British Columbia's coroner system: a model for public governance

This project studies the potential benefit of corporate governance structures within a provincial government milieu. Provincial government has historically followed traditional constitutional governance structures to optimize its services to the public. It is posited that corporate governance structures are analogous to those of government with the member of the public being analogous to the shareholder in a corporate environment. Further, it is put forward that the utilization of corporate governance theories could create efficiencies within government. The British Columbia Coroners Service is employed as a model within the provincial government to illustrate the current form of governance and to evaluate potential future efficiencies. Agency and transaction cost theories are utilized to examine the British Columbia Coroners Service within the context of the provincial government. The findings from this study indicate that corporate governance structures are applicable to the provincial government and that their use could assist in the optimization of the services within government. --P. ii.