Publications

A Conversation with Stephen Goldsmith – April 4, 2001
Privatization assumes that the private sector is inherently more effective and we determined that public value comes from competition and that private monopolies are not better than public monopolies. The competitive aspect drives value to the citizens.

Efficient Mosquitoes – March 15, 2001
Winnipeg is moving towards a single parking authority to eliminate overlaps and create efficiencies in parking management.

Our Cities, Canada's Political Doormat – January 15, 2001
Why are Canadian cities expected to do so much with so little? Let's open up both angles, how they do things and the resources available.

Reforming Financial Management In The Public Sector – December 1, 2000
This is a comprehensive 30-page overview of the financial management reforms introduced in New Zealand. Learn about the most advanced public sector financial management system in the world - the adoption of accrual accounting and budgeting; introduction of a capital charge and decentralized authority by departments to buy and sell assets; output-based management and budgeting; and devolution of financial decision making to departments coupled with increased accountability. this high performance system replaced the centralized, input-focussed, limited accountability model that remains the standard in Canada.

Managed Competition – The Phoenix Experience – October 1, 2000
Under managed competition, a public agency competes with private sector firms to provide public agency functions and services. Managed competition attempts to create a "level playing field" between the public and private sectors to select the most cost effective method of delivering public services.

A Conversation with Ronald Jensen – September 1, 2000
Its primary element is competition, or managed competition, in which the city workforce competes with the private sector to deliver municipal services.

Separation Key to Winnipeg Renewal – August 14, 2000
In Phoenix, civic politicians break the law if they interfere directly in the city's administrative affairs.

Nostalgic Governments Face Cold Realities – August 1, 2000
Two years ago centre-left parties the world over were celebrating what looked like an electoral swing in their direction. Tony Blair's convincing win in Britain in May 1997 was followed by Lionel Jospin's in France, Gerhard Schroeder's in Germany, the re-election of Jean Chretien in Canada, and a swing to the Democrats in the mid-term elections in the United States.

Low Expectations For Municipal Amalgamation In Ontario – April 1, 2000
When it comes to municipal restructuring, the Harris government has bought into the myth that having fewer and bigger municipalities is the answer. While this government deserves its share of the blame for jumping on the amalgamation bandwagon, the real advocates of having fewer and bigger municipalities are a group of civil servants in the Ontario public service.

Winnipeg can Learn from Phoenix – September 7, 1998
Phoenix spawned the competitive model, which Indianapolis adapted, the model that proces that competitive framework can liberate city workers from oppressive bureaucratic thinking and structures, enabling them to produce high-quality services at falling prices.

Winnipeg Looks at Indianapolis Model – July 27, 1998
On a sleepy summer day two weeks ago, Winnipeg's City Council quietly instructed its staff to prepare a report on the "Indianapolis Model" of managed competition. Can our elected officials break out of the box of old thinking?

Sunny Lessons from Sunnyvale – June 29, 1998
From top to bottom, Sunnyvale's high-performance government has learned to evaluate every service its 750 employees perform. The results speak for themselves: high-quality services delivered at low cost to customers, financial stability and a satisfied electorate. All of this without cutting programs or eliminating staff.

Enlightened Unionism – April 27, 1998
Two years ago at a conference on local government reform, I met Stephan Fantauzzo, a union leader who represents municipal workers in the City of Indianapolis.

The Cuff Report - Tricky Treat? – November 3, 1997
After George Cuff reported on the operations of Winnipeg's City Council, strategies are developed to improve the problems that Cuff laid out.

Out of the Silos – October 13, 1997
Angela Griffin recently spoke in Winnipeg of the recent transformations she has instilled in the government of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. Griffin was hired to revive the legislation of Wellington, and has done so successfully. The government of Winnipeg has much to learn from her tactics.

Light in the Tunnel – October 6, 1997
Special Operating Agencies in Winnipeg give the city hope of re-inventing itself.

When Smaller is Better - California Contract Cities – September 22, 1997
Since they are so complicated, big organizations tend to perform less effectively. Thus, the Harris government's Megacity policy, which is based naively on an overly optimistic view of government, will turn out to be a massive mistake.

Enlightened Unionism – July 1, 1996
How Indianapolis unionized city workers thrived in a competitive delivery model