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Articles 61 - 90 of 228
Full-Text Articles in Public Administration
Career Paths And Leadership Skills Of Public Library Ceos, Simona Dinu
Career Paths And Leadership Skills Of Public Library Ceos, Simona Dinu
MPA Major Research Papers
Abstract: This research paper is an exploratory study of the career paths and leadership skills of public library CEOs in the province of Ontario. The purpose is to inform current library leaders as they develop succession plans, library boards when they recruit for a new CEO and those interested in advancing their careers and moving into senior leadership roles in public libraries. The findings are based on six interviews with successful public library CEOs from CULC (Canadian Urban Libraries Council) member libraries in Ontario. The career paths identified several trends the six participants have in common such as being an …
Job Recruitment & Retention In Rural Ontario: A Model Of Physician Recruitment, Applied To The Recruitment Of Local Government Professionals In Bruce County, Mollie Kuchma
MPA Major Research Papers
There are many differences between medical practices in urban and rural settings. As it relates to the recruitment of physicians, there is substantially more emphasis placed on the significance of physicians within rural municipalities and a number of resources are employed to recruit physicians to those areas. Similarly, rural local government organizations experience many of the same fundamental differences compared to urban local government organizations, but lack many of the resources necessary to recruit professionals to rural areas. As a result, rural municipalities struggle to fill vacancies and often lack the required knowledge and skills that are necessary to fulfill …
The City Of London And The Syrian Resettlement Initiative: Lessons Learned, Victoria Parada
The City Of London And The Syrian Resettlement Initiative: Lessons Learned, Victoria Parada
MPA Major Research Papers
The purpose of this document is to evaluate the City of London's experience with the Syrians resettlement initiation in order to identify lessons that can be used to enhance London's capacity to confront similar experiences. What are the main lessons learned by the City of London from Syrian Resettlement Initiative? This document will identify the positive and negative aspects of the work done by the City of London and the organizations in charge of settlement. The number of Syrian refugees that were accepted in London, added to the short time that the city had to prepare the settlement and integration …
The Leadership Role Of The Chief Administrative Officer (Cao) In Smaller Municipalities: Two Profiles, Robert H.A. Tremblay
The Leadership Role Of The Chief Administrative Officer (Cao) In Smaller Municipalities: Two Profiles, Robert H.A. Tremblay
MPA Major Research Papers
This research project describes the leadership roles of the municipal Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in smaller municipalities through two profiles of experienced professionals working in southwestern Ontario. The CAO is the organizational superior to all municipal employees. The position is the main conduit between council and administration, and is ultimately responsible for policy development and implementation. The profiles were developed through semi-structured interviews. On a much smaller scale, this replicates the method employed by Siegel in his 2015 book, Leaders in the Shadows: The Leadership Qualities of Municipal Chief Administrative Officers (University of Toronto Press). The profiles reveal that there …
Hidden Hurdles: An Exploration Of Possible Barriers Women Encounter When Pursuing A Career As An Operational Firefighter In Ontario, Lydia Wilcox
MPA Major Research Papers
The focus of this research paper was to explore the possible barriers women may encounter when pursuing a career as an operational firefighter in Ontario. Primary research was used to analyze empirical data collected through an on-line survey while guided by literature on concepts related to human resources best practices. Secondary research on bona fide occupational requirements (BFORs) and physical abilities testing used for firefighter candidates was also explored to investigate the validity of candidate physical testing being used in Ontario. The research in this paper showed that fire services were inconsistent when using HR best practices while hiring firefighting …
Indigenous-Municipal Intergovernmental Agreements: A Case Study Examining Substantive Collaboration, Gwendolyn Lowrie-Dennis
Indigenous-Municipal Intergovernmental Agreements: A Case Study Examining Substantive Collaboration, Gwendolyn Lowrie-Dennis
MPA Major Research Papers
Indigenous-municipal intergovernmental collaboration has been increasing across Canada. Some suggest it can act as either a tool to create empowering policy or as an instrument of authoritative control. This paper examines the case study of the Upper Ottawa Valley Medical Recruitment Committee and classifies its intergovernmental agreement as either symbolic or substantive. It does so by analyzing the frequency of communication, the decision-making processes used, the implementation of the agreement, and its outcomes. The findings suggest that the Committee achieved substantive results on all measures, but not without facing significant logistical and social barriers. Intergovernmental collaboration was ultimately beneficial in …
The Future Of Caos In Small Ontario Municipalities: A Study Of What Small Ontario Municipalities Are Doingto Recruit And Retain ‘Top Talent’, Michael Szarka
The Future Of Caos In Small Ontario Municipalities: A Study Of What Small Ontario Municipalities Are Doingto Recruit And Retain ‘Top Talent’, Michael Szarka
MPA Major Research Papers
Many Chief Administrative Officers will retire in the coming years, posing a succession problem for municipalities. The problem is especially acute in small and Northern municipalities. Municipalities must develop talent recruitment and retention strategies. Analysis of two case studies indicates that strong council support for succession planning is required, and municipal organizations should invest in their staff so that they can ascend to leadership positions, including promoting professional networking opportunities.
