How Ottawa Spends 2010 2011

Fresh takes on the recession and the federal minority government.

Informed authors from across Canada examine recession-related policy fields, including the Canadian banking system, new industrial policy pressures such as the automotive industry bailout, policies in science, technology, and innovation, and suggestions about how to resist the United States' "buy America" trade policies. The chapters in this volume also consider Canada's national, regional, and political divisiveness, the impact of the dynamic Obama Administration on Canadian domestic affairs, and governance during a time of minority government.

Continuing its tradition of timely and exemplary scholarship, the 2011–2012 edition ofHow Ottawa Spendsexamines national politics, priorities, and policies, with an emphasis on the austerity measures and budget-cutting strategy of the Harper Conservative government; it also includes an analysis of the outcome of the federal election in May 2011. Leading scholars from across Canada examine a new era of "life under the knife" in the context of the Harper agenda after five years in power, the partisan calculus of a minority Parliament, and a deep global recession still in crisis mode. Given the budget-related pressure for an election, the book poses questions about the degree to which the budget agenda involves the political arts of "trimming fat" versus "slicing the pork" of partisan spending. Several closely linked political, policy, and spending realms are examined, including economic stimulus, environmental assessment, energy and climate change, health care, science and technology, immigration, and northern strategy (including affordable housing). Related governance issues such as the use of new media, regulatory budget cuts, Industry Canada as an economic regulator, and federal compensation costs are also discussed in detail.

This is the thirtieth volume in the series How Ottawa Spends. It is arguable that never in these years have Canadians faced such serious economic upheaval and political dysfunction as the current climate. The dramatic and seemingly sudden changes in the economy occurred simultaneously with a political drama - one that was largely disassociated from the real and pressing economic challenge. Early Harper budgets delivered lower taxes for all Canadians partly through highly targeted but politically noticeable small tax breaks on textbooks for students, tools for apprentices in skilled trades, and public transit costs. The needs of the beleaguered average Canadian and the "swing voter in the swing constituencies" of an already strategized "next" election were a key part of Conservative agenda-setting. In the 2007 budget alone there were twenty-nine separate tax reductions and federal spending was projected to increase by $10 billion, including a 5.7 percent increase in program spending. A small surplus of $3.3 billion was planned, almost all of which would go to debt reduction. As Harper savoured his 14 October 2008 re-election with a strengthened minority government, although without his desired majority, he and his minister of Finance already knew that his surpluses were likely gone in the face of the crashing financial sector and a looming recession. Future deficits were firmly back on the agenda. Contributors include Malcolm G. Bird (Carleton University), Chris Brown (Carleton University), G. Bruce Doern (Carleton University and University of Exeter), Melissa Haussman (Carleton University), Robert Hilton (Carleton University), Ruth Hubbard (University of Ottawa), Edward T. Jackson (Carleton University), Kirsten Kozolanka (Carleton University), Evert Lindquist (University of Victoria), Allan M. Maslove (Carleton University), Peter Nares (Social and Enterprise Development Innovations), Gilles Paquet (University of Ottawa), L. Pauline Rankin (Carleton University), Jennifer Robson (Carleton University), Robert P. Shepherd (Carleton University), Richard Shillington (Informetrica Limited), and Chris Stoney (Carleton University).

Continuing its tradition of current, exemplary scholarship, the 2012-13 edition of How Ottawa Spends casts a critical eye at national politics, priorities, and policies, with an emphasis on the Conservative majority's mandated austerity measures and budget-cutting strategies. Leading scholars from across Canada examine a new era of majority government and a transformed political opposition both in Parliament and in provincial politics. Several closely linked political, policy, and spending realms are examined, including corporate tax reform, Conservative Party social policy, regional economic development, science and technology investments, Canada-US perimeter security and trade agreements, the rise and fall of regulatory regimes, and Canadian health care. Related governance issues such as federal infrastructure program impacts, the Harper government's Economic Action Plan impacts in Ontario, and community colleges in the federal innovation agenda, are also discussed in detail.

In the twenty-seventh edition of How Ottawa Spends, leading Canadian scholars examine the Tory agenda in relation to the changing dynamics of a resurgent Western Canadian power base, Quebec-Canada relations, Canada-U.S. tensions, and key Martin policies. Contributors explore the challenges that have been created by unsustainable promises made by both major parties on expenditures and growth. They also look at the thorny issues of federal procurement policy and ethics, fiscal policy, energy policy, equalization and energy revenues, cancer control, patent policy and access to emergency medicines, the regulation of tobacco, gambling, and alcohol, and efforts to review spending. Contributors include Barbara Allen (Birmingham and Carleton), Malcolm Bird (Carleton), Keith Brownsey (Mount Royal College), Bruce Doern (Carleton and Exeter), Geoffrey Hale (Lethbridge), John Langford (Victoria), Evert Lindquist (Victoria), Lisa Mills (Carleton), Tanya Neima (Carleton), Andre Plourde (Alberta), Michael Prince (Victoria), Andrea Rounce (Carleton), Christopher Stoney (Carleton), Allan Tupper (British Columbia), and Ashley Weber (Carleton).