday in Whitehorse, says his trip north also gave him the opportunity to learn how the public service operates in the territory.
It should come as no surprise that Gabriel Sekaly ended up working in the public service.
The chief executive officer for the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC), who’s visiting the territory from Toronto this week, grew up in Ottawa, where his father had worked for the federal government.
Sekaly’s grandfather and great-grandfather were also civil servants.
These days, in his role with the IPAC, Sekaly’s job sees him working to improve public service at all levels of government across the country and, in some cases, internationally, with the IPAC’s mission being “to promote excellence in public service.“
Sekaly travelled to Whitehorse at the invitation of the IPAC’s Yukon chapter on Monday. He met with officials from the four orders of government in the territory and informed them of the services the organization offers to public servants.
“I could see a good opportunity to share information,“ Manon Moreau, chair of the IPAC’s Yukon chapter, said in an interview Wednesday following a noon meeting with city council and senior management.
The visit also meant raising the profile of the IPAC and letting the many government workers in the territory know of the services and programs the IPAC offers, she said.
That’s exactly what Sekaly did as he went over the IPAC’s initiatives with city officials.
With a membership of 3,100 public servants, academics and others interested in the world of public administration, the organization has conducted research, published books and papers and done projects overseas.
One of its more recent international programs has Ontario partnering with Uganda. Another has seen work done in Ghana to help develop a better decision-making process.
Many of the efforts have seen the Canadian contingent learn from the countries they are partnering with, Sekaly said.
New projects that will be happening on the home front are set to look at the value of the public service, stressing its importance and encouraging individuals to seek careers in the field.
Another project, he said, will look at developing a possible policy on what the ideal population might be for the country and how that can be achieved.
Coun. Jan Stick pointed out in many cases, that’s out of the hands of government officials.
Fort McMurray, Alta. serves as a prime example, she continued. While government officials have tried to do what they can to help control the population, it’s been out of their control, given the number of jobs in the community. “It took them over,“ she said.
Sekaly said countries like Australia and New Zealand have policies in place around population. Some countries facing uncertain futures around climate change now may consider it the right time to look at it, he added.
The organization is also continuing its efforts in building leadership through a number of programs.
After meeting with Yukon government, municipal and Council of Yukon First Nations officials, Sekaly noted the public service plays quite a different role in the Yukon compared with southern Ontario.
Recalling his years working in Ontario’s Department of Finance, Sekaly noted few people he talked to understood what he did or would recognize him if he saw them in the street.
That’s not the same in Whitehorse, where individuals run into bureaucrats around town regularly, he said.
Along with giving him a chance to let Yukoners know what the IPAC does, Sekaly noted the three-day trip also gave him the opportunity to learn how the public service operates in the territory.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Pictures of Whitehorse
In my last blog entry I lamented about how I had forgotten to bring my camera with me. Well, thanks to Manon Moreau for sending me wonderful pictures taken by Tony Gonda. Check them out by clicking here.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Gabriel Goes to Whitehorse
In my Ying and Yang of travel I have been to Barbados and now the Yukon in the space of a month – slight differences in temperature and topology. This was my first ever visit to the Yukon – or the “Great White North”. I left Toronto on Monday night at 18:15 on an Air Canada flight to Vancouver and then I was supposed to board a 22:00 flight to Whitehorse that was supposed to land at 00:30 (local time or 03:00 Toronto time). Well, the flight was delayed and we left at 00:45 and landed in Whitehorse at 03:00 local time (or 06:00 Toronto time). Manon Moreau the Chair of the Yukon Regional Group was there to pick me up.
Apart from that, the rest of my time here has been fabulous. I have had a number of meetings with the Yukon First Nation Groups; with the Government of the Yukon Deputy Ministers and ADMs; with the City of Whitehorse; with the Yukon Government policy community; as well as a meet & greet with IPAC members. I learned much about the realities of the Yukon and Northern life. Did you know that the Yukon has 4 orders of government – the federal government; the Yukon government; municipal governments; and 15 First Nation Governments (11 of which have signed self-government agreements). All this with a population of over 32,000 people, 75% of whom live in Whitehorse. The biggest First Nation Government serves a population of just over 1,000 people. All these First Nation governments are responsible for the delivery of provincial/territorial type services to their community. With all these orders of government, the need for co-operation and collaboration is the key to success. What a challenge!
