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This article examines how language and discourse have framed the issue of accountability in Indigenous child welfare devolution in Manitoba. Devolution has been officially presented by the province as a structure and process of collaborative governance - a form of governing that requires horizontal accountability among equal partners. Our examination of the accountability structures and processes reveals that, despite the rhetoric, there is continuing heavy insistence on vertical accountability to the provincial government. At best, the idea of collaborative governance is an illusion; at worst, it has serious negative impacts on Indigenous autonomy and on standards of accountability. Sommaire Cet article examine comment le langage et le discours ont formulé la question de la responsabilisation dans le transfert des responsabilités de la protection de l'enfance autochtone au Manitoba. Le transfert des responsabilités aux autorités locales a été officiellement présenté par la province comme une structure et un processus de gouvernance collaborative - une forme de gouvernance qui exige une responsabilisation horizontale entre partenaires égaux. Notre examen des structures et processus de responsabilisation révèle qu'en dépit de la rhétorique, on continue à insister lourdement sur la responsabilisation verticale envers le gouvernement provincial. Dans le meilleur des cas, l'idée de gouvernance collaborative est une illusion; au pire, elle a de sérieuses répercussions négatives sur l'autonomie des Autochtones et sur les normes de responsabilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on policy implementation in Canada and around the world is seeking to address the nexus of the mandates, resources, and cultures of public agencies and their wider institutional and socio-political context. This article examines the implications of the transition in the framing of policy implementation processes from 'administration' to 'governance' by looking at regional economic development policy implementation in the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Manitoba since the mid-1980s. These two provinces are part of geographically determined regions classified under Canada's official regional development policy as socioeconomically disadvantaged in relation to the rest of the country. Regional development policy itself has undergone a noticeable shift in policy discourse among public managers over the past decade towards an emphasis on 'promoting innovation' as the rationale for policy intervention. The implications of these transitions suggest that policy implementation or program delivery tasks in complex intergovernmental systems are best viewed as strategic, and not merely operational. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This note focuses on the rapidly evolving role of provinces in immigrant selection through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). While past years have seen their significant expansion and diversification, research and policy response seem to lag behind: literature on PNPs remains scarce. This note offers preliminary observations on the new dynamics in the immigration system arising as a result of the nominee programs. It sets out background on PNPs, situating them vis-à-vis federal skilled worker and Canadian Experience Class, outlines emerging trends, and discusses challenges associated with the increasingly complex policy landscape of the two-tiered immigrant selection system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]