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Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Could ‘mission government' solve Ottawa's delivery problems?
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council, the morning after the Liberal Party won the Canadian federal election, in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (Credit: Justin Tang) OTTAWA — There's growing chatter in senior bureaucratic circles that the new Carney government is exploring a different way to govern – one that could execute plans for the biggest remake of Canada's economy since the Second World War. Thrust into office by Trump's trade war, Prime Minister Mark Carney is trying to turn an economic crisis into a defining moment for the country. At his first press conference, he zeroed in on a handful of sweeping priorities aimed at making Canada and its economy more resilient and independent. The big question: Can government actually pull it off? The former central banker, who positioned himself as a crisis leader and a champion of getting things done, could face his toughest challenge yet – navigating the machinery of government, with its entrenched structures, processes and systems. The public service, whose job is to implement those plans, is often criticized as bloated, slow, and inefficient. The previous Trudeau government, with more than 750 priorities, was plagued by execution struggles that produced backlogs, delays and failed projects. ADVERTISEMENT But senior bureaucrats are thinking hard about how to fix it. One idea up for discussion is the U.K.'s 'mission government' model. Some senior officials travelled to London to assess the approach and whether it could be adapted here. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer adopted a 'mission government' model, popularized by economist Mariana Mazzucato. She argues that missions help break down silos, unite departments, and can rally the public around bold but achievable goals. Starmer – who accused public servants of being 'comfortable in the tepid bath of managed decline' – organized his government around five priorities with clear targets and ministers accountable for each. His missions: economic growth, health system reform, safer streets, better education, and clean energy. Starmer has faced an uphill battle, but the goal is to focus government machinery on delivery and accountability, not just ideas. It's unclear whether the Carney government is adopting the U.K.'s mission-government model, but it already appears to be embracing the key principles by focusing on a handful of priorities, with ministers organized around them. ADVERTISEMENT 'The bottom line is that mission government is an interesting concept. We're trying to shift from hundreds of priorities to a few that are manageable and focused so we can deliver,' said one senior bureaucrat who is not authorized to talk publicly. 'As a public service, we're giving advice around limited priorities for departments and ministers that drive these priorities, and with accountability by reporting frequently around progress.' Many public servants were frustrated by the sheer volume of priorities and new initiatives under the Trudeau government, which left them overworked, overstretched, and pulled in too many directions. With too many competing priorities, the government struggled to focus or hold ministers accountable. Narrowing that list could make progress easier to track and more likely to happen, said several senior officials. Fixing the government's execution gap is part of the broader debate today about state capacity, which is the ability of governments to make policy, execute it and deliver results for Canadians. Public service reform would aim to make it more adaptable, agile, innovative and willing to take risks – all of which could improve state capacity. The erosion of state capacity has become a growing concern in Canada. In analyzing the Liberal election platform, Sahir Khan, executive vice-president of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (ISFD) at the University of Ottawa, warned that promised savings – whether from program reviews or AI – fail to account for 'the challenges of state capacity' and how they could affect the government's plans. ADVERTISEMENT Starmer set up 'mission boards' for each of his five priorities, chaired by a lead minister and joined by others with a stake in the plan. They meet regularly to take stock, holding ministers accountable for progress – and what they'll do to improve. Mission government shares roots with deliverology, the trendy management theory pioneered in the U.K. by Sir Tony Blair on the advice of his delivery guru, Michael Barber. The idea was later adapted by the Trudeau Liberals and briefly took Ottawa by storm before fizzling under a flood of competing priorities and bureaucratic pushback. The idea was simple: identify the government's top priorities, track progress