Public Policy Idea: Subsidiarity

What is the best way to determine who is the best 'stakeholder' to deliver goods or services? It 'depends' is the usual answer but, what is the best way to define 'depends?'

Subsidiarity may be the best way. Perhaps the best way to understand 'subsidiarity' is to imagine freedom on the one hand and obligation/responsibility on the other hand and wonder: 'how do we hold them together without going to one extreme or the other?'

Here are the three principles of subsidiarity:

1. The best 'stakeholder' to act on a challenge or opportunity is the stakeholder closest to the challenge or opportunity.
2. "Don't do for others what they can and ought to do for themselves." (includes individuals and up)
3. Help others who are unable to act for themselves. (includes individuals and up)

This is a framework we can use as we grow as a community to assess what the Town should do or should not do. As we move forward it provides a governance framework to Council conversations and discussions with other levels of government and local stakeholders enabling clarity of roles and expectations.