Political-Public Service Interface

Description

Operating effectively at the intersection of elected officials, political advisors, and public servants requires a sophisticated grasp of both formal and informal roles and constitutional conventions, grounded in values and ethics and shared responsibilities. The interplay between political and public service leaders is at the heart of our democratic system. Managing this relationship well is critical to strong governance and healthy public institutions. This interactive workshop combines foundational governance principles with real-world experience and case studies to help public sector teams manage this balance while upholding their responsibilities. The session opens with a customized brief exploring Canada's federal parliamentary system alongside public sector values and ethics principles. Moving quickly beyond theory, the program transitions into scenario-based discussions and a facilitated fireside chat with practitioners who have worked in senior roles for both elected officials and in the public service. Participants will work through realistic case studies modeled on daily organizational challenges that have immediate, practical relevance to their day-to-day work.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the core structures of Canada's federal parliamentary system and how ministers, political staff, and the public service relate to one another.
• Analyze the values, professional boundaries, and ethical obligations required to serve as a responsible, non-partisan public servant.
• Navigate complex, real-world political dynamics and administrative scenarios while maintaining analytical integrity and professional objectivity.
• Formulate constructive, practical approaches to support ministerial decision-making and manage sensitive requests from stakeholders.

Core Skills

• Developing and applying actionable strategies to combat racism in personal and professional settings.
• Enhancing cultural awareness and sensitivity to diverse perspectives.
• Promoting and implementing inclusive and equitable practices in organizational environments.

Duration

• Half-day to full-day formats, customized for the client's needs. This can be offered as an in-person, virtual, or hybrid course.

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.

Half-day to full-day formats, customized for the client's needs. This can be offered as an in-person, virtual, or hybrid course

Facilitators

Lori Turnbull is a Professor in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University.  Her teaching and research focus on parliamentary politics and government, public sector ethics, and democratic health and reform. She is a frequent commentator on CBC, CTV, and Global news networks, is a contributing writer to Policy magazine, and a member of the board at the Parliamentary Centre. From 2015 to 2017, she was seconded to the Privy Council Office, first as a policy adviser in the Machinery of Government Secretariat, then as departmental liaison to the Office of the Minister of Democratic Institutions, and finally as a policy adviser at the Priorities and Planning Secretariat. She is the co-author of Democratizing the Constitution: Reforming Responsible Government, which won the Donner Prize and the Donald Smiley Prize.

George Green has worked as a research geologist in northern Canada and as an RCMP officer in Prince George, BC. He spent over 25 years in the public sector before retiring in 2017, including five years at the ADM level at Parks Canada.

After earning his M.Sc. in geology, George rejoined the public service in 1993. He held progressively senior roles in several departments, including the Privy Council Office and the Treasury Board Secretariat. From 2012 to 2014, while Chief Administrative Officer at Parks Canada, he served as ADM Champion for the Real Property Institute of Canada. As VP of Indigenous Affairs and Cultural Heritage, he led Parks Canada’s national responsibility for implementing the UNESCO World Heritage Convention on behalf of Canada.

George is a past president of the Lake Clear Conservancy and an active member of a property owners’ association in Eastern Ontario. Since 2021 as a member of the IOG team, he has shared his public policy and leadership experience with employees of the federal public service and the Government of Nunavut.

Ryan Androsoff is the Vice-President of Learning and Leadership at the Institute on Governance (IOG), where he leads IOG’s professional development practice, including leadership programs, day courses, and custom learning experiences. Ryan has worked with IOG as an Associate since 2018, providing advisory services and spearheading the renowned Digital Executive Leadership Program.

With over 25 years of experience working with governments and international organizations in Canada and globally, Ryan is a recognized expert in digital government and public sector modernization. Before joining IOG full-time, he founded Think Digital, a consultancy focused on helping public sector organizations navigate digital disruption. He is also the host of the Let’s Think Digital podcast, which explores how technology is transforming government. As a dynamic and sought-after speaker, Ryan frequently shares insights on innovation, leadership, and the future of public services through presentations, writing, and media commentary.

Previously, Ryan co-founded the Canadian Digital Service (CDS) in 2017, a startup organization within the Canadian Government established to help departments design, prototype, and build better digital services. From 2010 to 2016, he served as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Government of Canada’s Treasury Board Secretariat, where he worked on initiatives to improve digital service delivery capacity across the federal government and led efforts to modernize how public servants communicate and collaborate online. His career has also included roles as a policy advisor to Canada’s Minister of International Cooperation and positions with the OECD in Paris and the World Bank in Washington, DC. Ryan brings extensive experience in public policy, communications, and political strategy, having advised elected officials at all levels of government across Canada.