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Double Vision: The Inside Story of the Liberals in Power
405 pages of excellent text. An in depth look at two of the most powerful Liberal personalities of the time - Jean Chretien, the Prime Minister, and Paul Martin, his Minister of Finance. First Edition.
- GenresPolitics
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 28, 2020
This book describes the economic and political issues surrounding Canada's deficit crisis of 1994-95, and the political personalities led by Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, who struggled and ultimately succeeded to find solutions. This is a particularly interesting read in light of the economic challenges the country faces on the heels of the extraordinary financial packages to help individuals and businesses survive the pandemic. Question is, do the current prime minister and finance minister have the needed vision, talent and resolve to meet the challenge?
September 26, 2019
Among other things, the book details the internal infighting and backbiting that went on inside the Libetal ranks, especially with regards to Shelia Copps and Paul Martin. Something of a trudge at times but gives a good sense of the style and mores of the Chretien government.
December 25, 2024
*Note this book was written by both Wilson-Smith and Greenspon (Goodreads has it wrong)
This is a book that covers the first three years of the Chrétien government, I read it initially because it was noted as a reference on David A. Dodge's Wikipedia page. The book is in fact an amalgamation of many areas: Canadian economic crisis in the early 90s, fiscal and monetary policy discussed at length, the nature of government with musing on how better it may work, detailed research on the through debates, qualms, fights, etc that went on in the Chretien government as it sought to govern Canada through turbulent national unity and economic times. This is of course a book that details the nature of Chretien as a PM the good and not so good. We learn about his governing style, his philosophy of government, the decisions he made behind closed doors. We learn about the tides of nationalism in Quebec, Western Alienation, the shift to a global economy and the increasing focus provinces made to the American economy (in the book described as a shift from an East to West Economy to a North to South Economy). These are just a sprinkling of the many themes discussed. You gain a great appreciation of how difficult it is to govern a nation, how difficult it is chart what is the right policy, how do you implement it, how do you gain public acceptance, and what of your caucus. It's humbling in a way for Liberals to accept the complexity of the world and how open we need to be to shortfalls, mistakes, and needs to reverse course. This is nicely discussed on the concept of GST and the contrast between Martin and Chretien.
Chretien more of a crisis manager, dealing with issue after issue with skepticism of the power of government and one who eschews large ideas/reforms. Martin is the opposite who believes in the role of government more actively and playing the political game less and being more upfront with voters. The big Canadian policy concerns written in the mid 90s are still very well alive today as we grapple with the economic transition and productivity growth.
This was the book that first injected me with great admiration for Paul Martin. I admired David A. Dodge before reading this book, but doubly so afterward!
This is a book that covers the first three years of the Chrétien government, I read it initially because it was noted as a reference on David A. Dodge's Wikipedia page. The book is in fact an amalgamation of many areas: Canadian economic crisis in the early 90s, fiscal and monetary policy discussed at length, the nature of government with musing on how better it may work, detailed research on the through debates, qualms, fights, etc that went on in the Chretien government as it sought to govern Canada through turbulent national unity and economic times. This is of course a book that details the nature of Chretien as a PM the good and not so good. We learn about his governing style, his philosophy of government, the decisions he made behind closed doors. We learn about the tides of nationalism in Quebec, Western Alienation, the shift to a global economy and the increasing focus provinces made to the American economy (in the book described as a shift from an East to West Economy to a North to South Economy). These are just a sprinkling of the many themes discussed. You gain a great appreciation of how difficult it is to govern a nation, how difficult it is chart what is the right policy, how do you implement it, how do you gain public acceptance, and what of your caucus. It's humbling in a way for Liberals to accept the complexity of the world and how open we need to be to shortfalls, mistakes, and needs to reverse course. This is nicely discussed on the concept of GST and the contrast between Martin and Chretien.
Chretien more of a crisis manager, dealing with issue after issue with skepticism of the power of government and one who eschews large ideas/reforms. Martin is the opposite who believes in the role of government more actively and playing the political game less and being more upfront with voters. The big Canadian policy concerns written in the mid 90s are still very well alive today as we grapple with the economic transition and productivity growth.
This was the book that first injected me with great admiration for Paul Martin. I admired David A. Dodge before reading this book, but doubly so afterward!
July 15, 2012
A truly great political book! Thoroughly researched, balanced and very, very informative... Loved it!
October 9, 2015
entertaining read about the liberal party of canada
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews