The contributors first analyse recent public-sector initiatives that have altered the Canadian economy and transformed Canadian society. These include monetarist macroeconomic policies, a trade deal with the United States, and the increasing use of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to make regulatory decisions. The contributors then analyse the consequences of these changes for some of Canada's key industries and for Canadian social policy, noting the conservative agenda's effect on workers' incomes, work conditions, social benefits, and the role of the state in the economy. The final chapters explore possible alternatives and the difficult but very real choices economic and social policy makers must make with respect to macroeconomic management, employment, industrial strategy, and the environment. The contributors to this volume are Isabella Bakker, Duncan Cameron, Stephen Clarkson, Marjorie Cohen, Robert Cox, Arthur Donner, Daniel Drache, Colin Duncan, Meric S. Gertler, John Holmes, Jeanne Laux, Rianne Mahon, Michael Mandel, Anthony Masi, Jon Morris, John Myles, Paul Phillips, Abraham Rotstein, Frank Tester, Bruce Wilkinson.

Daniel Drache is a leading expert on global trade governance and North American integration. He is the author of Borders Matter: Homeland Security and the Search for North America (2004), a revised edition of which was published in Spanish in 2007. The editor of a special edition of Canada Watch—“Deep Integration: North America Post-Bush”—he is also a member of the Centre for International Governance Innovations (CIGI) North American Portal advisory committee.

Daniel Drache's profile page

Meric S. Gertler is the president of the University of Toronto, the Goldring Chair in Canadian Studies, and a professor in the Department of Geography.

Meric S. Gertler's profile page

"[Delivers] the message that there is room for an alternative future for Canada ... where social inequities might be reduced, where the US model might be resisted, and where new industries might develop." William D. Coleman, Department of Political Science, McMaster University.
"Ces texts sont écrits par plusieurs des meilleurs scientistes sociaux du Canada. Le texte de Clarkson est un essai brillant ... Mandel fait une contribution fort originale. La plupart des textes soumet l'Accord de libre-échange à une analyse à la fois critique et scientifique." Jorge Niosi, Centre de recherche en développement industriel et technologique, Université du Québec à Montréal.

"[Delivers] the message that there is room for an alternative future for Canada ... where social inequities might be reduced, where the US model might be resisted, and where new industries might develop." William D. Coleman, Department of Political Science, McMaster University. "Ces texts sont écrits par plusieurs des meilleurs scientistes sociaux du Canada. Le texte de Clarkson est un essai brillant ... Mandel fait une contribution fort originale. La plupart des textes soumet l'Accord de libre-échange à une analyse à la fois critique et scientifique." Jorge Niosi, Centre de recherche en développement industriel et technologique, Université du Québec à Montréal.