Intergovernmental Policy Capacity in Canada

Gregory Inwood, Carolyn Johns, and Patricia O'Reilly offer unique insights into intergovernmental policy capacity, revealing what key decision-makers and policy advisors behind the scenes think the barriers are to improved intergovernmental policy capacity and what changes they recommend. Senior public servants from all jurisdictions in Canada discuss the ideas, institutions, actors, and relations that assist or impede intergovernmental policy capacity. Covering good and bad economic times and comparing insiders' concerns and recommendations with those of scholars of federalism, public policy, and public administration, they provide a comparative analysis of major policy areas across fourteen governments. Intergovernmental policy capacity, while of increasing importance, is not well understood. By examining how the Canadian federation copes with today's policy challenges, the authors provide guideposts for federations and governments around the world working on the major policy issues of our day.

Gregory J. Inwood is professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Ryerson University. Carolyn M. Johns is associate professor, Department of Politics and Public Administration, and director of the PhD in Policy Studies Program at Ryerson University. Patricia L. O'Reilly is an associate professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Ryerson University.