Program Evaluation in British Columbia in a Time of Transition: 1995-2000

Abstract

Program evaluation has undergone a major transformation in the British Columbia government during the past five years. Although conventional program evaluations continue to be conducted in some ministries, the dominant trend is towards performance measurement. The recently passed Budget Transparency and Accountability Act mandates strategic and business planning, performance measurement, and public reporting. This article identifies nine issues that need to be addressed if public performance reporting is to mature into sustained performance management in the B.C. government. Given resource scarcity and the organizational and political culture, it will be very challenging to implement performance-based public accountability in B.C.