Public service over politics

The following is an excerpt of Canada’s auditor general Michael Ferguson’s message to Parliament:

In a Westminster democracy, there needs to be a healthy tension between the political perspective and the public service perspective. If this tension is in balance, government programs will work for people.

Governments will always have the right to do something other than what the public service advises — a government is accountable to the voters. But if the tension between the two perspectives is not in balance, the risk of failure increases.

Any elected government, regardless of political party, values quick action intended to resolve societal problems. It believes that quick action will produce political benefit within an election cycle.

The public service needs to champion a longer-term perspective to make sure that government programs are sustainable—even if it won’t bring short-term political benefit. Both views are important ... In the current culture, the two perspectives are out of balance, with the political perspective being dominant. This is largely because of instant digital communication, which means that politicians are more concerned with message and image management.

It’s easier for a Deputy Minister to just implement the will of the Minister without question rather than provide fearless advice on the pitfalls that could arise and how to avoid them ...

The government has a choice. It can either perpetuate the current culture and its problems — including the incomprehensible failures — or it can change that culture and reap the benefits of programs that work for people.