Issue 1

Policymaking as a profession

WELCOME

Welcome to Policycraft, the free monthly newsletter that curates fresh and insightful thinking on the profession of public policymaking from Canada and around the world.

Many professions have a shared sense of themselves as such; they have associations, conferences, journals, and an understanding that staying up to date with the literature is essential to their development. 

Policymaking, less so. 

Policy work is not confined to elected officials, political staff, or even the public service. Policy thinkers are everywhere: for- and non-profits, academia, industry, and activism. Sadly, the walls between these gardens can be high, limiting exchange and community. But we’re all in the same line of work: developing solutions to make the lives of Canadians better.

What makes a policy professional? Likeminded academic Iris Geva-May believes it includes a capacity for systems thinking, a body of knowledge both theoretical and practical, and a set of analytical ‘tricks of the trade’. You likely already “think like a policymaker”, applying those professional skills to your area of interest or expertise. But how often do you apply them to the practice of policymaking? 

The vision that behind this newsletter is that there is value in policy thinkers from all walks of life having a shared sense of being one profession; in our having space to develop techniques, innovations, and insights about what makes good policymaking independent of subject matter siloes; in forming a community through which we can debate and discuss our professional standards and philosophies. Fundamentally, that there is value in building our craft: policycraft.

Policycraft is intended to support Canadian policy professionals in just that task: providing space for meta-analytical introspection about the work you do as a policy thinker, helping you keep up to date with new approaches and research, and inspiring you to think about yourself as belonging to a recognizable profession.

Who should subscribe? You’re in the profession (or aspiring to be), whether public or private sector. You aim to design or influence policies that actually solve problems and enhance Canadians' lives. You’re interested in upskilling your craft as a policy thinker, not just your knowledge of a specific subject area. You’re keen to share your thoughts and experience, and to engage with a community of policy professionals.

If that describes you, you’re in the right place. This is Policycraft: Your profession, curated.

SYLLABUS 

💻“When Revolving Doors Are Good, Actually”
by Noah Zon, PolicyReady.ca 

Your Policycraft editor can speak from experience on the benefit of building a policy career in both the public and private sector. Springboard Policy impresario Noah Zon makes a compelling case for more regular exchange between the two solitudes, both for the betterment of the profession and good public policy, generally.

💻 “Canada’s policy ecosystem is in need of major updates”
by Neil Bower, Max Bell School of Public Policy

This is a brief but impassioned piece about how policymaking in Canada needs to change. One of the suggested reforms? “Policy-makers need to keep pace with the evolution of policy instruments.” The author’s emphasis is on digital and data, but “policy instruments” as a concept extends beyond technology.

🎓“Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges for Public Administration”
by Genevieve David, Canadian Public Administration 💰

Regardless of your industry, you will likely have been inundated with hype about how AI is going to revolutionize it (your Minister is definitely obsessed with AI). But where to start? This recent article in the CPA journal provides a framework for approaching AI in the public sector.

💻“Should Governments Steer Private Investment Decisions? Framing Canada’s Industrial Policy Choices”
by Steve LaFleur, Institute for Research on Public Policy

Populism, supply chain shocks, and trade wars have made industrial policy a hot topic since the early days of the pandemic. The IRPP has assembled a steering group to study industrial policy options in the Canadian context, and provide advice on how it might be done well. Their initial report is especially worth a read given that this crew of experts don’t all agree on the merits of industrial policy.

📚Speaking Truth to Canadians About Their Public Service
by Donald Savoie

In public administration scholar Donald Savoie’s new book, he takes on the capacity of the federal public service to deliver for Canadians. State capacity may be considered a problem of public administration, but without it even well-designed policies will be challenged to hit their marks.

Is that pile of books on your nightstand already too tall? (Real.) Check out a preview 💰 in the Globe and Mail.

💻“Incapacitated: Why Canada has a state capacity problem - and how to fix it”
by Sean Speer, Public Policy Forum

Can’t get enough of the state capacity discussion? Policycraft, too. This report from PPF tackles the concept, including how the centralization of policymaking and improvement of its oversight may be critical to rebuilding capacity.

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Thank you for reading the first issue of Policycraft. If you found it of interest, please subscribe for free below.

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