Accountability in the Political/Bureaucratic Interface of the Canadian Federal Government

Abstract The overall objective of this dissertation is to expand the existing research on accountability relationships, mechanisms and practices among selected entities at the pivotal point where politics and the bureaucracy intersect. The research is unique in the sense that it was conducted through the lens of a former public service executive with over twenty years’ working experience in the federal public service. This positionality afforded a deeper understanding of perspectives and commentary offered by academics, practitioners, and former senior officials both elected and non-elected. The methodologies of historical analysis and narrative inquiry were applied to the extensive literature on accountability relationships, mechanisms and practices. The result is a comprehensive synthesis of the story of accountability. The synthesis begins with an exploration of its roots in the Canadian version of the Westminster model of government. What follows is a look at the institutions that play a major role in how accountability relationships play out and how accountability mechanisms are enforced. This critical analysis included both the evolution of the institutions as well as the transformation of the environment in which accountability is practiced. Accountability regimes were analyzed for Parliament, the Offices of the Prime Minister, the Privy Council, Treasury Board Secretariat, the Office of the Auditor General, and departmental deputy ministers. For each of these entities, a framework was developed to systematically discern and connect authorities, accountability relationships and mechanisms used to hold elected and non-elected senior officials accountable. The work builds upon decades of research by academics and practitioners. Accordingly, it fills a gap in academic literature through the critical examination and synthesis, from multiple sources, of the complicated, multidimensional, and dynamic accountability relationships, both internal to government and within Parliament. Another important outcome of the research was the identification and compilation of a vast array of accountability mechanisms that had not been studied in a comprehensive way. Consequently, the research makes a distinctive contribution to the overall study and practice of accountability in the political/bureaucratic interface of the Canadian federal government. KEYWORDS: Accountability, Canadian federal government, political/bureaucratic interface

Author dc:creator

• McCrimmon, Carolyn

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Thomas, Paul, G

• College of interdisciplinary studies

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Identifier URI

https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-19244

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:null:10613/27570