The Socioeconomic Implications Of Ontario's Joint And Several Liability Arrangement: Insights From Municipal Political Elites In Perth County, Josh Brick
MPA Major Research Papers
This research report examines the extent to which senior municipal staff in Perth County consider the economic and social implications of joint and several liability. Data for the report is drawn from semi-structured interviews with Chief Administrative Officers or senior staff in the Municipality of North Perth, the Municipality of West Perth, the Township of Perth East, the Township of Perth South, and the County of Perth. The interviews reveal that staff consider both the economic and social implications of the current legislative framework, however economic implications are given greater weight.
The Applicability Of British Columbia's Regional Districts As A Model Of Regional Governance For Newfoundland And Labrador, Jennifer Crowe
The Applicability Of British Columbia's Regional Districts As A Model Of Regional Governance For Newfoundland And Labrador, Jennifer Crowe
MPA Major Research Papers
Adequate service delivery, equitable representation, and efficient financing have been at the forefront of local government issues in Newfoundland and Labrador since before confederation. Regional governance is a means to achieve more efficient service provision, better representation of rural interests, and a stronger financing model. This paper asks to what extent can the British Columbia Regional District model be applied to the Newfoundland and Labrador context. The paper first provides the reader with an understanding of the regional governance issues currently faced within Newfoundland and Labrador before delving into an analysis of the origins, history, and evolution of the Regional …
Measuring The Fiscal Impact Of At-Large Versus Ward-Based Political Representation In Ontario Municipalities, Alysha Faria
Measuring The Fiscal Impact Of At-Large Versus Ward-Based Political Representation In Ontario Municipalities, Alysha Faria
MPA Major Research Papers
This research report analyzes whether Ontario municipalities with ward-based electoral systems spend more per capita than those with at-large elections. American literature suggests that ward-based municipalities spend more because of log-rolling and politicians' greater responsiveness to neighbourhood electorates. The analysis considerd per-capita expenditures for all Ontario municipalities in the year 2011. Operating and capital expenditures were analyzed separately, as were lower-tier, single-tier, and upper-tier municipalities. Contrary to expectations, ward municipalities spend less per capita than at-large ones on average, however the difference between the two groups was not found to be statistically significant when controlling for municipality type, municipal population …
Does The Province Have Enough Financial And Statistical Data Available To Execute A Needs-Based Grant Allocation To Target Municipal Infrastructure Investment Instead Of Utilizing An Application Process To Allocate Funds?, Brenda Garrett
MPA Major Research Papers
Municipalities across the Province are grappling with infrastructure deficits. Small, northern, and rural municipality’s tax assessment base limits its ability to garner sufficient revenue to support operations as well as renew and replace infrastructure. Federal and Provincial governments must step in and assist. As a result, the province introduced the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) as a permanent program to fund critical infrastructure projects for core assets—roads, bridges, water and wastewater. This paper analyzes provincially mandated municipal Financial Information Returns (FIRs) in conjunction with OCIF statistics to assess whether the Province can efficiently and effectively re-distribute revenue using existing financial …
The Rural Effect On School Closures And The Limitations Within The Provincial Policy Framework, Shannon Geraghty
The Rural Effect On School Closures And The Limitations Within The Provincial Policy Framework, Shannon Geraghty
MPA Major Research Papers
As costs rise, the Ministry of Education and school boards have cut costs by closing schools. The social fabric and economic growth of rural areas are negatively affected by school closures. On the basis of an examination of recent school closure processes in the Upper Canada District School Board in eastern Ontario, this paper recommends explicit incorporation of economic impacts in closure studies, reform to the distribution of provincial education funding, and greater public engagement.