rigorously, and hold ministers and departments to account. A new results and delivery unit was created inside the Privy Council Office, delivery plans were drafted, and a flurry of performance indicators followed. But a key problem quickly emerged – everything became a priority – and public servants viewed it as just another reporting exercise. Many argued then that the government should have zeroed in on four or five priorities, not hundreds. Both deliverology and mission government try to tackle the same problem: governments making big promises they often can't deliver. Deliverology tried to fix that from the top down – tracking progress and measuring performance. ADVERTISEMENT Mission government goes further, aiming to reshape how government works by breaking down silos and getting departments to work together on complex problems that cut across mandates – but with clearer accountability for results. Take housing. Instead of each department tackling its own narrow slice of housing policy, a mission approach pulls ministers and public servants together, budgets and all, around a single, shared goal, like building more affordable housing. Everyone pulls together with clear deadlines and accountability, instead of working in their own silos and protecting their turf. Stephen Harper set a precedent before these concepts had names. As prime minister in a minority government, he came in with five clear priorities – accountability, tax cuts, crime, child care, and health care. A powerful plans and priorities cabinet committee tracked them. Departments were expected to fall in line. Longtime bureaucrats say they've seen other versions of this before – tiger teams, super ministers, special cabinet committees – and that mission government is just the latest trendy management brand to fix age-old problems. One noted the government already has many of the tools it needs to fix things. What it takes is political will and strong, focused leadership. Without that, the system reverts to the status quo – and resists change. 'I'm not sure it really matters how you do it. What you need is the prime minister to say, 'This needs to get done,' and a political coordination mechanism to drive it across departments. So, call it mission or whatever.' Many bureaucrats expect Carney to govern like a CEO focused on priorities, outcomes, and results. Some anticipate he'll be ruthless if progress stalls. Others question whether his central banking background fully prepares him for the operational demands of governing. In his first press conference as prime minister, Carney outlined his priorities: meeting with Donald Trump, cutting internal trade barriers, launching nation-building projects, accelerating housing, tightening border security, and toughening bail for some crimes. Those familiar with early briefings say Carney's mindset seems clear: ''How quickly can we do this? How do we accelerate? How do we show action?' There's a rigor to the way he thinks, and the system will have to adapt to keep up. It's kind of refreshing to see,' said one senior bureaucrat. Kathryn May is the Accenture Fellow on the Future of the Public Service, providing coverage and analysis of the complex issues facing Canada's federal public service for Policy Options, from which this article is reprinted.
Newsroom
30-04-2025
- Business
- Newsroom
New Canadian PM can take chance to resolve NZ trade dispute
Analysis: Canada's Mark Carney arrived at the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council in Ottawa, the morning after his Liberal Party won the federal elections. The party was just three shy of a majority, and preparing to run the country as a minority government. Elections Canada says it was the highest turnout in more than 30 years. It's not a rout, but it's a strong result for the former governor of Canada's central bank. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost his own seat, bringing his leadership of the Opposition into immediate question. Carney took over the Liberal leadership after Justin Trudeau resigned this year, and the economist-turned-politician quickly turned around the party's floundering fortunes. But much of that was thanks to US President Donald Trump's extraordinary interventions: launching a trade war against the USA's oldest friend, and proposing to annex it as a 51st state. On the eve of the election, Trump had trolled Canadians on social media, suggesting that if they became 'the cherished 51st state of the USA', then they'd be able to elect him, and enjoy zero tariffs. 'No more artificially drawn line from many years ago. Look how beautiful this land mass would be.' In the face of this existential threat, it seems Canadians have rallied around the maple leaf flag. But most of all, they've looked to Carney as a safe manager of the country's economy. After the election result, Trump's softened his tone. He's spoken with Carney, congratulating him on his win. Carney has said he's not interested in visiting the White House unless there's something in it for Canada, but has agreed to meet Trump, somewhere, in the near future. 