Drawing on the work of academics and other experts from across Canada, Carleton University's School of Public Policy and Administration's annual book takes a focused and robust look at an era where a political coronation seemed inevitable but high expectations had to be managed downwards almost immediately. A less-than-buoyant fiscal surplus, escalating concerns about liberal ethics and corruption, and a growing volatility in public opinion are examined as are Canadians' increasingly uncertain views about the new Liberal leadership versus the old Liberal Party's ten-year hold on power. A new Conservative Party and a suddenly feisty New Democratic Party are also a central part of the new 2004-2005 Canadian political and policy milieu.

"In the twenty-sixth edition of How Ottawa Spends, leading Canadian academics assess the Martin cabinet and the political dilemmas involved in managing the first minority government since 1979."--BOOK JACKET.

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).

In the twenty-eighth edition of How Ottawa Spends leading Canadian scholars examine the Harper government agenda in the context of Stéphane Dion's election as Liberal opposition leader and the emergence of climate change as a dominant political and policy issue. This volume focuses on Quebec-Canada relations and federal-provincial fiscal imbalance. Contributors explore several key policy and expenditure issues, including Canada-U.S. relations, the Federal Accountability Act, energy policy, health care, child care, crime and punishment, consumer policy, and public service labour relations. They also offer a critical analysis of the challenges to overall governance, including ministerial responsibility, public-private partnerships, and the handling of long-term spending commitments inherited by succeeding governments. Contributors include Timothy Barkiw (Ryerson), Gerard Boychuk (Waterloo), Keith Brownsey (Mount Royal College, Calgary), Peter Graefe (McMaster), Geoffrey Hale (Lethbridge), Carey Hill (Western Ontario), Ruth Hubbard (Ottawa), Derek Ireland (PhD student, Carleton), Rachel Laforest (Queen's), Ian Lee (Carleton), Trevor Lynn (Saskatchewan), Jonathan Malloy (Carleton), Scott Millar (Government of Canada), Gilles Paquet (emeritus, Ottawa), Michael Prince (Victoria), Christopher Stoney (Carleton), Gene Swimmer (Carleton), Katherine Teghtsoonian (Victoria), Andrew Teliszewsky (Ontario Minister of Health Promotion), Lori Turnbull (Dalhousie), and Kernaghan Webb (Ryerson University).

Analyzing the Harper government's agenda in the context of changing federal-provincial relations.

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).

Topics include the Martin liberals and changing ISE policies, the federal sustainable development strategy process, the National Research Council’s response to changing federal agendas, a comparison of Canadian and UK innovation strategies, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, innovation strategy and the mining supply and service sector, environmental industries and the role of the Canadian Environmental Technology Advancement Centres, local innovation and source water protection, and information disclosure as an environmental policy instrument.