Lecture Outline Jan 30
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Executive Government

 

  1. Executive Functions
    1. Policy [Coordination, design, implementation]
    2. Money [revenues and expenditures, fiscal balance, public debt]
    3. Inter-relatedness
  2. Some Terminology:
    1. “line” and “staff”
    2. “central agencies”
    3. “Ontario Public Service” versus “Broader Public Sector”
  3. Formal/Informal Executive
    1. Role of Lieutenant Governor – past and present
    2. Cabinets in Constitutional Practice
  4. Cabinet Development
    1. Problems of the 1950s
    2. Solutions?
    3. Growth Problems in the 1960’s
    4. COGP
    5. Changes with Liberal Minority 1985
    6. NDP Changes
    7. Harris PC Changes
  5. Cabinet Organization and Structure
    1. Size
    2. Representativeness
    3. Expertise
    4. Staff
    5. Committees
    6. Parliamentary Assistants
  6. Premiers
    1. What constitutes effective political leadership?
    2. What characteristics sought in Premiers?
    3. Leadership versus electability?

 

Effective Policy-making

What are the criteria of effectiveness?

  1. Speed – how quickly does an issue move from platform plank to legislative proposal?
  2. Quality of proposals
  3. Innovation possible?
  4. Information flow – line departments/central agencies
  5. Coordination
  6. Meeting budget targets
  7. Scope and scale
  8. Transparency

 

What works? What is required?

  1. Division of labour
  2. Trust in expertise of bureaucrats, but…
  3. Checks on public service advice, analysis
  4. Two-way communication
  5. Analytical distinction between “policy” and “politics” in advice
  6. Encouragement to front-line personnel to develop new ideas, techniques
  7. Ministers kept informed
  8. Inter-departmental communication through cabinet committees

 

Legislative Assembly

 

  1. Roles of the Assembly
    1. Executive Branch Accountability

                                                              i.      Debate and delay

                                                            ii.      Scrutiny and publicity

                                                          iii.      Criticism and alternatives

 

    1. Representation
    2. Constituency service
    3. Political socialization

 

  1. Camp Commission, Morrow Committee and Modernization
    1. Members’ salaries
    2. Precincts of the Legislature
    3. Opposition role strengthened
    4. Caucus research support
    5. Rules changes
    6. Question period
    7. Improved use of committees
    8. Stronger role for Speaker
    9. Government required to give notice of planned action

 

  1. Harris Government
    1. Rules changes
    2. Size of Legislature

 

  1. What might improve effectiveness of Legislature
    1. Stronger committees?
    2. More staff support, research support?
    3. More sitting days?
    4. Better reporting of House business?
    5. More use of Select Committees (to investigate issues)?

 

 

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