Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Political Science

Faculty/School

Faculty of Arts

First Advisor

Steve Brown

Advisor Role

Thesis Supervisor

Abstract

This thesis examines the role of political considerations in the development and administration of programs that are the responsibility of the federal and provincial governments. Previous research has shown that political considerations do influence public policy outputs, however, this research mostly addresses programs administered by a single level of government. This thesis explores this question further by analyzing and comparing two similar allocative programs: the Canada/Ontario Employment Development (COED) program administered jointly by the federal government and the government of Ontario; and the Canada Works program administered solely by the federal government. Drawing on a comparative analysis of the two decision making structures and upon interviews with decision makers involved, it is argued that policy outputs of the federal-provincial program are less likely to have been affected by political partisanship than the outputs of the program administered solely by the federal government. This proposition was tested further using multiple regression analysis. It was found that after controlling for economic need, the distribution of expenditures from the federally sponsored Canada Works program are significantly related to political partisanship while the distribution of expenditures of the jointly administered COED program are not.

Convocation Year

1984

Convocation Season

Fall

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