CANADA

Fifth Annual Report to The Prime Minister on The Public Service of Canada

Jocelyne Bourgon
Clerk of the Privy Council and
Secretary to the Cabinet

Contents

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March 31, 1998

Dear Prime Minister:

Pursuant to the Public Service Employment Act, I am pleased to submit to you the Fifth Annual Report to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada.

In my annual report of 1995, I discussed several international trends that were influencing the role and function of governments and of public sector institutions around the world. To keep pace with the times and the changing needs of citizens, I set three key tasks for the public service: strengthening its policy capacity; modernizing its service delivery function; and building a vibrant national public service adapted to future needs.

We made progress every year since then, and each year we recognized that more could be done. This year is no different. In this report, I reaffirm the importance of the three key tasks, I note the progress made during the last year and I briefly sketch the areas that require special effort.

In policy development, the most important challenge will be to explore ways to better engage the participation of citizens. In service delivery, the challenge will be to use information technology to provide Canadians with access to government services on their terms and according to their needs and circumstances. In human resources management, the goal is to become a learning and knowledge-based organization, one able to provide people with the breadth of knowledge and experience necessary to advise and serve in a modern global environment.

Mr. Prime Minister, public servants are doing their part to build a modern, vibrant institution. With your guidance and the support of your government and of Parliament, I am confident that the Public Service of Canada will continue to make an important contribution to Canada’s future and will be ready to meet the challenges of the next millennium.

Jocelyne Bourgon

Contents

I — A Canadian Model of Public Sector Reform

II — Putting the Public Interest First

Strengthening Our Policy Capacity

Modernizing the Delivery of Services to Canadians

The Relationship Between Government and Citizens

III — Putting People First

La Relève

Looking Forward

Conclusion

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