Senator Tony Dean traces Premier Doug Ford's early successes and stumbles to his administration's relationship with the civil service. ...
Author Archives: Tony Dean
Dean: Province takes logical next step toward locally based health services
In his final column for QP Briefing, Tony Dean applauds the Health and Long-Term Care Ministry's move toward even more local planning ...
Dean: The tricky task of regulating Uber
Columnist Tony Dean says the best way forward on Uber may be to clear the way for the unionization of drivers. ...
Dean: Pay hike for civil service managers the right thing to do
Columnist Tony Dean weighs in on news that Ontario's civil service managers will be receiving pay raises totalling $58-million. ...
Dean: The AG’s report also had some positive things to say
Along with a look at the good things in the AG report, Columnist Tony Dean reports on the OPS hiring a chief talent officer to develop a more engaged and innovative leadership team ...
Dean: Matthews sees local initiatives as key to tackling homelessness
Columnist Tony Dean is a big fan of the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative launched in 2013, which is part of the province’s effort to end homelessness. ...
Dean: Full steam ahead for workplace safety insurance and pensions
Columnist Tony Dean observes the WSIB is making impressive headway in eliminating its unfunded liability, in part by getting people back to work sooner, while work continues on the ORPP despite investment community conce ...
Dean: OPS needs to do more to remain a top-tier employer
Columnist Tony Dean reports that, fresh off winning several citations for its employment practices, cabinet secretary Steve Orsini outlines some of the work that lies ahead in a five-year OPS human resources plan. ...
Dean: Some QP political staffers heading to Ottawa
Columnist Tony Dean writes there will be a domino effect with some interesting job opportunities opening at Queen's Park in the wake of the brain drain to Parliament Hill. ...
Dean: Q and A with Kathleen Wynne
Columnist Tony Dean, in an interview with the premier - 'I appreciate the important role of the public service.' ...
Dean: In stumping for Trudeau, Wynne bucked history, pundits
Columnist Tony Dean observes that the premier took a chance in the federal election campaign but came out having made all the right moves with Justin Trudeau's victory. ...
Dean: Public service leaks can have serious repercussions
Columnist Tony Dean writes that, even though it's difficult to keep sensitive information to a small number of staff and the digital age has made spreading that information easier, leaks from the bureaucracy are rare. ...
Dean: Province is wise to hold off embracing the TPP
Columnist Tony Dean says Ontario adopted a balanced, 'wait-and-see' response to the Trans-Pacific Partnership - a strategic move, considering the pact's potential disruption to the automotive sector. ...
Dean: Reading the tea leaves in public sector negotiations
Columnist Tony Dean takes a look at what's going on in school board and OPS bargaining ...
Dean: Auditor and health minister on the same page on CCACs
Columnist Tony Dean observes that Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk raises some important questions about the efficacy of community-based care - and that Health Minister Eric Hoskins is prepared to act on them. ...
Dean: More than enough issues at Queen’s Park
Columnist Tony Dean observes the legislature had enough of a distraction in André Marin's reign as ombudsman ending; now comes a report of alleged fraud involving a former boss at Infrastructure Ontario. ...
Dean: McGuinty and the courage of convictions in public policy
Columnist Tony Dean writes that in an address to students at the U of T’s School of Public Policy, the former premier warned that “we are in danger at this point in our history of confusing being noticed with being mean ...
Dean: ‘Harperman’ raises questions of public service neutrality
Columnist Tony Dean believes a 1991 Supreme Court decision that allows public servants to participate in grass-roots politics doesn't give carte blanche for overt criticism or support of contentious policies of the gover ...
Dean: IPAC conference showcases public sector innovations
Columnist Tony Dean reports Ontario was cited for two initiatives, including its new 'nudge unit,' while former Cabinet secretary Peter Wallace urged public servants to reclaim their key role of informing policy decision ...
Dean: A riddle wrapped in a community hub
Columnist Tony Dean writes that a report provides a valuable road map for allowing fragmented community services to become more cohesive, chiefly by facilitating integration among government ministries. ...
Dean: Wynne earns the high-ground in war of words with gloating Harper
Columnist Tony Dean says Ontario's premier is rising above the small-minded and mean-spirited federal politics to show the prime minister a thing or two about positive leadership. ...
Dean: Nudging us to socially (and fiscally) positive outcomes
Columnist Tony Dean observes that a new Treasury Board unit, which employs behavioural psychology to modify people's habits in such matters as collecting overdue taxes, is in itself a positive outcome. ...
Dean: Sousa and Hunter stand up for Ontario on pensions
Columnist Tony Dean asserts that the Harper government has no right to undermine a made-in-Ontario pension, especially considering that it has long promised to improve financial security in retirement. ...
Dean: Feds’ snubbing of ORPP speaks to broader issues
Columnist Tony Dean says the Wynne Liberals' hope to integrate an Ontario pension plan with the CPP will have to be revisited, now that the Harper Conservatives have said no - possibly by the province going it alone à la ...
Dean: Two new deputy ministers appointed in the OPS
Cabinet Secretary Steve Orsini announces new appointments ...
