Exploring Policy Innovation: Tools, techniques and approaches

Executive Summary

There is growing appetite within the public service, in Canada and abroad, to experiment with innovative approaches to policy development in order to better address the needs of individuals and communities. In 2017, public service leaders across Canada made a commitment to support public sector and policy innovation with a Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Declaration on Public Sector Innovation.

This research report provides a sketch of the policy innovation landscape in Canada, with specific reference to the tools, techniques, and approaches occurring at all three levels of government. Through this analysis, we have identified the challenges and opportunities that lie before public sector innovators and point to future areas of research. This work is guided by the question: What are the factors that impact successful policy innovation and development?

The research scope focuses on novel approaches to policy development, rather than an assessment of broader public sector innovation. It should be emphasized that this is not a comprehensive research project, but a starting point to explore insights and opportunities for policy innovation in Canada.