Print this page Dr. David Stuewe
Professor, Public Administration
Dalhousie University
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Diefenbaker Room
Regina Inn
1975 Broad Street, Regina SK
Speaker Presentation
Public Sector Audit & Distributed Public Governance
This presentation will explore the broad governance issues associated with the role of audit committees for government appointed boards and commissions.
The OECD estimates that 50% to 75% of public services are delivered by arm’s-length (independent) agencies. These Government established arm’s length agencies, such as water commissions, have been viewed as reducing the flow of information to the public. New research has shown that agency boards modeled on a quasi-private sector governance structure can enhance public information.
Independent (non-executive) members on agency boards with responsibility for the hiring and firing of the agency CEO, plus strong audit committees, are an important key to this model of distributed public governance. This approach results in a transfer of power from government to the agency board for a period of time. The consequences can be significant for government, agencies, their boards, central agencies, parliamentary agents and citizen engagement in the democratic process.
This presentation is based on a PhD dissertation of four Canadian Workers’ Compensation Boards
About the Speaker
David Stuewe is a Professor of Public Administration at Dalhousie University with research focus on public sector agency governance and leadership. Over 22 years he held progressively senior public service positions in the governments of Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. David served from 1992 to 2003 as CEO of the WCB of NS and from 1975 to 1986, in Sask. he served in the departments of: Finance, Northern Saskatchewan, Intergovernmental Affairs and Consumer & Commercial Relations
David from 1989 to 1992 was Director of the US Policy Studies Group at Dalhousie University. In that capacity he served as an advisor to the Governments of Canada, Mexico and Ontario on US government support to business during free trade negotiations. David has taught courses in Economics, Public Policy, Leadership Ethics and Change, Public Sector Accounting and Public Sector Budgeting, Regulatory Management and Government Structure.
David is currently is a Governor of the Canada School of Public Service. He also serves as a member of the Canada School’s Departmental Audit Committee. These federal audit committees are established pursuant to the Federal Accountability Act to provide advice to Federal Deputy Ministers on control and accountability processes.
David is also Chair of Segelberg Trust and Chair of the YMCA’s Big Cove Camp Advisory Committee. He has been the President of the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada and a Vice President of the American Association of State Compensation Insurance Funds. He also has served as a member of the OECD Expert Working Group on Distributed Public Governance.
David has a PhD (Politics) University of Exeter, Exeter, UK; a Masters of Arts (Public Administration) Carleton University, Ottawa and a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) Dalhousie University, Halifax.