Apart from talking about IPAC, our mission and our programming, I also was invited to speak to a group of policy folks on “Evidence-based Policy”. It was a lively discussion of the issues around the development of the full range of policy issues based upon reliable evidence. (My presentation is posted on the IPAC website under Research). I also spoke about our international program and our two new initiatives – the Value of Public Service project and the Canada Population Policy project.
I had the opportunity of walking around Whitehorse and seeing a little bit of the town. It is nestled along the Yukon River and there are mountains all around. The trees were all white as they we sprinkled with snow and ice – I should have brought my camera!! There are a number of very nice coffee shops (went to Baked – great coffee and scones!) and some nice shops as well. I was told that the Yukon has more artists per capita than anywhere else and you can tell by the paintings, photos, sculptures, etc. that you find in the stores.
The public administration and public policy challenges of the North – with vast regions and small dispersed populations – are not unique to the Yukon but are similar for the two other territories as well as the northern part of every other province in Canada, save the Maritimes. In these smaller communities you are closer to the people – if you work for the Government of the Yukon, everyone knows you in town and are likely to ask you about a problem at the grocery store or the hairdresser or at the restaurant. For those who work in larger governments, think about that for a second.
I want to thank Manon Moreau and Julie Haywood for organizing this trip to the Yukon and I also want to thank all the dedicated public servants that I met for their warmth and hospitality during my short sojourn in the Yukon. I will be back (with my camera)!!!
Apart from that, the rest of my time here has been fabulous. I have had a number of meetings with the Yukon First Nation Groups; with the Government of the Yukon Deputy Ministers and ADMs; with the City of Whitehorse; with the Yukon Government policy community; as well as a meet & greet with IPAC members. I learned much about the realities of the Yukon and Northern life. Did you know that the Yukon has 4 orders of government – the federal government; the Yukon government; municipal governments; and 15 First Nation Governments (11 of which have signed self-government agreements). All this with a population of over 32,000 people, 75% of whom live in Whitehorse. The biggest First Nation Government serves a population of just over 1,000 people. All these First Nation governments are responsible for the delivery of provincial/territorial type services to their community. With all these orders of government, the need for co-operation and collaboration is the key to success. What a challenge!
Apart from talking about IPAC, our mission and our programming, I also was invited to speak to a group of policy folks on “Evidence-based Policy”. It was a lively discussion of the issues around the development of the full range of policy issues based upon reliable evidence. (My presentation is posted on the IPAC website under Research). I also spoke about our international program and our two new initiatives – the Value of Public Service project and the Canada Population Policy project.
I had the opportunity of walking around Whitehorse and seeing a little bit of the town. It is nestled along the Yukon River and there are mountains all around. The trees were all white as they we sprinkled with snow and ice – I should have brought my camera!! There are a number of very nice coffee shops (went to Baked – great coffee and scones!) and some nice shops as well. I was told that the Yukon has more artists per capita than anywhere else and you can tell by the paintings, photos, sculptures, etc. that you find in the stores.
The public administration and public policy challenges of the North – with vast regions and small dispersed populations – are not unique to the Yukon but are similar for the two other territories as well as the northern part of every other province in Canada, save the Maritimes. In these smaller communities you are closer to the people – if you work for the Government of the Yukon, everyone knows you in town and are likely to ask you about a problem at the grocery store or the hairdresser or at the restaurant. For those who work in larger governments, think about that for a second.
I want to thank Manon Moreau and Julie Haywood for organizing this trip to the Yukon and I also want to thank all the dedicated public servants that I met for their warmth and hospitality during my short sojourn in the Yukon. I will be back (with my camera)!!!
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