Enumeration Of The Homeless Population In Rural Communities, Barbara Hall
Enumeration Of The Homeless Population In Rural Communities, Barbara Hall
MPA Major Research Papers
Ontario Service Manager areas are now mandated by the province of Ontario to enumerate the homeless population under their jurisdiction. The rural homeless have unique characteristics that must be incorporated into the enumeration methodology. Case study analysis suggests that period prevalence and registry week methods are better suited to rural areas than a point-in-time count.
Pluralism In Regional Health Planning: An Analysis Of Public Engagement In Ontario’S Local Health Integration Networks, Paul Sandor
MPA Major Research Papers
This study identifies and explains variation in the choices of public engagement methods across Ontario’s Local Health Integration Networks, in order to inform the policy space these organizations operate in with respect to enabling citizen participation in regional health planning decisions. The websites of all 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) were searched for three key documents that detail their past and future public engagement method choices. Drawing from the literature, a multi-metric qualitative scoring framework was designed to explore patterns of variation in public engagement method choices across each region. The findings demonstrate that there is minimal variation in …
Waterright: An Examination Of Drinking Water, Tax Policy, And Water Affordability In Southwestern Ontario, Robert Sharon
Waterright: An Examination Of Drinking Water, Tax Policy, And Water Affordability In Southwestern Ontario, Robert Sharon
MPA Major Research Papers
There is an extensive regulatory framework embodying the operational supply of drinking water in Ontario, including the need for all municipalities to provide a self-sustaining financial plan for their system. This has resulted in the price of water in Ontario significantly outpacing the Consumer Price Index and general property taxation rates. This cost increase is impacting Ontario residents, causing poorer residents to pay a larger percentage of their disposable income on water required for basic human needs.While provincial regulation is thorough from a quality assurance approach, it is silent on the matter of ensuring residential water affordability. Municipalities can improve …
The Effects Of Income Inequality On Social Assistance Services Caseload: A Local Perspective Of London, Ontario Using Multiple Linear Regression Statistical Model, Juan Cardona
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper explores the relationship between income inequality and social assistance caseload within the context of London, Ontario from 1993 to 2013. Gini coefficients, social assistance caseload, and control variable data have been gathered and calculated using a multiple linear regression statistical analysis and academic investigation. The findings suggest that there is a 68 percent correlation between the regression model and the independent variable of social assistance caseload, with unemployment being the strongest explanatory variable. A negative relationship between income inequality and social assistance caseload variables was found, but important endogenous variables, such as policy interventions and macroeconomic cycles, have …
Identification Of Factors For Successful Implementation Of The Incident Management System In Ontario Health Unit Emergency Management Programs, Dimitra Kasimos
Identification Of Factors For Successful Implementation Of The Incident Management System In Ontario Health Unit Emergency Management Programs, Dimitra Kasimos
MPA Major Research Papers
In 2008, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care released the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Protocol, which mandated local health units to develop emergency response plans consistent with the Incident Management System (IMS). The main purpose for implementing IMS was to provide a standardized approach to local and provincial government emergency response by providing a common framework. This paper identifies some of the factors present in health units that consistently implement IMS during incident and emergency response. A questionnaire was developed to collect data from 34 of the 35 health units in Ontario. The findings reveal that health units have …
The Effectiveness Of Using A Public-Private-Partnership Model For Urban Rail Transit: The Vancouver Case, Jie Bian
MPA Major Research Papers
In recent years, public-private partnerships, which are commonly referred to as PPPs or P3s, have become increasingly popular in Canada. Within the context of public transit, PPPs involve the private sector designing, building, financing, and operating the facilities. This paper analyzes the potential benefits of P3s based on an in-depth case study of public transportation investment in Greater Vancouver. It compares a DBFO (design-build-finance-operate) project and two non-DBFO projects in Metro Vancouver using the three variables of efficiency, fulfillment of original purposes, and procedural transparency. Ultimately, there were very few apparent merits of PPPs in the Vancouver case and the …
Digital Strategies In Local Government: Private Sector And Early Adopters Lessons Learned, Robert Delorme
Digital Strategies In Local Government: Private Sector And Early Adopters Lessons Learned, Robert Delorme
