Robert Shepherd Gives Keynote Presentation at National Capital Chapter CES AGM
At the annual general meeting of the National Capital Chapter of the October 28, 2021, SPPA Prof. Robert Shepherd gave the keynote presentation: “Looking Back and Around: Canadian and International Experience with Spending Reviews.”
The presentation focused on the potential for federal and provincial governments to use spending reviews in the near future to bring ballooning deficits under control. The presentation framed current research that includes Evert Lindquist, around the potential design considerations that should be taken into account when planning for such spending review exercises. It was argued that governments should not rely on past approaches and designs as spending has become increasingly collaborative between layers of government to address the pandemic and create emergency relief programs. It is not a straightforward exercise to carry out such reviews in jurisdictional siloes. The presentation further challenged evaluators to think about their potential contributions to spending reviews, and the overall implications such reviews might have on governance of the federation. The event generated thought-provoking discussion with members, who wanted to understand important shifts for evaluation responsibilities in the future.