MPA Major Research Papers
Date of Award
7-15-2024
Degree Type
Major Research Paper
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration
Program
Political Science
Geographical Areas
Ontario, Canada
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the revenue growth trends of Conservation Authorities (CAs) across Ontario from 2013 to 2023. There is a particular focus on investigating whether CAs have expanded their programs and services beyond the core functions outlined by the provincial government in light of legislative changes and statements aimed to curtail the independence of CAs. This paper aims to evaluate this by analyzing CAs' revenue model over time and examining changes in the temporal trends of authority-generated revenue. The underlying assumption is that a proportional growth in self-generated revenue indicates an expansion of operations into "non-core mandated" programs and services, which may signify a "mandate creep". The study will delve into the financial data of the CAs to assess the extent to which they have been generating revenue independently. This will shed light on whether there has been a notable shift towards offering programs and services exceeding their mandated core functions. Through investigation it is found that there is evidence of a mandate creep among CA’s, but more thorough research into the specific programmatic causes of this is required.
Recommended Citation
Gardiner, William, "Assessing Mandate Creep in Ontario Conservation Authorities: An Analysis of Revenue Stream Dynamics" (2024). MPA Major Research Papers. 250.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/lgp-mrps/250