Ridley's Prefectoral Administrative Function and the Case of Environment Canada

Abstract

This study tests the relevance of Ridley's ideal-type concept of the prefectoral administrative function in a departmental setting in Canada. It follows the pursuit of administrative decentralization within Environment Canada, a complex department which has thus far introduced three prefectoral administrative mechanisms – a Regional Board, a Regional Director and a Committee of Regional Executives – for this purpose. The sliding scale of authority which Ridley associates with the prefectoral administrative function makes eminent sense of the Environment Canada experience. The wider analytical reach of Ridley's concept of the prefectoral administrative function, and hence the greater theoretical relevance of the system in administrative theory and practice, is confirmed.