The Politics and Economics of Eric Kierans

by McDougall, John N.

• ISBN13: 9780773511224
• ISBN10: 0773511229
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1993-10-01
• Publisher: Carleton Univ Pr

Summary

McDougall believes that study of Kierans' career is important for two reasons: Kierans not only combined practical business and governmental experience with a coherent economic and philosophical outlook but also maintained a comprehensive and integrated approach to the major issues in Canadian politics national unity, economic independence, federal-provincial relations, regional development, resource policy, and macro-economic policy. McDougall examines Kierans' career from his appointment as president of the Montreal Stock Exchange in 1960 to his service as chairman of the Nova Scotia commission on the Charlottetown Accord during the early 1990s. He focuses on Kierans' relationship with Rene Levesque in the government of Jean Lesage, his fights within the Trudeau cabinet over the reform of the post office and the development of the Anik satellite, and his criticisms of Canadian economic and resource policies in the 1970s. Using Kierans' ministerial and personal records, his publications and speeches, interviews with him and his former associates, and a variety of secondary sources, the author argues that much of what Kierans said and accomplished is unique and remains relevant to the economic and political problems of today. Kierans has demonstrated that powerful political forces often prevent good ideas and determined effort from improving public policy but he has also shown that thoughtful and responsible public service can at least raise the level of public debate.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
The Many Canadas of Eric Kierans	p. 3
The Quiet Revolution
Professor and Polemicist	p. 29
Levesque and Kierans, Ltee	p. 52
"Cooperative" Federalism and the Break with Levesque	p. 67
The Kierans Affair and After	p. 84
The Centre Cannot Hold
Tax Reform and the Post Office	p. 105
Telesat and the National Interest	p. 133
From Minister to Critic	p. 149
The Unretiring Voice
Whose Resources Are They, Anyhow?	p. 177
Globalism, State, and Community	p. 195
A Political Economy for All Canadas	p. 216
Appendix: Kierans to Walter Gordon, June 1963	p. 241
Notes	p. 247
Bibliography	p. 279
Index	p. 291
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.