'The leaders agreed on the importance of Canada and the US working together – as independent, sovereign nations – for their mutual betterment,' Carney says. 'Canada now has the opportunity to resolve this long-standing CPTPP trade dispute in a way that honours their obligations to New Zealand dairy exporters and is beneficial for Canadian consumers' Todd McClay, NZ Trade Minister It would be wrong to see the election as all about Trump: in the final days of the campaign, local media say attention turned again to domestic concerns, including housing affordability, the inflation of food prices, a crumbling health system, immigration, and crime. Any risk the 'tough on crime' Poilievre may capitalise on this week's tragic vehicle attack at a Filipino festival in Vancouver was offset by Carney pausing campaigning and flying straight to Vancouver to support police and victims. Walking the trade talk As a long-standing trading partner, New Zealand will have its own questions for Carney. Because, despite his rhetoric of trade liberalisation in the face of Trump's tariffs, Canada has entrenched trade barriers of its own. Indeed, New Zealand's biggest and ugliest trade dispute is with Canada, challenging the administration of its CPTPP trade partnership dairy quotas. The arbitration panel ruled in New Zealand's favour, but Canada has blithely ignored its orders, forcing the two countries back to the negotiating table this year. Prior to that, New Zealand won a World Trade Organization ruling over Canada providing export subsidies for its dairy farmers. New Zealand supported Australia in a WTO dispute about Canadian protections for its domestic wine, and supported the US in a dispute over Canada dumping lumber. New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay has offered his congratulations to the re-elected Government in Canada, and says he'll look to engage with them quickly once they are sworn in. 'Canada now has the opportunity to resolve this long-standing CPTPP trade dispute in a way that honours their obligations to New Zealand dairy exporters and is beneficial for Canadian consumers,' he tells Newsroom. Carney is an economist; he surely understands the value of free trade. And if he wants to claim the moral high ground in a trade war with Trump, arguably his first task should be to clean shop. That may be a forlorn hope. Stephen Jacobi is a former diplomat and trade negotiator, who represented New Zealand in Ottawa. He says a lot of Ontario and Quebec electorates have dairy farmers, which is the perennial problem in trade talks with Canadian governments. And because the US dairy industry has Canada's farmers in its sights, any concessions to New Zealand could be misinterpreted by Trump as weakness. Announcing his reciprocal tariffs, Trump singled out tariffs of 250-300 percent on US dairy exports to Canada for special mention: 'It's not a pretty picture and we don't like it.' That said, Canada now desperately needs to diversify its trade. Jacobi suggests that may increase their interest in expanding the CPTPP, which gives New Zealand another opportunity to raise the dairy issue. Security relationships On security, Carney has already shown he wants to pursue closer defence ties with the European Union, South Korea and Australia – at the expense of the US. He says Canada is reconsidering its purchase of American F-35 fighters, and has announced the purchase of JORN over-the-horizon radar from Australia. None of that will directly affect New Zealand in any significant way, except that it accelerates the acrimonious divorce between the US and its old trade and security partners. In the Canadian election yesterday, and potentially in the Australian election this weekend, conservative strongman leaders are being penalised for aligning too closely to the ever more volatile Trump. Writing at Newsroom, Sam Sachdeva says the New Zealand Prime Minister will be watching the fortunes of those politicians with a wary eye. Christopher Luxon has already offered Carney his congratulations. 'There's so much New Zealand and Canada share in common, with a lot more we can do together,' Luxon posted on social media. 'I look forward to working with you as you get down to business.' Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters may be cosy with the Trump administration and its 'war on woke' – but there's every reason for Luxon to continue distinguishing his Government's policies from those of Trump's. 'Luxon may be able to draw contrasts with Trump in a way that his foreign minister judges to be suitably diplomatic, or at least not worthy of public repudiation,' Sachdeva says, 'but that will be a fine line to walk, and the Prime Minister will need to get better at handling such internal disagreements.'
