Learning from History: Program Reviews and Public Safety

Abstract

Canada appears headed for a new round of 1990-style program reviews aimed at producing spending restraint. This article uses evidence from two provincial inquiries into failures of government to caution that conducting such reviews on a whole-of-government basis creates too large a task to undertake without endangering the lives of Canadians. The danger involved is magnified further when the task is done in an atmosphere of crisis. In order to effect sound public management, program reviews should be done not on a whole-of-government basis but at known periodic intervals in individual ministries or program areas.