TORONTO – Donald J. Savoie is the winner of the $50,000 Donner Prize.

The four-time Donner Prize nominee was awarded top honours Wednesday night for his book “What Is Government Good At?: A Canadian Answer,” published by McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Savoie holds the Canada Research Chair in public administration and governance at the University of Moncton, and has also held senior positions within the federal government.

Other nominated titles were awarded $7,500. They are:

— “From Treaty Peoples to Treaty Nation: A Road Map for All Canadians” by Greg Poelzer and Ken S. Coates. (University of British Columbia Press.)

— “Middle Power, Middle Kingdom: What Canadians Need to Know about China in the 21st Century” by David Mulroney (Allen Lane/Penguin Canada.)

— “Leading Research Universities in a Competitive World” by Robert Lacroix and Louis Maheu, translated by Paul Klassen (McGill-Queen’s University Press.)

— “Back to the Well: Rethinking the Future of Water” by Marq de Villiers (Goose Lane Editions.)

Now in its 18th year, the Donner Prize recognizes excellence and innovation in Canadian public policy thinking, writing and research.