Author(s)

Publisher

Publication Year

ISBN: 9780776606842

Category:

 
View more details about this title
on the publisher's website:

Go to publisher’s site

Defending a Contested Ideal

Merit and the Public Service Commission, 1908–2008

In 1908, after decades of struggling with a public administration undermined by systemic patronage, the Canadian parliament decided that public servants would be selected on the basis of merit, through a system administered by an independent agency: the Public Service Commission of Canada. This history, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Commission, recounts its unique contribution to the development of an independent public service, which has become a pillar of Canadian parliamentary democracy.

Contributors

Luc Juillet

Having served as its founding director until 2012, Luc Juillet now teaches democratic government, public administration and environmental policy at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

Ken Rasmussen is director of the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Regina.

Chapter Title Contents Contributors Pages Year Price

Preview

 Introduction 17 $1.70

Preview

 The Public Service Commission today is the legitimate heir to the civil service reform movement of the 19th century, which dedicated its efforts to creating an independent public service that … 30 $3.00

Preview

 This chapter will explore three themes that characterized the Civil Service Commission’s struggle to create a merit system that would find broad support among Canadians between the two … 26 $2.60

Preview

 The Civil Service Commission always had an important role to play in creating a public service that was staffed efficiently and effectively, protected from unwelcome political interference, and … 23 $2.30

Preview

 This chapter has focused on how the Public Service Commission was caught up in various attempts to play down the role of merit and was increasingly asked to see its role as helping to elevate the … 27 $2.70

Preview

 This chapter will recount the debates of the last few decades about the principle of the political neutrality of the public service and the events that challenged the traditional norms and … 28 $2.80

Preview

 The events examined in this chapter illustrate how, in contrast to a common misperception, the commission was more than willing to reform itself and the staffing process. While it is clear that … 32 $3.20

Preview

 Throughout the 1990s, the Public Service Commission itself sought to adapt to a changing context: it progressively revamped its approach to delegation, placing greater emphasis on respect for … 41 $4.10

Preview

 Conclusion 13 $1.30