IPAC's History
The Institute of Public Administration of Canada was incorporated on December 15, 1947 as the country emerged from the Depression and the Second World War. It grew out of the camaraderie of senior federal and provincial officials who wished to create an organization that would promote the highest quality public administration in Canada. Its first national, annual conference took place in 1949 in Quebec City.
From its inception, IPAC was seen as an organization that would conduct research, engage in developmental activities and provide international liaison. It sought activities in all regions of the country, in all orders of government and in academia. The regional representation was considered especially important and the Regional Groups that emerged during the 1950s provided local opportunities for the informal and friendly exchange of ideas and experiences.
Governments began to appreciate the work of IPAC and started to support it financially. In the late 1950s, the first permanent employee was hired and work soon began to create a scholarly journal: Canadian Public Administration was published for the first time in 1958. By the early 1960s a reliable system of government support was established which enabled a consistency of operation.
With stable funding in place, IPAC was able to undertake a sustained effort in public administration research. Within a few years, the Institute had launched its national and international seminars, and published their proceedings. The first books in the Canadian Public Administration series appeared: a series of books in public policy and management that now numbers over 30 volumes. These initiatives were followed by the launch of a bibliography with biennial supplements, and the development of a case study program in public administration. Later in the 1970s, a monograph series of IPAC publications was established, and it has published over 20 books.
This period also saw developments in IPAC's governance structure. During the 1960s and 1970s, the regional groups grew significantly in number and expressed a desire to be more involved in the governance of the Institute. An older two-tier system, the operation of which had become cumbersome, was replaced by a single-tier executive committee with one half the members elected nationally and the other half composed of representatives of each of the regional groups.
Significant changes were made in IPAC's research endeavours in the 1980s. IPAC raised the level of attention to practical matters of public management, issuing its Statement of Principles Regarding the Conduct of Public Servants. The ideas in this Statement later were fleshed out with the publication of The Responsible Public Servant, an immensely popular book that has enjoyed eight reprints since 1990. This focal shift to public management issues in the 1980s occasioned a parallel shift in IPAC's research approach to one driven by the use of research teams. Teams of practitioners and academics were formed to study issues of current practical interest, taking a comparative approach that profited from the unique public administration laboratory provided by the diverse governments across Canada. These study teams have gradually evolved into “action research” involving partnerships with government, academics, the private sector and non-profit organizations – pursued through roundtables, forums or seminars across the country.
The year 1990 proved to be an especially important one for IPAC. The public management theme developed during the 1980s culminated, in that year, with the launch of IPAC's magazine, Public Sector Management, as well as its new Award for Innovative Management. The award has become one of the Institute's most popular programs, encouraging research and generating considerable attention to new ideas and best practices, while rewarding creative and innovative initiatives.
The year 1990 was also an important one for IPAC because its annual conference that year, held in Quebec City, took the theme “The Impact of Internationalization on Public Administration.” It heralded IPAC's involvement in working with countries around the world manage the new challenges of public administration. In collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency, IPAC became increasingly involved in the international application of its public administration work. Since 1992, it has developed a series of programs in Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
During the 1990s, IPAC focused energies on enhancing accountability, increasing value for money in services to its members, and improving its internal governance. The result was a streamlined executive and committee structure and the adoption of a refined work plan. The new governing body, the Board of Directors, replaced the larger Executive Committee, and is now composed mainly of representatives of the regional groups. These important changes in the governance structure have allowed IPAC to build on the activities of its regional chapters and to sustain its vision by increasing the active participation of public servants and academics in every region of the country.
The history of the Institute has served to situate it in its current position as Canada's leader in public administration research, and as an action-oriented body responsive to members needs and alert to partnership opportunities. From its early beginnings, IPAC has been a volunteer-driven organization, nurtured and prodded by the dedication and sacrifice of so many generous individuals and groups over the years. As such, it looks forward to the contributions of the next generations of volunteers that will lead the Institute of Public Administration of Canada through the 21st century.
For more detail, please consult:
V. Seymour Wilson, Value for Many: The Institute of Public Administration of Canada, 1947-1997 (IPAC, 1997); and
Laura Freeman and Joseph Galimberti, The Institute of Public Administration of Canada in Jacques Bourgault, Maurice Demers and Cynthia Williams (eds.) Public Administration and Public Management: Experiences in Canada (Les publications du Quebec, 1997).
See also the IPAC Video on the 50th anniversary, IPAC: Reflection and Vision: 50 years of Public Administration in Canada (IPAC, 1997).
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