| PREFACE
One of the ongoing challenges facing the Public Service is to continually improve the
way we do business, for the benefit of Canadians, in an increasingly complex and
ever-changing environment. Unpredictability exists whenever and wherever decisions are
made, whether of an administrative, operational, regulatory, scientific or policy nature.
An effective risk management approach is an important tool to respond to this ongoing
challenge.
Risk management involves Canadians in many different ways. Indeed, success in managing
risk should result in improvements in the quality of government services and the
effectiveness of public policy, for Canadians. It should also support a dialogue between
Canadians and the Public Service on the nature of risk and how we can best operate in an
environment of uncertainty and limited resources.
For these reasons, risk management merits a strong policy research and development
capacity within the Government of Canada. As a horizontal policy issue, Departments and
Agencies must work together to establish a community of interest, to identify a common
language and, broadly-speaking, to share approaches to common challenges.
In producing this paper, the Assistant Deputy Minister Working Group on Risk Management
has made an important step in stimulating horizontal policy work around the question of
how decisions are taken, and risks managed, in the Government of Canada. This work
complements noteworthy efforts that are underway within Departments and Agencies.
Our challenge is to use this report as a platform for further horizontal work to
support ongoing efforts within Departments and Agencies to modernize and to increase the
transparency of decision-making for the benefit of Canada and Canadians.
Mel Cappe
Clerk of the Privy Council
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