Public policy is not crafted in a vacuum. It is pushed, pulled and informed by research crafted specifically to help in the analysis of public policy issues. Policy research comes in many different forms, from statistical data to scientific reports, and is a fundamental part of the policy development process. Evidence based policy development is becoming a growing field both within the Public Service and with consulting firms and academics. Historical research has long been viewed as somewhat less relevant than other forms of research in that policy development process. Despite this bias, historical research can play an important role in the development of public policy, especially in helping understand context and demonstrating long term trends. This is especially true with the policies relating to Aboriginal people in Canada as policies are often addressing historic and long-standing issues.

As part of his activities as Public Servant-in-Residence here at Carleton, Jean-Pierre Morin, Departmental Historian at Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, has undertaken an examination of how the federal public policy process can be enhanced through the use of historical research. Morin will be discussing his findings on the use of historical research in the policy process as well as the results of a federal government wide survey of 18 departments on the perceived role of research, and especially historical research, in public policy. He will also be discussing some proposed recommendations to the Public Service of Canada on increasing the role of historians and historical methods into policy-making.