A “Renewed Conversation” about Ethical Management in Canada's Public Service: Where Should We Be Headed?

Abstract

Canada's federal public servants believe their values and ethics framework are falling short, particularly in ensuring accountability from senior leadership. This article explores the many emerging challenges for ethical leadership in Canada's federal public service and argues for specific reform approaches. We offer key recommendations, including the need to align various systems that help foster ethical leadership, improving the enforcement of accountability mechanisms for senior leadership, and employing data-driven performance metrics to improve the ethical management of people and services. We conclude by exploring the preconditions for sustained reform and the long-term measures required to embed ethical accountability across public service institutions. Our analysis emphasizes the essential role of people, starting with senior executives. We assert that policies and codes of conduct alone cannot achieve organizational ethics—only strong, values-driven and accountable leadership can influence culture and ensure lasting change in people and services.