Home
The Public Servant's Guide to Government in Canada

The Public Servant's Guide to Government in Canada

Published by: University of Toronto Press

Digital download
9781487594794
Published: December 2018

Digital download
9781487594787
Published: December 2018

Description
Contents
Authors
Praise

The Public Servant’s Guide to Government in Canada is a concise primer on the inner workings of government in Canada. This is a go-to resource for students, for early career public servants, and for anyone who wants to know more about how government works. Grounded in experience, the book connects core concepts in political science and public administration to the real-world practice of working in the public service. The authors provide valuable insights into the messy realities of governing and the art of diplomacy, as well as best practices for climbing the career ladder.

List of Figures and Tables
Acknowledgements
Purpose of The Public Servant’s Guide to Government in Canada

1 REVIEW OF CORE CONCEPTS
What Is a Public Servant?
Core Principles of Canadian Government
The Division of Power
The Main Institutions of Government
Chapter Takeaways

2 THE PUBLIC SECTOR BARGAIN
Government as an Organization
Threats to the Public Service Bargain
Guiding Principles for Public Servants
Chapter Takeaways

3 THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC POLICY
What Is Public Policy?
The Public Policy Cycle
Public Policy Lenses
Chapter Takeaways

4 THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Accountability
Centralization of Power
Public Administration Is Political
The Merit Principle
The Structure and Machinery of Government
Chapter Takeaways

5 THE ART OF NAVIGATING LIFE IN GOVERNMENT
Political Acumen
Knowledge of Power
Situational Awareness
Soft Skills
Ethics of Public Service
Chapter Takeaways

6 ROLES AND COMPETENCIES OF A PUBLIC SERVANT
Roles and Occupations in the Public Service
Building Competencies
Relational and Experiential Learning
Chapter Takeaways

7 ACHIEVING YOUR CAREER GOALS
Finding Purpose in a Public Service Career
Finding Balance in a Public Service Career
Finding Community in a Public Service Career
Chapter Takeaways

Glossary of Terms
References
About the Authors
Index

Jared J. Wesley is associate dean of graduate studies, a professor of political science, and a member of the Black Faculty Collective at the University of Alberta.

"The Public Servant’s Guide is skillfully written, wry and sometimes funny."
~Holly Doan, Blacklock’s Reporter, March 2, 2019

"[This is] a book that every new and aspiring public servant should have in their learning library. Small but mighty in its 108 pages, The Public Servant’s Guide provides lots of tips, advice, and learning that would take a few years on average to accumulate."
~Alana Del Greco, IPAC Toronto