Table 1 Selected codes, categories, and themes for data analysis

Content

Policy

Diversified foci and form

Program

Service delivery

Context

Provincial political agenda

Organisation of the Canadian system

Constitutional (Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) relations)

Knowledge exchange activities and events

Emergencies (i.e., COVID-19)

Influences from unpredictable external pressures

Process

Idea generation

Hybrid and malleable information exchange via a collaborative process

Policy development

Implementation

Cautious and adapted implementation

Evaluation

Performance measurement via various tools and techniques, and quality improvement via innovation

Actors

External partners

Multi-sectoral collaboration with a set of relevant and knowledgeable actors

Internal partners