Annex B
Background on the Working Group
This annex contains:
- background on the Working Group;
- the membership of the Working Group; and,
- a list of the outside experts who contributed to the working group.
Context
In recent years, several high profile events, such as the diminution of fish stocks off
the east and west coasts, the tainted blood tragedy and the subsequent Krever inquiry and,
more generally, the concern about adequate preparedness for Y2K, have served to raise
awareness of the importance of managing risk effectively in a decision-making context.
In the public policy environment, risks to health and safety, environmental integrity
and economic vitality are increasing, in part due to factors such as:
- ever more rapid technological adoption of scientific advances;
- population increases and migration;
- globalization of trade and environmental phenomena; and,
- pressure on public sector resources (financial and human).
In addition to the many external influences, government has made a conscious effort to
enhance the public policy process by meeting challenges such as citizen engagement,
consistent ethical practice, improved reporting to Parliament, and a focus on results
rather than rules.
Taken together, these trends and pressures create an environment where public policy:
- must deal with risk on a more frequent basis;
- is subject to greater scrutiny; and,
- often has increasingly critical implications for future social, economic and
environmental well-being.
Creation of the Working Group
In light of this evolving environment, the issue of risk management arose in several
discussions among deputy ministers in the latter part of 1998. At that time, the Clerk of
the Privy Council indicated that the level of interest expressed by deputies merited a
closer look at risk management concepts.
Accordingly, the Privy Council Office convened a working group of assistant deputy
ministers to consider horizontal issues associated with managing risk in the public policy
process. It was anticipated that such a working group could expand the knowledge base on
risk management, enrich further discussions and assist in identifying key areas for
attention.
The Working Group on Risk Management was organized and chaired by Ruth Dantzer,
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Social Development Policy, Privy Council Office.
Participants in the Working Group were nominated by members of the Deputy Ministers’
Challenge Team on Regulatory Reform (now called the Deputy Minister’s Challenge Team
on Law-Making and Governance), ensuring representation of a cross-section of policy
responsibilities within the government; science-based departments as well as those with a
socio-economic perspective. A membership list is attached.
The Group met monthly between January and November 1999. During that time, several
special sessions were also convened to expand the Group’s general working knowledge
on risk management and establish linkages with outside experts. A list of these outside
experts is attached. In April the Clerk’s ADM Forum was dedicated to the topic of
risk management. Various sub-groups also met over the period to develop and refine aspects
of the work undertaken by the Group, including background papers and this report.
Membership -- ADM Working Group on Risk Management
Ruth Dantzer
Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet
Social Development Policy
Privy Council Office
Jane S. Billings
Chief Executive Officer, Consulting and Audit Canada
Public Works and Government Services
Alternate:
Bill McCann
Director General, Consulting
Consulting and Audit Canada
Public Works and Government Services
Tony Campbell
Executive Director, Intelligence Assessment Secretariat
Privy Council Office
Jean Chartier
Vice-President, Public and Regulatory Affairs
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Bob Connelly
Vice-President, Policy Development
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Liseanne Forand
Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy
Fisheries and Oceans
Jonathan Fried
Assistant Deputy Minister, Trade and Economic Policy
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Alternate:
Andre Dulude
Director General, Technical Barriers and Regulations Division
Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Outside Experts Who Contributed to the Working Group
Bill Stanbury
University of British Columbia
Bill Leiss
University of Calgary
Michael Trebilcock
University of Toronto
David Lewis
Hickling Lewis Brod Inc.
Jean François Girard,
Conseil d’État
Paris, France
Mark Neal
University of Reading
United Kingdom
Tammy Tengs
University of California
Irvine, USA |
