The Thursday Question 2:20: Governing instruments. And Harper’s big idea.
I spent years studying politics and government in university. Even so, when I moved to the government side with Mr. Harper, his transition team taught me an important and simple lesson. The federal government has only four tools at its disposal when it comes to domestic policy. Tax it, subsidize it, outlaw it, or buy it. All domestic policy relies on one or more of these tools. (1)
Take federal climate policy. At the moment, it aims to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that we produce in Canada. It does so by taxing the carbon content in fuels and outlawing oil sands production above a certain level. By subsidizing new industries and technologies. And, when the federal government needs automobiles, by buying ones with hybrid or zero emissions engines. Climate policy might change, but it will always rely on a mix of the same four tools.
Anyone who aspires to be a federal cabinet minister should imagine what can be done when you are behind the wheel of a taxing, subsidizing, outlawing, and purchasing behemoth.
Just as there are only four domestic policy powers, there are only three ways a federal minister can use those powers. These are the “governing instruments” and they are to governing what surgical instruments are to surgery and musical instruments are to music. Surgeons and musicians spend years mastering their instruments. Government ministers have to make good use of the governing instruments without training. So, if you aspire to be a good minister, it is best to study the governing instruments before you are sworn in or you will be beholden to those who have already mastered them.