Proceedings from SPT’s 2011 Research & Policy Roundtable Forum, “Who’s in Charge?” Now Available

Posted on 30. May, 2011 by in Community Engagement, SPT News

A detailed proceedings document is now available from our 2011 Research & Policy Roundtable entitled, Who’s in Charge? The impact of agencies, boards and commissions on public accountability and service delivery, held on Feb 24th, 2011 at Metro Hall.

The objective of the forum was to invite key experts, academics, community advocates and policy-makers to engage in a critical discussion on the proliferation of arm’s length government agencies, boards and commissions in Canada, Ontario and Toronto. We discussed the impacts of ABCs on public accountability and service delivery by exploring their roles and responsibilities in specific policy areas of health, transit, public safety and security and urban/municipal planning. Agencies such as Metrolinx, the LHINs, and the Ontario Municipal Board, have considerable authority over public services, however, very little is known about how they function, their mandate or how decisions are made. Our intention was to explore some of the key issues regarding accountability and service delivery that have emerged within these domains.

The day began with introductory remarks made by SPT board, Chair Celia Denov, and Executive Director John Campey. Our second session guest speaker was Colin Talbot, professor from the University of Manchester. Mr. Talbot provided us with a broad overview of the international experience and proliferation of arms-length bodies in public administration, paying special attention to the UK experience and current challenges. His key message was that the use of special purpose bodies have been used in many jurisdictions around the world for years and are unlikely to be reduced despite calls by certain governments for their review, reform or elimination.

Our third panel session, “Perspectives on Agencification: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly”, saw presentations from Hon. Jean Augustine (Ontario Fairness Commissioner), Pamela Bryant (University of Toronto) and David Siegel (Brock University). Hon. Jean Augustine offered a case study example of how agencies are formed, how they operate and some of the key challenges they face, by discussing the regulatory agency she heads, the Ontario Fairness Commission (OFC). Pamela Bryant discussed the different types of agencies operating in Ontario, their functions and why they are used in our public administration. She also highlighted some of the key issues regarding accountability and how governments are working to strengthen good governance mechanisms and practices to enhance transparency and accountability. David Siegel provided participants with a local government perspective, focusing on the Niagara Parks Commission as a case study example. He highlighted the challenges provincially created agencies operating in municipalities’ face, along with the need for better public education and understanding around what role ABCs play to facilitate greater public accountability.

After lunch, participants broke off into smaller groups to have a more focused discussion on the agencies dealing with the policy areas of health, police and public safety, transit and municipal planning. Our health panel, examining issues around the Local Health Integration Networks, included Raymond Applebaum (Peel Senior Link), Natalie Mehra (Ontario Health Coalition), Mark Hundert (Hay Group Health Care Consulting) and Scott Dudgeon (The Change Foundation). The police and public safety group discussed bodies such as the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, and featured Alok Mukherjee (Chair of the Toronto Police Services Board), Cathy Boxer-Byrd (OCPC), Anna Willats (Toronto Police Accountability Coalition) and Mariana Valverde (University of Toronto). Our transit panel on Metrolinx consisted of Steve Munro (transit advocate), Franz Hartmann (Toronto Environmental Alliance), Shelly Gordon (CUPE) and John Howe (Metrolinx). Our final panel focused on municipal planning issues and the Ontario Municipal Board and consisted of Michael Shapcott (The Wellesley Institute), Andrew Sancton (University of Western Ontario) and Michael Gottheil (Ontario Municipal Board).

Our fifth session consisted of brief snapshot presentations of two additional Toronto ABCs. Speakers Peggy Nash from Invest Toronto and John Macintyre from Build Toronto, provided participants with a brief overview of their respective organizations, highlighting some of their main functions and duties. Our final speaker of the day consisted of Shirley Hoy, who provided us with some final reflections on this topic from her perspective as former Toronto City Manager.  Ms. Hoy highlighted the Toronto Public Library system as a success story of effective ABC management due to its citizen members largely controlling decisions instead of City Councillors. Her top four recommendations for successful local ABC management included:

  1. Developing a clear Memorandum of Understanding between Council and the agency that outlines the responsibilities of each member of the governing body, including roles, boundaries, and powers.
  2. Formal regular reports to Council by the board and board chair should be a requirement.
  3. Adopt a ‘no surprise’ policy to manage major changes for both sides (the board and Council).
  4. Board members should be well briefed and oriented to the strategic directions of the Mayor and Council.

Social Planning Toronto would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the City of Toronto for their support and contribution, as well as to all the speakers, moderators, organizers and attendees for making the event an overwhelming success.

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