A fresh perspective on the role of democratic socialist ideology in Canadian politics emerges from this study of the first NDP government of Manitoba (1969-77). The policies and performance of the administration headed by Edward Schreyer are evaluated in the light of what might be expected of a social democratic party in office. Measured by such criteria as the redistribution of wealth, the growth of public ownership, the extension of government planning, and public participation in decision making, the achievements of the Schreyer government fell short of the expectations of its supporters and the good intentions of socialist ideology. Just as significant as the lack of substantive change in these areas was the marginality of the programs and policy changes that were introduced. Reasons for the failure to create a new society in Manitoba are found in the evolution of the CCF-NDP, the organization of the provincial party, the make-up of caucus and cabinet, and the social basis of support for the NDP - so diffuse that electoral success depended largely on the popularity of the party leader. But the dilemma of the NDP government was essentially that of any democratic socialist movement confronted by the near-impossibility of radically altering a society dominated by capitalist economic institutions while adhering to the norms of parliamentary democracy. In addition to providing insight into an important and hitherto unstudied period in provincial politics.
Authors
- Bibliography, etc. Note
- Bibliography: p. [201]-209
- Control Number Identifier
- CaOOCEL
- Dewey Decimal Classification Number
- 324.27127/07
- Dewey Decimal Edition Number
- 19
- General Note
- Includes index Based on the author's thesis (Ph.D.) - Carleton University, 1980 Issued as part of the desLibris books collection
- Geographic Area Code
- n-cn-mb
- ISBN
- 9780773561007 0773504362
- LCCN
- F1063
- LCCN Item number
- M39 1984eb
- Modifying agency
- CaBNVSL
- Original cataloging agency
- CaOTU
- Physical Description | Extent
- 1 electronic text (x, 214 p.)
- Published in
- Canada
- Publisher or Distributor Number
- CaOOCEL
- Rights
- Access restricted to authorized users and institutions
- System Control Number
- (CaBNVSL)slc00207787 (OCoLC)191818969 (CaOOCEL)407453
- System Details Note
- Mode of access: World Wide Web
- Transcribing agency
- CaOONL
Table of Contents
- Contents 6
- Illustrations 7
- Tables 8
- Preface 10
- 1 Introduction 14
- 2 Edward R. Schreyer 24
- 3 Legislative and Bureaucratic Reforms 31
- 4 Taxes and Spending 43
- 5 The Schreyer Government's Policies 65
- 6 Manitoba as a Political Base 91
- 7 Socialism in Canada 99
- 8 The CCF–NDP 106
- 9 Elections in Manitoba 121
- 10 The Party Organization 136
- 11 Members of the Legislative Assembly 153
- 12 The Cabinet and the Civil Service 162
- 13 Summary and Conclusions 174
- Appendix 184
- Notes 200
- Bibliography 212
- Index 221
- A 221
- B 221
- C 221
- D 222
- E 222
- F 222
- G 222
- H 222
- I 222
- J 222
- K 222
- L 222
- M 223
- N 223
- O 224
- P 224
- Q 224
- R 224
- S 224
- T 225
- U 225
- V 225
- W 225
