The Changing Role of Government in the Future

Governments at all levels, the world over, are facing significant financial dilemmas. Several scenarios such as low voter turnout, arab spring and more suggest that many people don't have faith that governments can continue to deliver high quality public service, let alone resolve the complex problems of our time.

To date, much of the public debate about government's role has revolved around only 2 issues; whether to cut services, or raise taxes.

But there is a growing movement among policy-experts, including Don Lenihan and Matthew Mendelson, that the way forward must see governments transforming themselves into spaces for public engagment and multi-sector collaboration. Reality is that we cannot continue to throw money at problems, but the innovative solutions exist and are heartily owned when the right people are brought to the table.

The CBC has taken on a week-long series titles, A Fork in the Road, about this issue. It is an informative look at the future of collaboration and engagmeent in goverment.