Canadian Public Policy

Les offrandes des Rois mages: Etatprovidence ou Etat providentiel? by Thomas J. CourcheneReview by: Francois VaillancourtCanadian Public Policy / Analyse de Politiques, Vol. 14, No. 3 (Sep., 1988), p. 323Published by: University of Toronto Press on behalf of Canadian Public PolicyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3550436 .

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from its low-keyed advocacy but from an analysis well-grounded in a comprehensive understanding of both public policy and Canadian federal politics. Leslie presents a very useful review of the policy entangle- ment of governments in Canada, and of the interplay between constitutional politics and economic policy over the past 20 years. Thus the book is of interest not only to those concerned with specific economic policy issues but also to those concerned with the dynamics of constitutional politics.

Federal state, national economy is a very readable book despite its analytical rigour. While at times its organization can be frustrating, in that the author is continual- ly referring ahead to arguments and material yet to come, this weakness is offset by Leslie's highly engaging writing style wherein the reader is invited to join Leslie on a personal, intellectual odyssey through the federal dimension of Canadian economic policy. Although such a style can often be tedious, in this case it works well.

Leslie's work, which includes a useful overview of intergovernmental relations, the Macdonald Royal Commission and the policy underpinnings of the free trade debate, comes at an opportune time for as- sessing the policy impact of both the Meech Lake Accord and the free trade agreement. As Leslie points out, constitutional arran- gements and economic policy are thorough- ly entangled, and we should not expect the constitutional changes set in motion by the Meech Lake Accord to be without conse- quence for national economic management. Moreover, Federal state, national economy also serves as an important challenge to those who would argue that the free trade agreement will not reshape the contours of Canadian political life. As Leslie argues, economic and constitutional arrangements shape one another within the political arena of the Canadian federal state.

ROGER GIBBINS, Department of Political Science, The University of Calgary

from its low-keyed advocacy but from an analysis well-grounded in a comprehensive understanding of both public policy and Canadian federal politics. Leslie presents a very useful review of the policy entangle- ment of governments in Canada, and of the interplay between constitutional politics and economic policy over the past 20 years. Thus the book is of interest not only to those concerned with specific economic policy issues but also to those concerned with the dynamics of constitutional politics.

Federal state, national economy is a very readable book despite its analytical rigour. While at times its organization can be frustrating, in that the author is continual- ly referring ahead to arguments and material yet to come, this weakness is offset by Leslie's highly engaging writing style wherein the reader is invited to join Leslie on a personal, intellectual odyssey through the federal dimension of Canadian economic policy. Although such a style can often be tedious, in this case it works well.

Leslie's work, which includes a useful overview of intergovernmental relations, the Macdonald Royal Commission and the policy underpinnings of the free trade debate, comes at an opportune time for as- sessing the policy impact of both the Meech Lake Accord and the free trade agreement. As Leslie points out, constitutional arran- gements and economic policy are thorough- ly entangled, and we should not expect the constitutional changes set in motion by the Meech Lake Accord to be without conse- quence for national economic management. Moreover, Federal state, national economy also serves as an important challenge to those who would argue that the free trade agreement will not reshape the contours of Canadian political life. As Leslie argues, economic and constitutional arrangements shape one another within the political arena of the Canadian federal state.

ROGER GIBBINS, Department of Political Science, The University of Calgary

from its low-keyed advocacy but from an analysis well-grounded in a comprehensive understanding of both public policy and Canadian federal politics. Leslie presents a very useful review of the policy entangle- ment of governments in Canada, and of the interplay between constitutional politics and economic policy over the past 20 years. Thus the book is of interest not only to those concerned with specific economic policy issues but also to those concerned with the dynamics of constitutional politics.

Federal state, national economy is a very readable book despite its analytical rigour. While at times its organization can be frustrating, in that the author is continual- ly referring ahead to arguments and material yet to come, this weakness is offset by Leslie's highly engaging writing style wherein the reader is invited to join Leslie on a personal, intellectual odyssey through the federal dimension of Canadian economic policy. Although such a style can often be tedious, in this case it works well.

Leslie's work, which includes a useful overview of intergovernmental relations, the Macdonald Royal Commission and the policy underpinnings of the free trade debate, comes at an opportune time for as- sessing the policy impact of both the Meech Lake Accord and the free trade agreement. As Leslie points out, constitutional arran- gements and economic policy are thorough- ly entangled, and we should not expect the constitutional changes set in motion by the Meech Lake Accord to be without conse- quence for national economic management. Moreover, Federal state, national economy also serves as an important challenge to those who would argue that the free trade agreement will not reshape the contours of Canadian political life. As Leslie argues, economic and constitutional arrangements shape one another within the political arena of the Canadian federal state.

ROGER GIBBINS, Department of Political Science, The University of Calgary

Les offrandes des Rois mages: Etat- providence ou Etat providentiel? par Thomas J. Courchene. Institut C.D. Howe, Scarborough, Prentice-Hall Canada Inc., 1987. Pp.vii, 46. $10.00.

