FALL-WINTER 2013 - University of Toronto Press Publishing

POLITICAL SCIENCEDAVIDZUSSMANOFFAND RUNNINGThe Prospects and Pitfalls of Government Transitions in CanadaApprox. 288 pp / 6 x 9 / October 201311 figures, 1 tableCloth 978-1-4426-4709-1$70.00 (£48.99) EPaper 978-1-4426-1527-4$29.95 (£20.99) CeBook 978-1-4426-6727-3 $29.95Public Administration / Political Science /Public PolicyOff and RunningThe Prospects and Pitfalls ofGovernment Transitions in CanadaDavid ZussmanIPAC Series in Public Management and GovernanceOne of the most pivotal events in the electoral cycle is the transition of a newlyelected political party from opposition to government. The incoming prime ministeror premier must assemble a team of ministers, advisors, and staff that is competentand ready to govern, without disrupting the day-to-day functioning of their countryor province.Off and Running sets the stage for successful transitions by describing the bestpractices from Canadian federal government transitions from 1984 to the presentday. It draws on a number of sources: the author’s own career in public affairs,including his significant role in the transitions of both Chrétien governments in1993 and 1997; extensive interviews with more than forty key individuals in thelast eleven federal government transitions; and the international literature ongovernment transitions, public administration, and management.Zussman goes step-by-step through the transition process from the pre-electionstage to transition planning, all the way to implementation and consolidation of thenew government. This book is ideally suited to those seeking an understanding ofhow government works during one of the most crucial points in its life cycle.David Zussman is Jarislowsky Chair in Public Sector Management in the GraduateSchool of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. He has servedas Assistant Secretary for Program Review and Machinery of Government at thePrivy Council Office, in addition to working at the Treasury Board Secretariat, theSecretary of State, Natural Resources Canada, and Statistics Canada.Of related interest:Searching for LeadershipSecretaries to Cabinet in CanadaEdited by Patrice Dutil978-0-8020-9592-3$30.95 / 2008“Off and Running is destined to be an important work in the field of publicadministration because David Zussman has combined his ‘real world’ experiencein the actual planning and implementation of transitions with his conceptual andanalytical understanding of government. His extensive use of real-world materials –strategic memoranda and policy agendas – all prepared in real time for real clients– prime ministers, ministers, and senior officials – makes it an especially good read.The result is an insightful, informative, and engaging book that provides the readerwith a front seat for the premiere viewing of a feature-length story of governmenttransition.”David A. Good, Professor, School of Public Administration, University of Victoria14UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS