How Ottawa Spends

This edition of How Ottawa Spends examines the evolving Liberal government's agenda as it moves into its third term in office. The federal election of October 2000 was harldy a campaign of ideas, and the Liberals won it without a clear or detailed platform of policy initiatives. The mini-budget promised substantial tax cuts, but insofar as the Liberals sketched out any priorities, they seemed to imply a shift towards increased spending. As well, in the closign days of their previous government, the Liberals seemed tired and lacking in policy focus. It remains unclear, therefore, how they will shape their new mandate and what continuity it will have with their previous policy directions. This volume probes Ottawa's evolving agenda with chapters on a variety of economic and social policy topics: the government's fiscal and management framework, natural resources, regional development, air transportation, the social union, disability, gender equality, the voluntary sector, and the courts.