Title: A comparative study of municipal performance measurement systems in Ontario and Quebec, Canada

Authors: Alicia M. Schatteman, Etienne Charbonneau

Addresses: School of Public Affairs and Administration, Rutgers University – Newark, 360 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Hill Hall, 7th floor, Newark, NJ 07102-1801, USA. ' School of Public Affairs and Administration, Rutgers University – Newark, 360 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Hill Hall, 7th floor, Newark, NJ 07102-1801, USA

Abstract: This paper is an analysis of the municipal performance measurement systems in Ontario and Quebec affecting about 2/3 of all Canadian citizens. The article describes these two systems; how the systems came to be, their goals, types of indicators, accountability and reporting requirements, data analysis, and requirements for performance reporting. After a discussion of the broad literature related to municipal performance measurement both globally and in Canada, the two cases are described in terms of political background, system components, measurement requirements, and reporting requirements. Analysis of these systems then follows comparing the two systems which are similar but unique in significant ways. This analysis has implications for these provinces as well as other jurisdictions with, or considering, mandated municipal performance systems.

Keywords: performance management; local government; implementation; performance measurement systems; Canada; municipal performance; performance indicators; accountability; analysis; performance reporting.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPSPM.2010.033226

International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 2010 Vol.1 No.4, pp.360 - 375

Published online: 13 May 2010 *

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