Tackling complex policy challenges

Similarly, the Safe Communities Initiative was successful in part because the Premier identified the initiative as a priority in the mandate letters to the lead minister, the Minister of Justice, and each participating minister. [...] Despite the flaws in the experiment with performance pay, and the fact that a parallel practice at the political level is unlikely given the controversy around compensation for elected members, the premier must find concrete means like this to reward those that work together on policy and reprimand those that do not. [...] However, instead of making this new unit part of the premier’s office and the existing policy coordination unit housed there, the new policy management office is set to report to the ministers and deputies of the three SREM ministries. [...] Furthermore, it is unlikely that the director of a new policy management office, without the authority of a link to the premier through the chief deputy minister, will be able to motivate the ministries to work together. [...] Furthermore, it must be clear that the junior minister or parliamentary assistant has the support of the premier, and that the premier will be holding that individual and all ministers meant to participate accountable for achieving coordination.