Executive decision-making during the COVID-19 emergency period

Abstract

Beginning in March of 2020, the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shift in the ways in which governments, and all organizations, performed many of their functions, including the ways in which they make decisions. In Westminster parliamentary democracies, the executive branch—with the support of the public service—has the capacity to respond quickly and decisively to matters at hand, which can make the system particularly well suited to deal with emergencies. However, the expedited approach can come at some cost in the sense that a higher tolerance for risk earlier in the process can create an increased need for problem-solving later on. This article explores how the Canadian government approached decision-making during the COVID-19 period, specifically within the period between March and August of 2020. Decision-making processes were truncated and modified to meet the challenges of the time, and the federal public service was widely praised for its nimbleness and responsiveness.