Embassy Magazine List of Top Reads – Policy Arrogance or Innocent Bias
2013/10/12 2 Comments
Made the list (under books for Policy Wonks)!
Policy Arrogance or Innocent Bias: Resetting Citizenship and Multiculturalism
Andrew Griffith
Anar Press
Sept. 8, 2013
This former director general responsible for the federal government’s multiculturalism portfolio gives readers a glimpse into the sometimes uncomfortable gap between public service expertise and ministerial direction. Mr. Griffith says he witnessed a fundamental reset of multiculturalism policies and programs between 2007 and 2011 under Jason Kenney’s direction (who was first secretary of state and then minister responsible for the file). “Given the sharp nature of the policy reset, and the entrenched views of many public servants, this book aims to provide a small case study of how public servants adjusted to the new reality—one in which their expertise was fundamentally challenged, discounted, and at times ignored,” he writes. Mr. Griffith’s book is making waves in the Ottawa bubble.
About Andrew
Multicultural Meanderings 
Very nice. Recognition is gratifying.
I am 1/2 way through and enjoying it very much.
What is interesting is that I find myself sympathizing more often than not with the Minister. Some of his reactions to the actions and attitudes of the bureaucracy felt like mine when I was parachuted into a high level job and had to manage existing staff. Top priority, I learned, was Change Management which meant I did not always get my way as fast as I would have liked.
I wrote it to be more critical of officials than the political level as I think we were not being responsive enough to the change in direction. And change management is hard when people resist for whatever reason.