Canadians go to the polls to elect a new government. While the faces of political decision-makers may change, one constant remains at the heart of the Canadian system: a professional, impartial, and non-partisan public service. Comprised of career public servants, this non-partisan public service is tasked with serving governments—regardless of their political orientation—by implementing their decisions and ensuring the continuous delivery of public services to the population.
Behind the scenes of elected power, public servants must demonstrate discretion and impartiality. Their role is to provide informed advice, independent of the ideological preferences of the government in power. This neutrality is one of the pillars of Canadian parliamentary democracy, ensuring stability, continuity, and public trust in the institutions of the state.
The main decision-making body in the government is the Cabinet, composed of the Prime Minister and the ministers. Together, they address a wide range of issues on a daily basis that affect the lives of Canadians, balancing the implementation of electoral promises with the complex realities of managing the overall affairs of the Government of Canada. The public service plays a key role in the proper functioning of the state apparatus by supporting and advising ministers, and by providing daily support to the Cabinet and its members.
In this video, former Clerk of the Privy Council of Canada, Michael Wernick, breaks down the federal government’s decision-making process and the role of public servants. He discusses, in particular, the drafting of the Memorandum to Cabinet (MC), which present an analysis of options, risks, and the impact of proposed measures—documents that form the basis of the Canadian government’s actions. He also explains how Cabinet meetings unfold and the role public servants play in this decision-making process.
Michael Wernick explains how this role has changed over time, especially with the emergence of social networks, which leave politicians less time to make decisions.
“The reality of government is that the most limited resource is time. You can borrow money, but you can’t create time.”
Would you like to learn more about the federal government? Explore the legislative and regulatory process in Canada in the new asynchronous online course offered by the Civil Law Section and the Professional Development Institute at the University of Ottawa. Visit the course page for more information.
