The work dispute in Canada Post has resurfaced some ancient and unresolved problems related to the failure of the Crown Corporation to keep up to date in an environment that changes rapidly for delivery services.
If this time is addressed, it will depend largely on the appetite of politicians to run the risk and strive, in other words, to spend some political capital.
But the same is true for several other venerable federal entities. The transformation of the government has many facets and there are problems and remedies that go through these organizations. Sometimes, obtaining the ball in shooting in the reform means taking a single organization and renewing it thoroughly. To continue delivering value to Canadians, these organizations will need political leadership to give them new mandates, structures and tools.
Experience tells us that a broad expenses review can provide context and the best coverage for a detailed review of specific organizations, so perhaps that time is now. A window can be open to overcome internal and external resistance and risk aversion of politicians who feel more comfortable kicking problems in the future with endless consultations or paper on cracks with money.
Here is an arbitrarily chosen set of the most atrocious fixed improvements.
Canada post
: For decades, warm political leadership and municipal nimbyism have chained and fetterized the Management of Canada Post Corp. by blocking innovation in the delivery and detachment of old assets and expensive practices. Instead of a binary choice between the status quo and privatization, the government could remove the shackles and empower Canada Post to reinvent the postal service for the 2020s and beyond.
CBC
: Consultation already consultation. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp is asked to choose a lane, choose a model and continue with the transition. I will focus on news and information and get out of advertising. If CBC is not renewed soon, your future is irrelevance or defusing.
RCMP
: There must be 20 reports of various types about the Royal Montesa Police of Canada that transmits dozens of recommendations on how to reform it. There is a strong case in this era of limited resources to reduce their mandate to the “federal surveillance” that others cannot do. Offer the RCMP resources and tools to do that job and play a role that supports local and provincial surveillance.
Coast Guard
: The Canadian coast guard is currently integrated as a “special operational agency” within Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which is a thin administrative structure that is no longer adequate to support the vital economic and security role of the guard. It has long been behind to create an act other than the Coast Guard to clarify its mandate, give it a much greater autonomy and voice, and finally give it the appropriate application and interdiction powers.
The pattern of these four examples is clear. These federal entities of decades have extended too much when trying to meet the growing expectations without the structural and legislative basis to do the work in a modern context. They are obliged to retain practices, costs and assets that could be thrown to free people and money for better use.
A path to follow for each one would begin with Parliament better defining a mandate and purpose, and update the set of powers of powers and authorities. I would advocate a “first first” test, giving priority to the roles and functions that another person cannot do well and then equip them and resources properly. Throw both from the rest and politically feasible.
Structural renewal is hard work and sometimes means some investment. Often leads to frantic labor relations. You will find resistance to interested parties. He needs firm political leadership that does not shudder. But the alternatives of slow negligence (rot) or cut budgets without cutting the scope and expected results (cosmetic work) simply do not work. Do not accommodate. Renew, baby, renew.
Michael Wernick is the president of Jarislowsky in public sector management at the University of Ottawa and former employee of the private council.
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