VIRTUAL BOOK DISCUSSION | Mary Janigan - The Art of Sharing

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The Graham Centre presents a discussion of The Art of Sharing: The Richer versus the Poorer Provinces since Confederation, by Toronto-based journalist and historian Mary Janigan.

This free event is open to the public and is sponsored by the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Art of Sharing tells the dramatic history of Canada's efforts to save itself. The introduction of federal equalization grants was controversial, and wealthier provinces such as Alberta - wanting to keep more of their taxpayers' money for their own governments - continue to attack them today. Mary Janigan argues that the elusive ideal of fiscal equity, in spite of dissent from richer provinces, has helped preserve Canada as a united nation. Janigan goes back to Confederation to trace the escalating tensions among the provinces across decades as voters demanded more services to survive in a changing world. She also uncovers the continuing contacts between Canada and Australia as both dominions struggled to placate disgruntled member states and provinces that blamed the very act of federation for their woes. By the mid-twentieth century, trapped between the demands of social activists and Quebec's insistence on its right to run its own social programs, Ottawa adopted non-conditional grants in compromise.