J. Iain Gow and Sharon L. Sutherland, “Public Employment in Canada: downsizing in a multi-layered state,” in Hans-Ulrich Derlien and B. Guy Peters, The State at Work (Volume 1: Public Sector Employment in Ten Western Countries) Edward Elgar, 2008: 138-174.

J. Iain Gow and Sharon L. Sutherland, “Minority Representation: language, race and ethnicity,” in Hans-Ulrich Derlien and B. Guy Peters, The State at Work (Volume 2: Comparative Public Service Systems) Edward Elgar, 2008: 162-200.

Sharon Sutherland, "Braybrooke on Public Policy," in Susan Sherwin and Peter Schotch (eds.) Engaged Philosophy: Essays in Honour of David Braybrooke. University of Toronto Press, 2007: 111-146. Refereed.

S.L. Sutherland, "The Clerk of the Privy Council," in Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities; Restoring Accountability; Research Studies, Volume 3 (Linkages: Responsibilities and Accountabilities): Ottawa: PWGSC, 2006. Commissioned.

Recent Publications (Electronic and Print)

S.L. Sutherland, "The Unaccountable Federal Accountability Act: Goodbye to responsible government?" revue gouvernance, 3, 2 (December 2006): 30-42. [View a printable copy of this paper.]

Christian Rouillard et S.L. Sutherland, « Responsabilité ministérielles, gouvernance démocratique et vérification juricomptable, » Éthique publique. 8 (printemps 2006): 178-84.

"Gomery: prequel and sequel," revue gouvernance, 3, 1 (May 2006): 1-15. The paper discusses the (financial) sponsorship scandal and the Gomery Inquiry’s terms of reference as cases of mediated corruption, using Denis Thompson’s definition of that concept (use of a institutional vehicle that is normally legitimate, but in a corrupt or, in the case of the Inquiry, a propagandistic way) thereby constituting a moral/ethical offence against a regime or system. [View printable copy of this paper.]

James I. Gow and Sharon L. Sutherland, "Comparison of Canadian Masters Programs in Public Administration, Public Management and Public Policy", Canadian Public Administration, 3 (2004), 379-405. [View a printable copy.]

"Federal House Committee Reform: Mindless Adversarialism Well Done," Constitutional Forum 13, 2 (Fall, 2003): 50-63.

"The Office of the Auditor General of Canada: Government in Exile?" School of Public Policy Studies Working Papers Series, WP 31, August 2002, Queen’s University (29 pp). View a copy.

"If You Get What You Aim For, Will You Lose What You Don’t?" Plenary talk for the Performance and Planning Exchange’s 11th Annual Symposium, May 16, 2007. The talk examined the history of estimates and program assessment reforms in the federal government, and placed the Gomery Commission’s recommendations and the Federal Accountability Act, promulgated in December, 2006, into the main management policy and parliamentary scrutiny trends since the late 1960s. The question offered for discussion – the potential loss – is the ability of the reformed regime to deliver public policy.

"The Political System and Empirical Information for Management and Political Control," a presentation to policy analysts, Industry Canada, March 21, 2007. The presentation reviews control theory and examines the implications of mandated implementation of the findings of one-off studies ("audits") officially designated as "results measurement." Given many if not most do not meet minimal methods standards, their validity and reliability is doubtful.

"Making Good Public Policy: Approvals; Fiascoes; Precautionary Policy," a paper presented to policy Directors-General, Industry Canada, February 15, 2007. The paper brings forward the older literature that analyses policy failures or fiascoes and finds the judgment to be a political and social phenomenon – that will change over time – and cannot be prevented by "check lists" or theories of the second best; and describes and criticizes the Treasury Board Secretariat’s management-of-government system, the "Management Accountability Framework," as an example of comprehensive rational planning that may be quite irrelevant to government’s capacity to deliver and implement policy in a controlled way.

"Accountability: A Concept Taken Too Far?" a paper presented to the Conference of Heads of Federal Agencies on October 6, 2006, at the Canada School of the Public Service, Ottawa. The paper is a practical effort to acquaint the Heads on which provisions in the Federal Accountability Act, then Bill C-2, would make new demands on their operations.

"The Federal Accountability Act and Constitutional Practices," a paper presented to the Pacific Business and Law Institute Conference on "Risky Business," on September 27, 2006, at the Chateau Laurier, Ottawa.

On invitation from the Committee Clerk, testified on September 21, 2006 before the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on Bill C-2 (later the Federal Accountability Act) and presented an opening statement. Topics presented were the lack of a theory of institutional design in the Bill, a lack of respect for the House of Commons (illustrated in part by the absence of any provision for accountability of the many "officers of Parliament" (statutory or executive officers) to the representative Chamber, the lack of consultation before legislating, and the punitive nature of the Bill with its welter of summary conviction offences, some entailing long prison sentences for public office holders including senior public servants.

Speaker at an event on May 3, 2006 jointly sponsored by the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) and the University of Ottawa, on the Gomery Commission as a commission of inquiry. "Accountability and Parliamentary Government", a paper for the Library of Parliament series for exempt staff in Ministers’ offices, April 7, 2006, House of Commons.

"The Potential Impact of the Gomery Recommendations on the Committee Systems of Parliament, a paper presented on March 30, 2006 at the Annual Professional Development Day of the Clerks of the House of Commons.

"The Gomery Recommendations and their Potential Impact on the public service", a paper presented on February 16, 2006 as part of the Armchair series, Canada School of the Public Service, Ottawa.

"Treasury Board Secretariat’s ‘Pre-Gomery" Reform Package," a paper delivered on November 9, 2005 as a panel member and discussant in a plenary session at the Annual Assistant Deputy Minister Forum, "Balancing Innovation, Risk and Control in a Fishbowl," Château Laurier, Ottawa.

On invitation from the Committee Clerk, testified on October 25, 2005 before the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance and presented an opening statement, "Canadian Circumstances and the Accounting Officer Mechanism."