Manitoba Politics and Government

by Thomas, Paul G.; Brown, Curtis

• ISBN13: 9780887557194
• ISBN10: 0887557198
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-08-31
• Publisher: Univ of Manitoba Pr

Summary

Manitoba has always been a province in the middle, geographically, economically, and culturally. Lacking Quebec#x92;s cultural distinctiveness, Ontario#x92;s traditional economic dominance, or Alberta#x92;s combustible mix of prairie populism and oil wealth, Manitoba appears to blend into the background of the Canadian family portrait. But Manitoba has a distinct political culture, one that has been overlooked in contemporary political studies. Addressing a forty-year gap in the study of the province#x92;s political history, Manitoba Politics and Government brings together the work of political scientists, historians, sociologists, economists, public servants, and journalists to present a comprehensive analysis of the province#x92;s political life and its careful #x93;mutual fund model#x94; approach to economic and social policy that mirrors the steady and cautious nature of its citizens. Moving beyond the Legislature, the authors address contemporary social issues like poverty, environmental stewardship, gender equality, health care, and the province#x92;s growing Aboriginal population to reveal the evolution of public policy in the province. They also examine the province#x92;s role at the intergovernmental and international level. Manitoba Politics and Government is a rich and fascinating account of a province that strives for the centre, for the delicate middle ground where individualism and collectivism overlap, and where a multitude of different cultures and traditions create a highly balanced society.

Author Biography

Paul G. Thomas is the former Duff Roblin Professor of Government at the University of Manitoba, where he taught for forty years, and is the author of more than one hundred journal articles and book chapters on Canadian politics and public administration. He has served in a variety of other public capacities, including as chair of the board of directors of the Manitoba Telephone Service and the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety. He has also led, served, or conducted research for numerous advisory committees, royal commissions, task forces, and judicial enquiries. Curtis Brown is a research associate with Probe Research Inc. and is a Duff Roblin Scholar in the department of political studies at the University of Manitoba. He is also a graduate of the University of Regina School of Journalism and is a former editor of the Brandon Sun and a contributor to the Winnipeg Free Press.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Manitoba in the Middle	p. 3
Manitoba's Political Culture
The Manitoba Political Tradition	p. 21
Political Culture in Manitoba	p. 43
Parties and Elections in Manitoba
The Success of the New Democratic Party	p. 73
Manitoba's Progressive Conservative Party: A "Great Renewal" Or Continued Disarray?	p. 96
Manitoba's Liberals: Sliding into Third	p. 128
Realigning Elections in Manitoba	p. 159
Government Institutions and Processes
The Manitoba Cabinet	p. 181
The Manitoba Legislature: A Personal Reflection	p. 205
The Evolution of Political Journalism in Manitoba	p. 218
The Past, Present, and Future of the Manitoba's Civil Service	p. 227
A Practitioner's Reflections on the Practice of Federalism	p. 257
Leading from the Middle: Manitoba's Role in the Intergovernmental and Transnational Arenas	p. 265
Manitoba's Economy and Society
Manitoba in the Middle: A Mutual Fund Balanced for Steady Income	p. 293
Manitoba Agriculture: Cultivating a New Approach Towards Sustainability	p. 306
Segregated City: A Century of Poverty in Winnipeg	p. 331
"Closing the Gap" in Manitoba	p. 358
The Role of Aboriginal Political Organizations in the Policy Process	p. 372
Has the Manitoba "Advantage" Worked for Women?	p. 382
Health Care Policy in Manitoba: The Past, Present, and Future of Regional Health Authorities	p. 404
Questions of Allocation: Resources and Degrees Awarded at the University of Manitoba, 1998-2005	p. 434
Contributors	p. 448
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