We need to make our organizations friendlier to alternative perspectives and constructive questioning. On this, managers need to set the example by being enthusiastic demanders and users of policy work. After all, there s no point joining ideas and data in the face of uncertainty if nobody cares. I challenge you to demand more and better research. A diverse and representative workforce will also be essential to our success.
Diversity is a source of new ideas and ways of doing things.
As a result, it provides a built-in reality check to the status quo. By ensuring that the Government of Canada welcomes new ideas and is willing to test them out to find the truly brilliant ones, we will be creating a tremendous advantage in the race to the New World of tomorrow s ideas. That s one reason why we need to ensure that the public service is representative. Before I started my job as Clerk of the Privy Council, I met with my predecessors. It s a process that I found highly stimulating and beneficial.