Navigating Today's Modern Public Service

Explore how today’s public service is evolving and what it means for your role, your organization, and the future of governance in Canada.

Description

The new Clerk of the Privy Council (Head of the Canadian Public Service), Michael Sabia, has said that the public service ‘has an indispensable role to play in ensuring we seize [the] opportunity’ to advance Canada's interests in a rapidly changing world. The three words that he has asked public servants to keep in mind as they adjust to today’s world are: focus, simplify and accountability.

In this course we will do a deep dive into the drivers of public service change, what the experience of public sector reforms have been both in Canada and internationally, and how an evolving vision of the public service is likely to impact your workplace and your career in the future.

Learning Objectives:

  • Assess the strengths and weaknesses of today’s public service and the implications for policy development, service and program delivery
  • Understand why public service change is critical to ensuring that you and the organization remain productive and relevant
  • Explore different approaches to public service reform and their impact both on public service culture and on how ministers and public servants work together
  • Develop strategies for navigating this changing public service environment

Who should take this course:

  • Officers and mid-level leaders
  • Anyone who has taken our How Government Works course and is looking to explore these topics further

Duration

  • 3 hours, including brief breaks to maintain engagement and facilitate learning absorption.

Special Offers

Take advantage of these exclusive discounts available when registering for IOG courses:

  1. Group Course Discount: Register 3 or more colleagues together for the same course and receive 10% off your total registration fee.  
    Learning together builds team capacity—and helps you save on training costs.
  2. Individual Bundle Discount: Register as an individual for 3 or more courses at the same time and save 10% on your total registration fee.
    Advance your professional development while maximizing value.

Facilitators

Toby Fyfe is a seasoned senior executive with experience in both the public and not-for-profit sectors. As a senior federal government executive, he led teams at the Privy Council Office and Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat as well as in line organizations such as Consumer of Corporate Affairs Canada, the Canada Information Office and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. He was President and CEO of the Institute on Governance for five years after serving as the Vice-President Learning.

As a management consultant he has worked with a number of public sector organizations to improve performance, including the RCMP where he worked on the design and implementation of a continuous improvement and transformation initiative. Before joining the federal government, he was a CBC Radio news and current affairs producer for seventeen years.

He is a Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor at the Queens University School of Policy Studies (SPS) and an Adjunct Professor at Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration (SPPA).

Similar courses

If you work in government or in an organization that often deals with government, this webinar is a must-take to guide you through the structures, players and processes that make up government.

More Information

Gain practical tips and strategies for understanding, addressing and working with the reporting and accountability requirements of the current Expenditure Management System.

More Information

In this third step of our policy webinar series, you will gain the crucial knowledge and skills to enhance your policy-making skills and confidently navigate intricate policy paths. We will dive into diverse policy formulation models and understand the art of providing effective advice to decision-makers.

More Information

Join us for the next step in our Policy webinar series! This session is all about enhancing your policy-making skills to help you confidently navigate complex policies. We'll dive into evidence-based policy-making, environmental scanning, and effective collaboration & engagement practices.

More Information

Build the foundations and expand your knowledge as a skilled and confident policy analyst in a complex and changing policy environment.

More Information

Review and practice the process employed in the development of MCs, as well as gain an appreciation of the purpose, structure and mandate of Cabinet and its key committees.

More Information

This webinar acts as a “user guide” for scientists and researchers working with or in the federal government. Learn the foundations of how the federal government works, and your unique role as a science-based public servant.

More Information

We will lead you through interactive discussions and real-life case studies, and take you through the guide to preparing Treasury Board Submissions.

More Information

In this concluding webinar of our Policy series, dive into cutting-edge policy-making techniques rooted in human-centered design and behavioral insights, often known as "Nudge." Immerse yourself in hands-on exploration of innovative policy strategies and discover how to effectively apply behavioral insights to your own projects.

More Information

This course is specifically tailored for public servants of the Government of Canada who are involved in or interact with financial management roles.

More Information

This targeted course is specifically designed for federal public servants in Canada to enhance their proficiency in human resources management within the public sector framework.

More Information

This intensive two-day program is ideal for individuals new to policy roles or those transitioning into policy-focused work.

More Information

Explore how values and ethics shape public service. Through real-world examples and discussion, this course offers practical guidance on accountability, responsible communication, and ethical decision-making in today’s evolving public sector.

More Information

Gain insight into how Canada’s Parliament works and how politics shape laws and policies. This course explores key conventions, party dynamics, and the relationship between the public service and elected officials.

More Information