Evaluating Effective Policies in Canada: Strategies and Insights

Evaluating Effectiveness under the Policy on Results

Evaluation units provide essential information for administrators of public programs. Canada's 2016 Policy on Results emphasizes evaluating "effectiveness," with a focus on outcomes. However, it is unclear if evaluation units use this or more implementation-oriented definitions in practice, which has implications for the information evaluations will provide. This study examines 370 ...

Abstract Evaluation units provide essential information for ad-ministrators of public programs. Canada's 2016 Policy on Results emphasizes evaluating "effectiveness, with a focus " on outcomes.

PDF Policy on Results

Policy on Results 1. Effective date 1.1 This policy takes effect on July 1, 2016. 1.2 It replaces the following Treasury Board policies : Policy on Reporting of Federal Institutions and Corporate Interests to Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (2007) Policy on Evaluation (2009) Policy on Management, Resources and Results Structures (2010)

How do we know if programs and policies work? How can we implement programs and policies to make them more effective ? Carleton has one of the only schools in Canada active in evaluation in public policy. Research in this area covers policy and program evaluation that can occur at the national government, sub-government, and international levels.

Useful Notes on Evaluating Effective Policies In Canada

Evaluations Evaluations In the Government of Canada , evaluation is the systematic and neutral collection and analysis of evidence to judge merit, worth or value. Evaluation informs decision making, improvements, innovation and accountability. Evaluations typically focus on programs, policies and priorities and examine questions related to relevance, effectiveness and efficiency. Depending on ...

The Policy on Results came into effect on July 1, 2016. It replaced three Treasury Board policies , among them the Policy on Evaluation. Subsequently, the Centre of Excellence for Evaluation ceased to exist, with evaluation activities being handled by the newly created Results Division. The ...

Policy Success in Canada

Abstract This book offers 22 in -depth case studies of public policies and programs of both provincial and federal governments in Canada that have been markedly successful. Using a common analytical framework, each case study describes the history and evolution of the policy, and assesses the extent of its programmatic, process, political, and long-term success. Combined, the cases provide a ...

How Do Municipal Policy-and Decision-Makers Evaluate the Impact of Their Policies ? Insights from the City of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada August 2025 Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation 39 (3 ...

Essential Tools and Techniques for Effective Policy Evaluation

Without robust evaluation tools, governments would essentially be flying blind - unable to distinguish between policies that transform lives and those that drain resources. This post walks through the core tools and techniques that make meaningful policy evaluation possible.

The Policy on Results sets out the fundamental requirements for Canadian federal departmental accountability for performance information and evaluation, while highlighting the importance of results in management and expenditure decision making, as well as public reporting.