Royal commissions as instruments of policy-making in Saskatchewan : the Royal Commission on Agriculture and Rural Life - a case study
Date
1989
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ORCID
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Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Royal commissions as instruments of policy-making can look back to a long history. Traditionally they are used as advisory organizations. If composed of more than one commissioner they offer the possibility to study problems of any kind from different perspectives. In this lies one of their advantages vis-a-vis other advisory institutions - government bureaucracies and permanent advisory institutes, for example, at Canadian universities.
Despite these advantages royal commissions frequently are objects of criticism. It is often said that royal commissions are too expensive, that they are under control of the executive and that governments use this instrument to postpone decisions.
This thesis argues that royal commissions up to the present day are flexible instruments of policymaking especially vis-a-vis their alternatives. It will show in the case of the Royal Commission on Agriculture and Rural Life that royal commissions in general can be used as instruments to increase public participation and communication in addition to their traditional capacity as advisory organizations.
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Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
Political Studies
Program
Political Studies