Dean: Challenges in keeping public service motivated, effective
Columnist Tony Dean writes that Ontario is facing the challenge of retaining and developing managers at a time when a study suggests almost one-third of Canada’s federal executives have 'mentally checked out.' ...
Dean: Steve Orsini one year later
Columnist Tony Dean speaks to Orsini as he reflects on his first year as Ontario’s top public servant. ...
Dean: Ontario public service shows Pride in many colours
Columnist Tony Dean says the Ontario Public Service's Pride Network is something to be proud about. ...
Dean: Former bankers are in vogue as special advisers
Columnist Tony Dean observes the appointment of Ed Clark to advise the government on economic matters follows a similar move involving Don Drummond a few years ago, as well as that of David Dodge in Alberta. ...
Dean: And then there are the government’s negotiations with OPSEU ….
Columnist Tony Dean writes that new contract talks between the Liberal government and OPEU, its largest union, are limping along behind the scenes, pushed out of the headlines by the dispute with the teachers' unions. ...
Dean: Wynne’s first year featured some successes on policy initiatives
Columnist Tony Dean says Premier Kathleen Wynne pursued an ambitious public policy agenda in her first year and she was not without her successes. ...
Dean: Patrick Brown – pragmatist, but not a pretender
Columnist Tony Dean observes that, in a recent TV interview, the new PC Leader sees himself as a true contender for the premier's job, while he refused to be drawn into messy issues, namely teacher strikes. ...
Dean: The privilege and responsibility of oversight officers should be exercised with care and discretion
Columnist Tony Dean writes about the growing boldness of the provincial ombudsman and auditor general. ...
Dean: The unfolding drama of education negotiations in Ontario
Columnist Tony Dean says the drama of school board negotiations is gripping for observers of public sector collective bargaining but it’s not a lot of fun for those involved. ...
Dean: Shift from hospitals to home, community care: A case study in reforming public services
Columnist Tony Dean says sector would benefit from a broader human resources strategy examining needs, required skills, recruitment, retention and compensation ...
Dean: Mr. Brown goes to Queen’s Park – as do teachers
Columnist Tony Dean says the stridently conservative posture of the new PC leader ought to play well with the NDP and unions looking for a clear-cut enemy to butt heads with - starting with striking teachers. ...
Dean: Toronto’s new city manager is primed to face the ins and outs of municipal politics
Columnist Tony Dean says Peter Wallace, Toronto's new city manager, is well-prepared given his experience in the provincial sector to face the challenges of municipal government. ...
Dean: Liberals gladly take criticism for not raising taxes
Columnist Tony Dean says tax increases should enter the picture as a revenue strategy in the next year or two to make up the difference in what's likely to be a shortfall on the government's path to balance. ...
Dean: Budget is a reminder of Liberals’ ‘blockbuster’ agenda
Columnist Tony Dean says Ontario's public service will feel the squeeze based on Thursday's budget. ...
Dean: In fight against poverty, province acts locally
Columnist Tony Dean says the $50-million initiative to reduce poverty encourages local communities to develop programs, reflecting the complex nature of this issue, rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach. ...
Dean: Ontario pension, Hydro One could be Wynne’s legacy
Columnist Tony Dean observes that, if not handled deftly, the sale of parts of Hydro One and the creation of a provincial pension plan could just as easily become hot potato issues in the next provincial election. ...
Dean: Wynne government gets loud about sexual violence
Columnist Tony Dean says Premier is stepping up to challenge sexual violence and finding an international reach in the face of silence from the federal government ...
Dean: Speaker on safe ground in arming some Queen’s Park security staff
Columnist Tony Dean says legislative Speaker Dave Levac has made a wise compromise in arming some of Queen's Park security staff with firearms. ...
Dean: Integrity commissioner urges training for political staff
Columnist Tony Dean writes that Lynn Morrison's proposal to build staff skills is a positive development - one that the premier's office is embracing through the appointment of an HR director. ...
Dean: Possible Hydro One IPO grabs centre stage
Columnist Tony Dean calls the plan to potentially privatize Hydro One a 'World-Cup-level political football' ...
Dean: Public sector compensation not out-of-whack
Columnist Tony Dean takes issue with recent reports from the Fraser Institute and CFIB that suggest public employees are overpaid compared with their private-sector counterparts. ...
Dean: Review is an opportunity to better protect Ontario’s most vulnerable workers
Columnist Tony Dean writes that the review of Ontario's labour relations, employment standards laws is an opportunity to deal with a growing divide between well-paying jobs and low-end work ...
Dean: Public servants under pressure but make major daily commitments
Columnist Tony Dean writes that public servants are usually in the spotlight when things go wrong but every day bring major commitment and energy to the job. ...
Dean: Program review means a mix of approaches as tough decisions loom
Columnist Tony Dean says a program review being carried out by Treasury Board President Deb Matthews comes ahead of some very tough choices for the Liberal government. ...
Dean: Striking a balance
Columnist Tony Dean points out the crossroads the government finds itself at as it attempts to grow the economy and increase public services, all while eliminating the province's deficit, and how these factors might impa ...
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