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Join authors Kevin Lynch and James Mitchell for the launch for their new book, A New Blueprint for Government: Reshaping Power, the PMO, and the Public Service (University of Regina Press, 2025). The discussion will be moderated by Margaret Biggs, SPS Matthews Fellow in Global Public Policy.

Is the Canadian government contributing to its own underperformance? An insider’s guide to steering our nation toward greater efficiency
Canada is struggling. Our growth is anemic, our standard of living is stagnant, our housing is unaffordable, and our health care system is nearing a breaking point. To make matters worse, the government fails to deliver core services and avoid management fiascos.

These failures are systemic and interconnected. What connects them is a fatal flaw in how the federal government operates, makes decisions, and takes action. Power has shifted from Cabinet to the Prime Minister and Prime Minister’s Office, with political staff taking on a larger role relative to the Public Service, and parliament has lost its ability to call the elected government to account.

With 50 years of combined experience in leadership positions in government, the authors offer an expert’s perspective on how to restore accountability and rebuild a culture of excellence by proposing a new blueprint for reshaping government. As Canadians face uncertainties at home and abroad, these practical and straightforward recommendations offer a path forward to ensure our nation’s prosperity.