CSPS Transitions of Government

Annotated Reading List: Transitions of Government

At the request of the Privy Council Office, the Canada School of the Public Service (CSPS) has identified recommended readings related to the management of transitions of government. This list supplements Deputy Minister and senior leader learning events to be held by CSPS in 2019.

The selected readings examine both political and public service perspectives on transition and draw on experiences from past transitions within Canada and abroad. In the case of longer pieces, shorter excerpts focusing on aspects most relevant to public servants are provided.

For ease of reference, readings have been organized by: the federal experience; other Canadian/provincial experiences; and, international experience.

FEDERAL PERSPECTIVES:

1.(1) Off and Running: The Prospects and Pitfalls of Government Transitions in Canada Zussman, David. (2013). Off and Running: The Prospects and Pitfalls of Government Transitions in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

Summary: Zussman examines approaches to transition at the federal level from 1984 to 2011. He draws on: his career in public affairs, including his role in the transitions for the Chrétien governments; extensive interviews with more than forty key individuals involved in the last eleven federal government transitions; and the international literature on government transitions, public administration, and management. Zussman goes step-by-step through the transition process from the pre-election stage of transition planning through to implementation and consolidation of a new government. This book is ideally suited to those seeking an understanding of how government works during one of the most crucial points in its life cycle.