A good policy is...

A good policy is one that…

1. responds to political pressure — that is, the actions of the Government will be received favourably by those holding the Government to account;
2. solves a problem — whether we call it an “issue” or “pressure” that drives policy, it is easiest to think of as a problem that requires a solution;
3. aligns with society’s values — given the diversity of society, we try to satisfy the values of the majority; and
4. can be implemented successfully — solutions must be practical and capacity must exist.

Governments respond to the priorities of those who hold them to account 

• Our system is based on relationships defined by responsibility and accountability: citizens give Members of Parliament the responsibility to represent them — and hold them to account.  Parliament gives the Prime Minister and Cabinet the responsibility to govern — and holds them to account.
• The Government’s agenda and how it is implemented will be judged by Parliament, and citizens, so Governments make decisions with this eventuality at the forefront.

It is important to clearly identify the problem to be solved and the objectives

• There can be many perspectives on what the problem to be solved really is.  Reaching agreement on this point to the satisfaction of the Minister(s) proposing a policy is, of course, important.
• Evidence, cause and effect relationships are important considerations, but sometimes not as complete as one might like.  Ideally, there should be some defensible logic to how a policy will solve a problem, or at least contribute to the solution.
• Learning approaches to policy (i.e. try something, learn what works and what doesn’t, then adjust) can sometimes be the only viable approaches in our increasingly complex world.

The process of developing policy is how we define the public interest, i.e. to reflect the values of the majority

• Of course, the values of the majority are difficult to assess precisely and can be influenced through information and debate.  That information and debate is part of the policy process.
• We have a diverse society, and since Cabinet will ultimately decide on policy, Prime Ministers tend to choose Ministers to represent that diversity.
• The options available to solve a problem will normally reflect the degree to which values (e.g. minimizing cost, maximizing effectiveness, minimizing environmental impact etc.) can be reconciled or prioritized.

An assessment of the plan for implementation is also necessary 

• The emphasis on managing implementation in a way that increases the chances of success is given attention at the point when policies are decided upon.
• Considerations include resources required, how risks will be managed, and whether there is support and capacity among all those on whom implementation depends.
• While Cabinet policy committees do consider implementation to an extent, Treasury Board plays a much bigger role in this area, which I will elaborate on in my next post.

You can read other How Government Works posts (et les versions fran?aises) at: https://ianmatheson.wordpress.com