The Functionary - Policy Options

The Functionary is a newsletter for anyone who wants to understand government better. It’s written by Kathryn May, an award-winning reporter covering the public service for 25 years.

Past editions:

11/04/2024 – “It’s stuck in Canada”
10/11/2024 – Relentlessly orthodox and contrarian
10/03/2024 – Remote work is far from dead
09/16/2024 – The lows and the lows of the three-day RTO
08/26/2024 – One year into the job
07/08/2024 – The disruptor in chief is back
06/12/2024 – 25 and out: The border guards’ wish list
05/28/2024 – Meanwhile, at the PSAC convention…. a war on Poilievre
05/17/2024 – Public-service ethics and a mea culpa
05/16/2024 – Office blues: PS sees red over RTO
04/23/2024 – Anil Arora’s way with numbers
03/05/2024 – Vintage Jodi: Legendary political operative
02/05/2024 – More big moves and a Service Canada reorganization
01/26/2024 – After the retreats, the new DM jobs begin
12/22/2023 – Reports! Reports! Maybe a little holiday reading for the clerk?
11/29/2023 – Catherine Luelo’s departure. Plus: ArriveCAN jaw-droppers
11/03/2023 – The power of Ian Shugart
10/24/2023 – John Hannaford’s North Star
10/20/2023 – “The government shouldn’t need a crisis”
09/22/2023 – John Hannaford’s first big PS move
09/12/2023 – A new DM at Finance and a huuuge sigh of relief
08/16/2023 – The loss of two powerhouses
06/14/2023 – It’s your week! Plus: “Presence with purpose.”
06/09/2023 – A new clerk gets ready. Plus: Alex Benay, disruptor-in-chief, is back
05/25/2023 – The nitty-gritty of voting: A mandatory video. Plus: Michael Sabia’s move
05/15/2023 – After the scabotage, voting begins
04/27/2023 – Picket lines and paycheques
04/24/2023 – Strike day 6
04/18/2023 – Tick tick … strike?
04/14/2023 – Strike watch turning point
04/12/2023 – Strike watch begins
03/23/2023 – The madness of March
03/08/2023 – The frenzy over foreign interference and the contracting bonanza
01/18/2023 – RTO is here for real, plus scrutiny of McKinsey
12/22/2022 – RTO and the poking of the bear
11/04/2022 – IT contracting, a wage deal and the business lobby
10/18/2022 – Poilievre’s shadow cabinet and Alberta’s new premier
10/12/2022 – The black hole of contract spending
10/05/2022 – That ’70s video, remote work heavily favoured, and a new PS health care plan
09/06/2022 – Language bonus
08/25/2022 – Subwaygate
07/21/2022 – The dog that didn’t bark
07/21/2022 – Welcome to The Functionary