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Public Sector Collaboration in British Columbia

Prepared By: Julie ClementsShahdin FarsaiBob ParkerDavid Skerik

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LESSONS LEARNED

High level political champions are an asset to collaboration.

A well defined policy issue implies better collaboration

When objectives align, public sector collaboration is likely to be successful

Capacity and the legislative authority to act, are necessary conditions for collaboration

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RATIONALE

Why collaborate?Response to complex public policy challenges Improved service delivery through coordination

Significant variation in the nature and extent of collaborative arrangements

The challenge of collaboration

“Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds.”

- Alexander Graham Bell

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INTRODUCTION

To identify determinants of success for public sector collaboration in British Columbia.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

1. Problem Definition2. Policy Formulation3. Decision Making4. Policy Implementation5. Policy Evaluation

Policy Process

1. Decision Making2. Resource Sharing3. Service Coordination4. Monitoring & Evaluation

Collaborative Governance

SCOPE OF ANALYSIS

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CASES STUDIED

1. Agricultural: The Growing Forward Agricultural Policy Framework

2. Pine Beetle/Forest: no formal agreement3. Urban Development: The Vancouver Agreement

*First Nations: The Vancouver Aboriginal Skills and Employment Program

3 POLICY SECTOR CASES

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ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK

Decision MakingHorizontal or vertical?

Resource Sharing Existing funding or common pool?Equal contributions or Capacity-based?

Service CoordinationEliminate gaps or reduce overlaps?

FEATURES OF COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE

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POLICY SECTOR FEATURES

Impacts, Causes and TimeframePOLICY ISSUE DEFINITION

STAKEHOLDER CHARACTERISTICSGovernments involvedGeneral Characteristics

Diversity of stakeholders objectivesStakeholder capacityNon-governmental stakeholders

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY

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VisionA profitable and innovative agriculture industry with agri-food and agri-based products that seize opportunities in response to market demands and contributes to the health and well-being of Canadians

OutcomesA Competitive and Innovative Sector,A Sector that Contributes to Society's Priorities, andA Sector that is Proactive in Managing Risk.

Features of Collaborative GovernanceDecision MakingResource SharingService Coordination

CASE #1: GROWING FORWARD

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CASE #1: GROWING FORWARDPolicy Issue Characteristics

Regional vastnessSector diversityThis problem is concentrated on price stability, efficiency, and trade barriers.

Stakeholder CharacteristicsFederal Champion

Legislative AuthorityConcurrent authority between Federal and Provincial Governments

Lessons LearnedLegislative authority important collaborative factor to bind stakeholders togetherCross-Region initiatives need a champion for effective collaboration

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RESPONSE TO THE PINE BEETLE ISSUE

Background, Type of collaboration, Issue characteristics

CASE #2: FORESTRY POLICY

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PINE BEETLE INFESTATION AREA

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Decision making is vertical (mostly)

Resources are not formally pooled.

The response to the mountain pine beetle infestation is guided by the Mountain Pine Beetle Action Plan.

CASE #2: TYPE OF COLLABORATION

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RESPONSE TO THE PINE BEETLE ISSUE

ConclusionLegislative authority limits ability to act; therefore, common for only marginal change to resultShort term objectives attainable through collaboration whereas long term change may require legislative change.

CASE #2: FORESTRY POLICY

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CASE #3:VANCOUVER AGREEMENTEstablished in 2000; renewed 2005; expires 2010

Unanimous consent decision making

Pooled resources and ‘flexible financing’

Coordination across 41 pre-existing departments or programs

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Lessons learnedTask-based and problem-oriented teams work bestLong term/ systemic policy issues require more durable collaborative institutions to withstand changing actors and objectives (e.g. VPD’s Project Lockstep)

CASE #3: VANCOUVER AGREEMENT

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KEY FINDINGSPolicy Case Lessons Learned

First Nations PolicyVanASEP

Congruent objectives, political/ economic timing and incentives open policy window

High stakeholder capacity more favourableShort term objectives are more attainable through collaboration

when problems are not systemic

Agricultural PolicyGrowing Forward

Legislative authority is an important factor binding stakeholders together

Regional initiatives require a dominant policy champion for effective collaboration

Urban Development PolicyVancouver Agreement

Problem and task oriented focus was most effectiveLong term/ systemic policy issues require more durable

collaborative institutions to withstand changing actors and objectives.

BC Forestry PolicyResponse to the Pine Beetle

Legislative authority limits ability to actShort term objectives are attainable through collaboration whereas

long term change requires legislative change.

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CASE STUDY CONCLUSIONS

High level political champions are an asset to collaboration.

A well defined policy issue implies better collaboration

When objectives align, public sector collaboration is likely to be successful

Capacity and the legislative authority to act, are necessary conditions for collaboration

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LESSONS LEARNEDCase Study Lessons Learned

High Level Political

Champion

Well Defined Policy Issue

Congruent Objectives of Stakeholders

Legislative Authority to Act

Vancouver Agreement

YESChampions existed at beginning

YESDefined as

public health crisis

YES Not a significant impact on

collaboration

Growing Forward

YESFederal

champion

YES3 nationally

defined objectives

YES Concurrent Legislative Authority

Pine Beetle NONo clear

champion

NOConflicting objectives

NO Clear jurisdictional boundaries

make formal agreements problematic

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“Public sector collaboration is like an orchestra with the user as the conductor, leading a set of service providers- who may play different instruments, form different musical parts, but which together form a harmonic whole.”

Thank you.We invite your questions.