Dear Editor:
RE: Very specific advice, June 12.
I came across Jim Clark’s letter and found it an interesting read. He definitely had specific advice for the new prime minister. Even though he didn’t vote for Mark Carney, he gave him credit for “finally bringing a business-like approach to government.”
Clark then listed seven priorities that Carney has set to accomplish. Two project management tools were mentioned by Jim: a Gantt chart and SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timebound). I am sure that Jim is not the only one to know of these well established and proven methods.
Starting in 2020, Carney was an informal advisor for the Liberal government on the COVID-19 pandemic economic response and four years later became chair for the Liberal Party task force on economic growth in September of 24.
So, for 4.5 years Carney had an opportunity to advise the government to incorporate the business management tools Clark has mentioned. I am just assuming that Carney is aware of said tools. Is it just now that Carney is prime minister he will “finally bring a business-like approach to government?”
I am not so sure that this is going to happen. The real question could be why have previous governments not done so or if they have how did it fail? What did they do wrong? We are where we are financially due to financial decisions and policies over the last 10 years. Over the last 4.5 years did Carney have no impact or influence on financial matters as he advised, to whatever capacity he was engaged in?
Some hold him as the economic Messiah to put Canada back on its feet financially, but it is very limited as to how a government can be run business like.
If I get a chance, I’ll send a letter underlining the benefits of the Gantt chart and SMART approach to the prime minister and he can decide if they are of any use.
Michael Thorp,
Mount Forest