ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on governance challenges in collaborative or partnership arrangements for delivering services in Canada. It presents a framework for evaluating these arrangements and the results of an audit of the governance structures of ten collaborative arrangements. The traditional approach to delivering government services and programs had the advantage of being relatively clear about accountability, transparency, and the public interest. Credible reporting to government and legislative bodies on what the arrangement has accomplished is an essential aspect of democratic governing. Those developing such arrangements need a framework to ensure that issues of accountability and the public trust are adequately dealt with. Such frameworks are appearing in a number of jurisdictions and situations. It is a challenge for either the private sector or the voluntary sector to adhere to the traditional principles of accountability and good governance while simultaneously gaining flexibility by partnering with government.
