Canada is a fortunate country. Among many other reasons, we have a professional, capable civil service, at all levels from municipal to federal. We tend to take this for granted. We certainly aren't accustomed to thinking of our expertise in public administration as a resource that can be exported.
     In recent years, however, the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) has done just that. It has exported Canadian knowledge of public administration to countries around the world. In this context, IPAC has brought benefits to many people in the client countries, ranging from improving the decision-making processes so that governments can better deliver their mandates, to seeing improved methods implemented to reduce pollution.
     IPAC is a non-profit organization, established in 1947, concerned with the theory and practice of public management. Its scope covers governance from the global to the local level. Based in Toronto, IPAC has 3,000 members in 20 regional groups across Canada providing networks and forums to exchange ideas on trends, practices and innovations in public administration. IPAC recognizes and operates in both official languages of Canada.
     Since 1991, the Institute has undertaken a variety of projects in partnership with other Canadian and international organizations, both in the public and private sectors. IPAC has a network of professionals across the country, drawn from the federal, provincial and municipal governments, who provide available expertise to help with the international program. Projects have become both more ambitious and more numerous with time, so that IPAC has become one of the leading Canadian participants in global public administration.
     Why pursue an international role? IPAC believes that Canadians wish to share their unique expertise in public administration. Our members wish to contribute to international knowledge in public administration. They also want the benefits of experience in public administration in other countries and cultures.
     Enclosed in this information kit are descriptions of some of IPAC's recent international development projects. Each project is unique and has generated specific benefits. In general, however, the benefits of IPAC's international role have been, and continue to be:

• Contributing to Canada's foreign aid mission by assisting the development of other countries' public services;

• Sharing Canadian expertise, which in many cases offers unique strengths because of our experience in governing multiple cultures and regions, with various government levels;

• Widening the education, training and knowledge of Canadian public administrators serving overseas.