Winnipeg Free Press
29-04-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Congrats, Carney — now keep your promises: Winnipeg biz community
Political and business leaders in Manitoba congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney for his election win, then put his government on notice to keep its promises and boost the economy. 'If there's going to be a Team Canada approach, we have to make sure First Nations are at the table,' Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said Tuesday after congratulating Carney. First Nations need to be involved in negotiating international trade and 'nation-building' projects that Carney has promised, said the chief who was born and raised in Pinaymootang First Nation. One of the promises the new prime minister made on the campaign trail was to double the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion to make it easier for more communities to have a greater share in the benefits of major resource, transportation, and trade projects. JUSTIN TANG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney passes journalists this morning as he arrives at the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council in Ottawa after the Liberal Party won the Canadian federal election. JUSTIN TANG / THE CANADIAN PRESS Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney passes journalists this morning as he arrives at the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council in Ottawa after the Liberal Party won the Canadian federal election. Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said having a Liberal government return to office is an opportunity to make progress on developing housing in the city, and the massive upgrade to the north end sewage treatment plant. The mayor said Carney has committed to maintaining the housing accelerator fund agreement that's been 'very important to the City of Winnipeg to incentivize some key developments of residential units where we need residential housing.' Gillingham also congratulated Winnipeg South Liberal Terry Duguid on his re-election, saying the MP worked closely with the city on funding for the $3-billion sewage plant upgrade. 'We're looking forward to continuing our conversation and efforts to find a funding mechanism and sources for that project.' Gillingham said he wants Carney to get rid of U.S. tariffs or reduce them to protect jobs and to promote interprovincial trade that presents opportunities for Winnipeg. 'We're at the centre, geographically, of our nation,' Gillingham said. 'So much trade does and will continue to flow east to west through Winnipeg as we move product to market across our nation — it's running right through our city. We continue as a city and as a province to play a key role in Canada's economy.' The federal government needs to get the provinces to the table and agree to remove trade barriers, echoed Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Loren Remillard. 'In today's day and age it seems really counterproductive, as we're struggling internationally with relations and some of the economic challenges associated with that, that we have these artificial barriers to our own economic well-being within Canada,' Remillard said. 'These are the things that are within our own control.' Remillard said increased productivity in the business community and public sector is needed to navigate the trade waters, noting the use of artificial intelligence would be key. The provincial director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business agreed that removing trade barriers is crucial to Canada's economy. 'Manitoba's small businesses are looking to the new government to follow through on its campaign promises, particularly around dropping the increase in the capital gains inclusion rate, removing the consumer carbon tax and knocking down interprovincial trade barriers,' said Brianna Solberg. 'So far, only three provinces — Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island — have introduced legislation to remove internal trade barriers on a reciprocal basis,' she said. That's set the stage for a freer trade zone among those three provinces. 'Manitoba's inaction on this means local businesses and workers will miss out on improved access to new Canadian markets,' Solberg said. Premier Wab Kinew was not available for an interview on Tuesday but took to social media to congratulate Carney, posting a photo of the two of them in the premier's office. 'We look forward to building up this country with you.' Kinew later posted a goodbye to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, who announced he would step down after his party's poor election showing. 'Tough day for New Democrats across the country. Thank you, Jagmeet Singh, for your years of service and for standing up for working people. You led with the values we both share: fairness, justice, and compassion,' Kinew wrote. Newly elected Manitoba Progressive Conservative Leader Obby Khan was also unavailable for an interview but issued a statement congratulating Carney and all who ran for office, while thanking those who took the time to vote. He said his focus is on holding Kinew and the NDP to account and ensuring access to quality and timely health care, making communities safer, life more affordable and Manitoba's economy stronger. — with files from Joyanne Pursaga and Gabrielle Piché Carol SandersLegislature reporter Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol. Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Toronto Sun
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
BATRA'S BURNING QUESTIONS: Well…that election didn't go as planned
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives at the Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council, the morning after the Liberal Party won the Canadian federal election, in Ottawa on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang WATCH: With the general election behind us, Sun Editor-in-Chief Adrienne Batra talks with political columnists Lorrie Goldstein and Brian Lilley on what Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre could have done, and what Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to do. What do YOU think? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below or send us a Letter to the Editor for possible publication to . Letters must be 250 words or less and signed. And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Canada Toronto Maple Leafs Canada Federal Elections Columnists