Ce texte compte trois grandes parties. Dans la premiere, on presente l'evolution de l'etat providence de 1945 a nos jours, les trois grands defits (fiscal, economique et socio-demographique) auxquels il fait face et les trois arbitrages (efficacite ou securite, centralisation ou decentralisation, secteur public ou secteur prive) auxquels l'Etat doit faire face. Dans la seconde partie, on presente le contenu des rapports Gobeil, Scowen et Fortier sur, respectivement, la structure gouvernementale et les program- mes, la reglementation et la privatisation; puis on les evalue en termes des defis et des arbitrages enonces ci-dessus. Finalement, on fait ressortir la pertinence de ces rap- ports quebecois pour cette societe et pour l'ensemble canadien.

Cette courte monographie, interessante et bien faite, est r6digee dans un excellent frangais. II ne nous reste qu'a souhaiter que le professeur Courchene recidive plus souvent.

FRANCOIS VAILLANCOURT, Centre de recherche en d6veloppement 6conomique, Universite de Montr6al

Languages and Their Territories by J.A. Laponce. (Translated from the French by Anthony Martin-Sperry.) Toron- to, University of Toronto Press, 1987. Pp.x, 265. $30.00.

Toutes les personnes qu'interessent les relations entre populations de langues diff6rentes devraient lire cet ouvrage ou, si elles sont francophones, la version originale de cette traduction, intitulee Langue et ter- ritoire (Presses de l'Univesite Laval, 1984). Cette traduction rend accessible aux anglophones unilingues l'analyse excep- tionnellement bien informee (bibliographie

Les offrandes des Rois mages: Etat- providence ou Etat providentiel? par Thomas J. Courchene. Institut C.D. Howe, Scarborough, Prentice-Hall Canada Inc., 1987. Pp.vii, 46. $10.00.

Ce texte compte trois grandes parties. Dans la premiere, on presente l'evolution de l'etat providence de 1945 a nos jours, les trois grands defits (fiscal, economique et socio-demographique) auxquels il fait face et les trois arbitrages (efficacite ou securite, centralisation ou decentralisation, secteur public ou secteur prive) auxquels l'Etat doit faire face. Dans la seconde partie, on presente le contenu des rapports Gobeil, Scowen et Fortier sur, respectivement, la structure gouvernementale et les program- mes, la reglementation et la privatisation; puis on les evalue en termes des defis et des arbitrages enonces ci-dessus. Finalement, on fait ressortir la pertinence de ces rap- ports quebecois pour cette societe et pour l'ensemble canadien.

Cette courte monographie, interessante et bien faite, est r6digee dans un excellent frangais. II ne nous reste qu'a souhaiter que le professeur Courchene recidive plus souvent.

FRANCOIS VAILLANCOURT, Centre de recherche en d6veloppement 6conomique, Universite de Montr6al

Languages and Their Territories by J.A. Laponce. (Translated from the French by Anthony Martin-Sperry.) Toron- to, University of Toronto Press, 1987. Pp.x, 265. $30.00.

Toutes les personnes qu'interessent les relations entre populations de langues diff6rentes devraient lire cet ouvrage ou, si elles sont francophones, la version originale de cette traduction, intitulee Langue et ter- ritoire (Presses de l'Univesite Laval, 1984). Cette traduction rend accessible aux anglophones unilingues l'analyse excep- tionnellement bien informee (bibliographie

Les offrandes des Rois mages: Etat- providence ou Etat providentiel? par Thomas J. Courchene. Institut C.D. Howe, Scarborough, Prentice-Hall Canada Inc., 1987. Pp.vii, 46. $10.00.

Ce texte compte trois grandes parties. Dans la premiere, on presente l'evolution de l'etat providence de 1945 a nos jours, les trois grands defits (fiscal, economique et socio-demographique) auxquels il fait face et les trois arbitrages (efficacite ou securite, centralisation ou decentralisation, secteur public ou secteur prive) auxquels l'Etat doit faire face. Dans la seconde partie, on presente le contenu des rapports Gobeil, Scowen et Fortier sur, respectivement, la structure gouvernementale et les program- mes, la reglementation et la privatisation; puis on les evalue en termes des defis et des arbitrages enonces ci-dessus. Finalement, on fait ressortir la pertinence de ces rap- ports quebecois pour cette societe et pour l'ensemble canadien.

Cette courte monographie, interessante et bien faite, est r6digee dans un excellent frangais. II ne nous reste qu'a souhaiter que le professeur Courchene recidive plus souvent.

FRANCOIS VAILLANCOURT, Centre de recherche en d6veloppement 6conomique, Universite de Montr6al

Languages and Their Territories by J.A. Laponce. (Translated from the French by Anthony Martin-Sperry.) Toron- to, University of Toronto Press, 1987. Pp.x, 265. $30.00.

Toutes les personnes qu'interessent les relations entre populations de langues diff6rentes devraient lire cet ouvrage ou, si elles sont francophones, la version originale de cette traduction, intitulee Langue et ter- ritoire (Presses de l'Univesite Laval, 1984). Cette traduction rend accessible aux anglophones unilingues l'analyse excep- tionnellement bien informee (bibliographie

Reviews/Comptes rendus 323 Reviews/Comptes rendus 323 Reviews/Comptes rendus 323

This content downloaded from 185.44.77.146 on Mon, 16 Jun 2014 07:35:48 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions