Canada's Policy Ecosystem and the Factors that Influence It
Disclaimer: The summaries and interpretations provided on this page are unofficial and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS).
Summary
- Catherine Jobin serves as Acting Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policies at Global Affairs Canada and introduces the concept of policy ecosystem as a biological metaphor for complex governmental systems
- The policy ecosystem encompasses all actors who make decisions and produce results, including Parliament, courts, lobby groups, and public service, along with the underlying culture and processes that connect them
- Canada’s federal constitutional structure creates multiple levels of government including federal, provincial, First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, and municipal authorities that must be understood as fundamental components
- The system operates under principles of responsible government, with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and courts playing crucial structural roles in governance
- Historical traditions, debates, and cultural factors including regional subcultures contribute to Canada’s consensus-oriented political culture and continue to influence contemporary policy environments
- Different governments with varying political and ideological orientations will reach different conclusions about how to balance competing interests when addressing policy issues
- Policy analysts benefit from applying multiple analytical lenses when approaching complex problems, including legal perspectives focused on legitimacy and authority flowing from founding principles
- Fairness and justice lenses help evaluate the equitable distribution of impacts and outcomes across different groups and stakeholders
- Political and anthropological lenses examine who benefits and who loses from policy decisions, considering how people currently experience situations and how they might experience future changes
- Engineering-oriented problem-solving approaches focus on identifying what is not working and determining practical solutions to make systems function effectively
- Communications perspectives evaluate how decisions will be explained and understood by the public, including the ability to clearly explain problems and solutions to family members in simple terms
- After examining issues through multiple lenses, analysts can better understand the available policy toolkit options including legislative solutions, regulatory approaches, stakeholder mobilization, spending programs, transfer payments, and prohibitive measures
- Effective policy analysts must maintain curiosity about national and international current events and stay informed about developments in their country and globally
- Traditional policy development follows a structured process involving broad guidelines, consultations through various channels, option development, multi-lens analysis, decision-making, implementation, and eventual evaluation after several years
- Modern policy-making aspires to continuous contact with stakeholders and constant listening to understand how programs, services, and issues are perceived by the public
- Building diverse teams with people who can examine problems from different perspectives is essential for managers, analysts, and anyone involved in policy development
- Maintaining a wide-angle view and broad perspective is crucial for understanding complex policy challenges and developing comprehensive solutions
- Success in policy work requires daily commitment to excellence in fundamental skills including thinking, writing, communicating, and collaborating with others
- Even senior managers must continuously refine and improve their communication and analytical thinking skills throughout their careers
Actionable Advice
- Study and understand Canada's federal constitutional structure and the roles of different levels of government including federal, provincial, First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and municipal authorities
- Develop curiosity about national and international current events by regularly following news and staying informed about developments
- Apply multiple analytical lenses when examining policy problems, including legal, fairness, political, anthropological, engineering, and communications perspectives
- Practice explaining complex policy issues and solutions to family members or non-experts in simple, clear language within three to four minutes
- Build teams with people who can examine problems from different perspectives and maintain diverse viewpoints
- Establish continuous contact with stakeholders rather than relying only on formal consultation periods
- Listen constantly to how programs, services, and issues are perceived by the public and integrate this feedback into policy-making processes
- Maintain a wide-angle view when analyzing policy challenges to understand all dimensions and potential solutions
- Develop and refine fundamental skills in thinking, writing, communicating, and collaborating on a daily basis
- Examine the available policy toolkit options including legislative, regulatory, spending, transfer payment, and prohibitive approaches when developing solutions
- Consider who will be winners and losers from policy decisions and how people currently experience or might experience future changes
- Focus on problem-solving approaches that identify what is not working and determine practical solutions to make systems function effectively
- Evaluate how policy decisions will be communicated and explained to the public before implementing them
- Build networks of contacts who can provide different perspectives on policy issues and challenges
- Work with excellence every day while continuously improving professional skills regardless of career level