The removal of Gary Webster as chief general manager of the TTC caused a firestorm of opinion and media coverage. Webster’s not the first high profile bureaucrat to get the boot in recent years. In fact, it seems to be a growing trend.
Performance issues for any top bureaucrat or other high-profile leader are debatable, maybe some of these individuals were on their way out, maybe not. The political timing of their departure is no accident and neither is the outrage that follows.
In some situations a better communications strategy could mitigate the political damage done. If there are reasons for removing bureaucratic leaders at a particular moment in time, then do a better job of communicating. Sudden, unclear firings during political turmoil tend to look bad. Both sides may lose credibility.
Everyone is aware of the modern, more active political firing squad. So what now? Will voters react at the polls? Will bureaucratic leaders increasingly reflect political influence?
It’s time for a talk. Politicians need to reinforce the position of bureaucratic leaders and restore trust. Alternatively, there needs to be an honest public dialogue about the influence of politics at the higher levels of public service and an evaluation of what that means. This whole issue needs a boost in transparency and accountability. It doesn’t have to be this messy.
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