MPA Major Research Papers
In recent years, both the public and private sectors have been using digital strategies, which represent an integration of business and technology plans in an organization. This paper investigates the early adoption of digital strategies in the public sector at the local government level using case studies for southern Ontario that focus on existing academic and practice-based literature, along with documented government adoptions of digital strategies to identify trends and issues. The findings support the private sector lessons and further indicate that there is little consistency in approach, methodology, or stage of digital strategy implementation within the public sector. Research …
Should The Niagara Region Chair Be Directly Elected?, Michael Genova
Should The Niagara Region Chair Be Directly Elected?, Michael Genova
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper explores the merits of directly-elected heads of council versus appointed heads of council in Ontario’s upper-tier regional governments with a specific focus on the Niagara Region. A comparative literature review of academic papers and government publications was undertaken, principally by examining the local government reforms introduced by the Blair government in English municipalities, namely the creation of the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the position of Mayor of London. Based on the literature review, four separate theories were developed in favour of directly-elected heads of council: improved voter turnout; improved calibre of candidates standing for office; enhanced soft …
The Role Of Local Government In China’S Urbanization: The Relationship Between Local Land Finance And Government-Led Urbanization, Ying Qiu
MPA Major Research Papers
Over the past several decades, dramatic growth and institutional reforms have taken place in the Chinese economy and society, which has been accompanied by accelerated urbanization. This paper examines the rationale behind the local government’s pursuit of urbanization and its deep relationship with fiscal reform, local land management, and the political performance evaluation system of local cadres by central officials. The findings reveal that, rather than being a natural consequence of economic development and a complex outcome of population urbanization and land urbanization, China’s urbanization in recent decades can be identified as a local government-led development deriving from the municipalities’ …
Municipal And Developer Success Rates At The Ontario Municipal Board: A London, Ontario Case Study, Dan Scheid
Municipal And Developer Success Rates At The Ontario Municipal Board: A London, Ontario Case Study, Dan Scheid
MPA Major Research Papers
The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) is a quasi-judicial tribunal with the authority to render decisions regarding land-use planning disputes. Using London, Ontario as a case study, this paper attempts to determine if municipalities or developers are generally more successful before the OMB when they are in direct opposition. The research seeks to highlight the underlying reasons why OMB makes its decisions, what it bases its decisions on, and any ramifications this may have for municipalities and developers. Through an extensive literature review, comparisons to other empirical studies of a similar nature, and a carefully selected research design, this paper provides …
Driving Decision-Making: An Analysis Of Policy Diffusion And Its Role In The Development And Implementation Of Ridesharing Regulations In Four Canadian Municipalities, Lisa Shields
MPA Major Research Papers
Throughout the world, ridesharing services compete with the highly regulated taxicab industry and governments have been compelled by various interest groups to address the regulatory uncertainty that has resulted from the emergence of the sharing economy. This paper examines the literature on policy diffusion and applies the relevant concepts to explain the proliferation of ridesharing regulations in Canada. It chronicles the experiences of four large Canadian municipalities – Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, and Toronto – and it documents the similarities in the regulatory frameworks adopted by these municipalities and other North American jurisdictions where transportation network companies are regulated. The research …
Housing First In Canada: A New Approach To Homelessness And Best Practices For Municipal Implementation, Shelly Steffler
Housing First In Canada: A New Approach To Homelessness And Best Practices For Municipal Implementation, Shelly Steffler
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper assesses the Housing First approach to homelessness, which provides people living on the street with permanent homes before offering them optional support, as opposed to the traditional approach to housing, where people need to meet certain conditions, such as sobriety, before being assisted to obtain housing. It uses case studies from Medicine Hat, Alberta and Toronto to explore the implementation of Housing First in two Canadian cities. The paper concludes by providing best practices and offering cautions for municipalities considering this approach. The case studies indicate that data collection, stakeholder engagement, a systems approach, and support from all …
