How Ottawa Spends, 2012-2013

Book excerpt: Continuing its tradition of current, exemplary scholarship, the 2012-13 edition of How Ottawa Spends casts a critical eye at national politics, priorities, and policies, with an emphasis on the Conservative majority's mandated austerity measures and budget-cutting strategies. Leading scholars from across Canada examine a new era of majority government and a transformed political opposition both in Parliament and in provincial politics. Several closely linked political, policy, and spending realms are examined, including corporate tax reform, Conservative Party social policy, regional economic development, science and technology investments, Canada-US perimeter security and trade agreements, the rise and fall of regulatory regimes, and Canadian health care. Related governance issues such as federal infrastructure program impacts, the Harper government's Economic Action Plan impacts in Ontario, and community colleges in the federal innovation agenda, are also discussed in detail.