Under the traditions of the Westminster system, prime ministers and ministers give countless public speeches each year, while their loyal public service quietly and anonymously carries out the daily business of public administration. Current practice suggests that this traditional picture no longer holds true. In the 21st century, bureaucratic leaders are prepared to give public speeches on their own authority - adopting a "public face" as contributors to public debate. This article examines the extent to which key bureaucratic leaders in Canada have adopted an independent public face through public speeches, and how the Canadian experience compares to other Westminster jurisdictions. It argues that contemporary Canadian practice has taken a middle road between independent policy advocacy and quiet anonymity. © The Institute of Public Administration of Canada/L'Institut d'administration publique du Canada 2013.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Studies in Human Society
Research Group:	Policy and Administration
Research Field:	Policy and Administration not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Law, Politics and Community Services
Objective Group:	Government and Politics
Objective Field:	Government and Politics not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Grube, DC (Associate Professor Dennis Grube)
ID Code:	99014
Year Published:	2013
Web of Science® Times Cited:	1
Deposited By:	Arts, Law and Education
Deposited On:	2015-03-11
Last Modified:	2018-04-06
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