The Hill Times: Best Books of 2016 An overview of the history of elections and voting in Canada, including minority governments, dynasties, and social movements. Dynasties and Interludes provides a comprehensive and unique overview of elections and voting in Canada from Confederation to the most recent election. Its principal argument is that the Canadian political landscape has consisted of long periods of hegemony of a single party and/or leader (dynasties), punctuated by short, sharp disruptions brought about by the sudden rise of new parties, leaders, or social movements (interludes). This revised and updated second edition includes an analysis of the results of the 2011 and 2015 federal elections as well as an in-depth discussion of the “Harper Dynasty.”
Ten papers presented at the Western Canadian Studies Conference in March, 1972, which treat a broad spectrum of social and political topics in western Canada. Authors include D. Bercuson, Don Page, J. Thompson and Pat Roy.
A beautifully designed collection of essays on war, loss and remembrance to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the writing of Canada's most famous poem. In early 1915, the death of a young friend on the battlefields of Ypres inspired Canadian soldier, field surgeon and poet John McCrae to write "In Flanders Fields." Within months of the poem's December 1915 publication in the British magazine Punch it became part of the collective consciousness in North America and Europe, and its extraordinary power has endured over the decades and across generations. In this anthology, Canada's finest historians, novelists and poets contemplate the evolving meaning of the poem; the man who wrote it and the World War I setting from which it emerged; its themes of valour, grief and remembrance; and the iconic image of the poppy. Among the thirteen contributors: Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire (ret'd) writes about the emotional meaning of the poem for war veterans; Tim Cook describes the rich and varied life of McCrae; Frances Itani revisits her time in Flanders, and mines the acts of witnessing and remembering; Kevin Patterson offers a riveting depiction of the adrenaline-fueled work of a WWI field surgeon; Mary Janigan reveals the poem's surprisingly divisive effect during the 1917 federal election; Ken Dryden tells us how lines from the poem ended up on the wall of the Montreal Canadiens' dressing room; and Patrick Lane recalls a Remembrance Day from his childhood in a moving reflection on how war shapes us all. Gorgeously designed in full colour with archival and contemporary images, In Flanders Fields: 100 Years will reflect and illuminate the importance of art in how we process war and loss.
In celebration of Sir Wilfrid Laurier's 175th birthday -- November 20th, 2016 is "Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day" -- this is the first time his most important and iconic speeches will be published in book form, annotated and with essays by a stunning array of politicians, journalists, and acclaimed academics. "Sunny ways my friends, sunny ways." These were the words used in triumph by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the night he was elected Canada's 23rd Prime Minister. They were also the words Sir Wilfrid Laurier used to call Canadians to greatness a century before. Canada Always brings together the most significant speeches of one of Canada's greatest leaders on the 175th anniversary of his birth. Readers will follow Laurier from his earliest years in Canadian politics, through his history-making fifteen-year Premiership, and then again as his generous vision of Canada is sorely tested by the flames and fire of the First World War. Edited by veteran political speechwriter and PM historian Arthur Milnes, Canada Always features essays of commentary by seven of Laurier's living successors as Prime Minister of Canada. They are joined by Mr. Justice Thomas Cromwell of the Supreme Court of Canada; past Prime Ministerial chiefs-of-staff like Thomas Axworthy, Edward Goldenberg, Nigel Wright, Derek Burney, and Hugh Segal; journalists André Pratte, Steve Paikin, Jane Taber, Lawrence Martin, and Andrew Cohen; past and sitting Premiers Rachel Notley, Christy Clark, Jean Charest, Roy Romanow, Alison Redford, and Bob Rae; distinguished academics including David Asper; former US Ambassador to Canada David Jacobson (on Laurier's legacy in Canada-US relations); while the Rt. Hon. Tony Blair considers Laurier from his unique position as a past Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. As Canada stands on the cusp of her 150th birthday, Canada Always will be an essential part of the library of any Canadian seeking a further understanding of the words that defined our nation: Laurier's words.
