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THE LEARNING CENTRE IS EXPANDING TO THE GOVERNANCE LABORATORY! Click the image above to discover the IOG's new course offerings.
Presenting the inaugural Annual James Fleck Lecture on Modernizing Government. Click image for more information.
With the upcoming municipal elections, the IOG and its partners are seeking greater youth participation! Click image for details and how to get involved.

The IOG’s vision is to be the pre-eminent, independent Canadian source of knowledge, research and advice on governance and its continuous improvement. For 20 years we have been committed to exploring, developing and promoting the principles, standards and practices which underlie good governance in the public sphere, both in Canada and abroad. To date, the IOG has undertaken over 1000 projects in Canada and 35 countries, and we are growing every day. Explore our services to find out how we can help you.

Our Services include:

Applied Research

Sometimes it's useful to see your department or organization in relation to other, similar ones, or to explore new ideas and options for improving your governance. It can give you a better perspective of the current environment and your organization...

Advisory Services

The Institute On Governance provides advice on all aspects of governance. This advice is based on our extensive experience in Canada and abroad, working across all sectors of society on a wide range of subjects. Our advice is underpinned by our...

Facilitation and Engagement

Facilitation: Meetings between government and stakeholders or those involving two or more departments are often more productive if designed and facilitated by a neutral, third party. This can also be the case for groups or...

Professional Development and Capacity Building

Learning has been a core activity of the IOG since the very beginning. Whether convening experts to share their thinking or helping people to strengthen their individual capacities, the IOG can design, manage and deliver a wide-range of...

Speakers & Panelists

The IOG is frequently asked to participate in conferences by providing keynote speakers, panelists or discussion papers. We can identify and provide stimulating speakers – from inside or outside the IOG – in any of our knowledge areas. For...

The IOG draws on its extensive knowledge base and experience to assist public purpose organizations such as governments, public agencies, crown corporations, communities and the non-profit sector to improve their governance. Since its inception, the Institute has completed well over 1,000 projects in public governance. The Institute carries out research, runs professional development programs, and provides advice in a range of areas. Explore our Knowledge Areas to learn more.

Our knowledge areas include:

Aboriginal Governance

There is near consensus that the conditions of Aboriginal peoples in Canada rank as one of our most serious shortcomings as a nation. Unacceptable gaps separate Aboriginal people from other Canadians in terms of education attainment, employment and...

Board & Organizational Governance

Board governance is a deciding component of organizational effectiveness and a crucial part of the functioning life of non-profit and public sector organizations. Good governance ensures objectives are realized, resources are well managed, and the...

Building Strong Partnerships

Partnerships between public and private organizations are an important feature of the modern governance landscape. How policies are developed, who is tasked with implementation and who is accountable for results are questions that need answers...

Health and Innovation

In Canada, health governance is built on intergovernmental cooperation. It also takes place outside the governmental sphere and involves non-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities, and even individuals themselves. This...

International Programming

Over the past 20 years, the Institute has worked with donor organizations, national or state governments and local civil society organizations in more than 30 countries to build capacity for more effective governance. Our Canadian and...

Modernizing Government

The structures, systems and processes typical of current governments are under pressure. The challenges of citizen involvement, technology, demographics and globalization have drastically changed expectations. Governments across the...

For more than 15 years, the Institute on Governance has been offering courses for public sector policy makers. Over 6000 federal employees have now taken one or more of our courses, and our attendance grown every year as former participants advise their staff colleagues to attend. The IOG provides an independent source of knowledge on governance, public policy and administration to equip individuals with the understanding and practical tools they need to better perform their functions.

Upcoming Courses include:

The Policy-Communications Interface

This practical one-day course outlines the importance of policy and communications groups working collaboratively to achieve optimal results. It also covers practical strategies for identifying roles and tasks, developing a common approach within key projects and working synergistically to employ the full potential, knowledge and expertise of the two groups to best effect.

The Frontiers of Science and Innovation

This one-day course highlights new scientific and technological advancements and their implications for policy and program areas within government. Current cases and selected examples will highlight the governance challenges associated with these rapid and far-reaching developments.

Values and Ethics in the 21st Century

This one-day course introduces and explores the ethics infrastructure needed for sound governance.

Aging Matters: Policy Implications of an Aging Workforce and Population

This one-day course highlights the policy and service delivery implications of the growing demographic of seniors in Canadian society that is challenging government, private sector, non-profit and societal assumptions about and responses to aging.

Aboriginal Governance: Challenges and Perspectives

This one-day course explores the principal governance challenges facing Aboriginal communities and organizations as they work to improve the well being of their citizens. In this session, we discuss policy approaches, ways to significantly improve the quality of governance and the appropriate role of the federal government in building Aboriginal governance capacity.

Strengthening Your Political Savvy: Understanding the Political/Public Service Interface

This one-day course will introduce you to the skills and abilities for understanding and cultivating your political acuity in the federal public service. Learn how to recognize and work with formal and informal systems, practices, relationships and cultures so that you can identify impacts, influence decisions and achieve organizational objectives. Strengthen your ability to be politically astute as you build your networks and develop advice for programs, policies, services and even, Ministers.

Foundations of Governance for Public Institutions

This course is designed to help public sector professionals from a variety of functional backgrounds, understand and apply the principles of good governance.

Understanding the Expenditure Management System

This course offers practical tips and strategies for understanding, addressing and working with the reporting and accountability requirements of the current Expenditure Management System (EMS) that is an essential element in developing and delivering programs, policies and services to Canadians.

Demystifying the Treasury Board Submission Process

This one-day course brings to life both the theory and practice of TB submissions to help make submission-writing a surmountable challenge.

Understanding the Canadian Government (for the Diplomatic Community)

This one-day course will provide and overview of the history of Canada’s governing institutions and democratic traditions with a special focus on the role, structures and relationships of the Federal government, the Queen, the Governor General, the Senate, the House of Commons, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the Public Service.

Introduction to Policy-Making (Policy 1)

This one-day course provides an overview of how policy is developed within the federal government context. We offer this course to help you make sense of a number of complex factors that are an enduring feature of the public policy landscape, while keeping the interests of Canadians at the forefront of policy formulation.

Building Policy-Making Skills (Policy 2)

This intermediate level, one-day course takes policy making to the next level so that you can better navigate the complex policy landscape to create the conditions for success. We help you frame the issue, position your policy and make the case within the larger context of competing policy priorities on the federal government’s agenda.

Demystifying the Treasury Board Submission Process

Gives participants the tools, knowledge and confidence that mid-level managers need to manage the complexities of a successful TB submission process.