Commissions of Inquiry and Policy Change

"Commissions of Inquiry and Policy Change is an excellent book and a major contribution to an important, under-studied subject." -- Ed Ratushny, CM, QC, SJD, author of The Conduct of Public Inquiries "A valuable account of ten royal commissions which together provide an intriguing window on Canadian political, social, and policy history across several decades." -- G. Bruce Doern, Emeritus Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University

In search of answers, Commissions of Inquiry and Policy Change analyses ten landmark inquiries  ranging across a variety of political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and legal issues.

Commissions of inquiry are a vital and ubiquitous part of the Canadian policy landscape. Established to answer the tough questions, they have been charged with examining almost every aspect of public life.

This collection brings together leading Canadian scholars working in political science, public policy, and law to explore fundamental questions about the relationship between commissions of inquiry and public policy for the first time: What role do commissions play in policy change? Would policy change have happened without them? Why do some commissions result in policy changes while others do not?

In search of answers, Commissions of Inquiry and Policy Change analyses ten landmark inquiries  ranging across a variety of political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and legal issues. Filling a significant gap in the literature, this volume will be a valuable resource for scholars and students of Canadian political science, public policy, law, and history, as well as a broader audience of readers interested in commissions of inquiry and their role in Canadian policymaking.