Stories Of Youth Politics In Action: Uncovering Youth Political Spaces For Local Governments, Adam Fearnall
Stories Of Youth Politics In Action: Uncovering Youth Political Spaces For Local Governments, Adam Fearnall
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper argues that local governments must create space for expressions of youth politics within formal political processes if they hope to engage young residents in the work of government. It is comprised of a number stories that capture the essence of generalizable lessons about where to find and how to recognize expressions of youth politics. Each one is intended to uncover a different aspect of youth politics and to make a case for why local governments need to learn how to recognize the spaces and languages that define the youth political sphere. The paper concludes with a discussion of …
Sharing The Lived Experience Of Public Housing: A Critical Discourse Analysis And Perspectives From Residents Of Public Housing In London, Ontario, Tim Smuck
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines the extent to which media and government discourse about public housing differs from the lived experience of public housing residents. It uses case studies of the two largest and most negatively stereotyped public housing communities in London, Ontario – Limberlost and Southdale – and it argues that there are three distinct discourses surrounding public housing in the city. The first discourse is the media, which was analyzed using a media review of the largest media outlet, the London Free Press; the second discourse is the London and Middlesex Housing Corporation (LMHC), which was investigated using a government …
Public Health Funding: Results Of A Quantitative Analysis Exploring The Influence Of Local Public Health Unit Characteristics On The Provision Of Provincial And Local Funding, Sandy Stevens
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper attempts to identify what local public health unit (PHU) characteristics, if any, may be contributing factors to the variations in provincial and local per capita funding levels between PHUs. Financial data was collected on the size of the grant provided to each health unit by the Province of Ontario and the total expenditures spent by each PHU. This data was analyzed in relation to four health unit characteristics: the governance model of the board of health; the population density of the area overseen by each health unit; the economic health of the local communities; and the workload experienced …
The Perfect Storm: Emergency Management Regulations And Small Municipalities In Ontario, Jennifer Alexander
The Perfect Storm: Emergency Management Regulations And Small Municipalities In Ontario, Jennifer Alexander
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines emergency management legislation in Ontario with a specific focus on identifying the barriers that small municipalities experience with implementing provincial emergency management regulations. Through a qualitative research approach, this study examines three small municipalities in southwestern Ontario – Bluewater, Goderich, and Middlesex Centre – which have a similar population size and geographic location. Interviews with key municipal stakeholders were conducted and their responses are analyzed within this report. The findings demonstrate that small municipalities are struggling to maintain emergency readiness due to a lack of financial capacity to invest in resources and proactive emergency measures.
Institutional Collective Action In Ontario’S Fire Service: Conducive And Inhibiting Factors Of Local Collaboration Of Fire Safety Inspections And Enforcement, Brian Arnold
MPA Major Research Papers
The economic, political, and social environment in Ontario is placing increased pressure on the delivery of local fire prevention services and fire chiefs and elected officials are expected to do more with fewer resources. Subsequently, exploring mechanisms to work collaboratively with neighbouring fire departments in order to improve the efficacy of fire prevention programs should be a priority. This paper examines the conducive and inhibiting factors of voluntary collaboration for fire prevention activities within Ontario’s fire service. A cross-sectional study and analysis was undertaken to collect data of relevant variables at a specific point in time using a triangulation approach. …
A Matter Of Size: An Investigation Into How The Size Of Municipality Impacts What It Values In A Municipal Association, Neale Carbert
A Matter Of Size: An Investigation Into How The Size Of Municipality Impacts What It Values In A Municipal Association, Neale Carbert
MPA Major Research Papers
This paper examines whether municipalities of different sizes behave in municipal associations in different ways and, more specifically, it investigates how municipalities in Ontario value and interact with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). The data and conclusions presented are based on a series of qualitative interviews with elected officials and city staff of a small municipality and a large municipality that both hold membership in the AMO. The findings reveal that the size of a municipality does in fact affect what it will value in a municipal association. The limited budget and capacity of small municipal governments leads …