The art of sharing : the richer versus the poorer provinces since confederation / Mary Janigan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Janigan, Mary, author.

Series:

Carleton library series ; 250.

Carleton library series ; 250

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Transfer payments--Canada.

Transfer payments.

Canada--Economic policy.

Canada.

Canada--Economic conditions.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xi, 420 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Montreal, Quebec : McGill-Queen's University Press, [2020]

Summary:

In 1957 after a century of scathing debates and threats of provincial separation Ottawa finally tackled the dangerous fiscal inequalities among its richer and poorer provinces. Equalization grants allowed the poorer provinces to provide relatively equal services for relatively equal levels of taxation. The Art of Sharing tells the dramatic history of Canada's efforts to save itself. The introduction of federal equalization grants was controversial and wealthier provinces such as Alberta – wanting to keep more of their taxpayers' money for their own governments – continue to attack them today. Mary Janigan argues that the elusive ideal of fiscal equity in spite of dissent from richer provinces has helped preserve Canada as a united nation. Janigan goes back to Confederation to trace the escalating tensions among the provinces across decades as voters demanded more services to survive in a changing world. She also uncovers the continuing contacts between Canada and Australia as both dominions struggled to placate disgruntled member states and provinces that blamed the very act of federation for their woes. By the mid-twentieth century trapped between the demands of social activists and Quebec's insistence on its right to run its own social programs Ottawa adopted non-conditional grants in compromise. The history of equalization in Canada has never been fully explored. Introducing the idealistic Canadians who fought for equity along with their radically different proposals to achieve it The Art of Sharing makes the case that a willingness to share financial resources is the real tie that has bound the federation together into the twenty-first century.

Contents:

Front Matter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Sharing in Australia and Depression-Era Canada, 1935-38

The Poorer Provinces Stake Their Claims, 1867-1919

The Maritime Provinces Lead the Way for Canada - and Australia, 1919-30

The Poorer Endanger the Richer, 1930-35

King Stalls as the Depression Continues, 1935-37

The Poorer versus the Richer at the Royal Commission, 1937-40

Inequality in Wartime, 1940-44

Mackenzie King’s Last Showdowns, 1945-48

The Compromise, 1948-57

Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780228002680

0228002680

9780228002673

0228002672

OCLC:

1140871651