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).

Fresh takes on the recession and the federal minority government.

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. Contributors include Frances Abele (Carleton University), Caroline Andrew (University of Ottawa), Vandna Bhatia (Carleton University), Neil Bradford (University of Western Ontario), Francois Bregha (Statos), David Castle (University of Edinburgh), G. Bruce Doern (Carleton University and University of Exeter), Nick Falvo (Carleton University), Mary Francoli (Carleton University), Ruth Hubbard (University of Ottawa), Derek Ireland (Carleton University), James Lahey (University of Ottawa), Douglas Macdonald (University of Toronto), Eric Milligan (Regulatory Consulting Group Inc, Ottawa), Leslie A. Pal (Carleton University), Gilles Paquet (University of Ottawa), Peter W.B. Phillips (University of Saskatchewan), Richard Schultz (McGill University), Christopher Stoney (Carleton University), Kernaghan Webb (Ryerson University), and Wei Xie (doctoral student, Carleton University).

A broad look at attempts to address economic crises by various governments, with insights into how budget decisions are made.

The federal government's promises to "build back better" and "build back green" highlight opportunities to reimagine Canadian infrastructure. In this groundbreaking study, authors Bruce Doern, Christopher Stoney, and Robert Hilton provide the first comprehensive overview of Canadian infrastructure policy, examining the impact and implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid technological change as Canada looks to recover and rebuild. Covering more than fifty years across many sectors, the authors identify numerous challenges that have contributed to Canada's growing infrastructure deficit and suboptimal outcomes including political interference in the choice of infrastructure projects; challenges for multilevel governance such as distortion of local priorities, blurred accountability, and unsustainable maintenance costs for municipalities; the growing reliance on public-private partnerships that limit transparency and public scrutiny; and increased corruption associated with infrastructure projects. Transforming infrastructure is notoriously difficult yet vital at a time of rapid technological change. It is estimated that 75 percent of the infrastructure that will exist in 2050 does not exist today. This makes it crucial that Canada invest in future-proof infrastructure with the capacity to facilitate economic growth and the expansion of urban centres, mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, and ensure resilience in response to crises and disasters. Keeping Canada Running offers a timely assessment of these issues, Canada's COVID-19 response, and the potential contribution of the newly launched Canadian Infrastructure Bank.

In the 21st century governments are increasingly focusing on designing ways and means of connecting across boundaries to achieve goals. Whether issues are complex and challenging – climate change, international terrorism, intergenerational poverty– or more straightforward - provision of a single point of entry to government or delivering integrated public services - practitioners and scholars increasingly advocate the use of approaches which require connections across various boundaries, be they organizational, jurisdictional or sectorial. Governments around the world continue to experiment with various approaches but still confront barriers, leading to a general view that there is considerable promise in cross boundary working, but that this is often unfulfilled. This book explores a variety of topics in order to create a rich survey of the international experience of cross-boundary working. The book asks fundamental questions such as: What do we mean by the notion of crossing boundaries? Why has this emerged? What does cross boundary working involve? What are the critical enablers and barriers? By scrutinizing these questions, the contributing authors examine: the promise; the barriers; the enablers; the enduring tensions; and the potential solutions to cross-boundary working. As such, this will be an essential read for all those involved with public administration, management and policy.

The 2013-14 edition of How Ottawa Spends critically examines national politics, priorities, and policies with a close lens on Stephen Harper's Conservative party during the middle of their first term as a majority. Contributors from across Canada examine the federal government and its not uncommon mid-term problems but also its considerable agenda of long term plans, both set in the midst of national economic fragility and a global fiscal and debt crisis. Individual chapters examine several related political, policy, and spending realms including the Budget Action Plan, the ten year Canada Health Transfer Plan, the Canada Pension Plan, and Old Age Security reforms. The contributors also consider austerity related public sector downsizing and strategic spending reviews, national energy, and related environmental strategies, and the growing Harper practice of "one-off" federalism.