Cycling Into Saigon
The Conservative Transition in Ontario
Published on 15. November 2000
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-0-7748-0813-2 (ISBN)
Description
The essence of democracy is the peaceful and legitimate transfer of government. In 1995 in Ontario, the omens for a successful transition weren't promising. Almost no one had expected Mike Harris's Common Sense Revolution to catapult his Progressive Conservatives from third-party obscurity to victory in the June election. The Harris manifesto declared its intention to dismantle almost every policy of the defeated NDP administration of Bob Rae. Weeks of confrontation and confusion seemed inevitable. Yet, as Cameron and White compellingly describe, the transition was a surprising success, involving necessary co-operation between political mortal enemies. Cycling into Saigon has important lessons for everyone involved or interested in this key stage of the electoral process, wherever it takes place.
Reviews / Votes
[This book] makes an important contribution to the sparse literature on transitions in Canada and in parliamentary regimes generally ... A concluding section neatly sums up the authors' advice on transition planning. It is so wise and plainly stated that their book will almost certainly become essential reading for future transition teams in Canada, and it merits attention in other parliamentary democracies as well. - S.R.J. Noel (American Political Science Review) In this fascinating work, the authors examine how the transition of government in Ontario in 1995 was a surprising success involving, as it did, the necessity of co-operation between political mortal enemies. Cycling into Saigon has important lessons for everyone involved or interested in this key stage of the electoral process, wherever it takes place. (The Donner Prize Jury)More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Vancouver
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7748-0813-2 (9780774808132)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
David R. Cameron and Graham White are professors in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto.
Content
Preface
1 Transitions
2 The 1985 and 1990 Transitions
3 Transition Building Blocks: Bureaucrats, Politicians, and Mandates
4 Bureaucratic Preparations
5 The Parties Prepare for Power
6 Cycling into Saigon: The Common Sense Revolutionaries Take Over
7 Not Politics but Good Government: Making Transitions Better
Appendices
A Two Public Policy Forum Documents Given to Opposition Parties
B Excerpts from Mission '97
C The Liberal Approach to Organization, Management, and Decision-Making in the Government of Ontario
D The Conservative Transition Team
E Introduction to Political Briefing Material Given to Conservative Ministers
F Speech by Premier Harris to Deputy Ministers, 27 June 1995
G On the Record: Ensuring a Place in History / Peter DeLottinville and Ian E. Wilson
Notes
Bibliography
Index
1 Transitions
2 The 1985 and 1990 Transitions
3 Transition Building Blocks: Bureaucrats, Politicians, and Mandates
4 Bureaucratic Preparations
5 The Parties Prepare for Power
6 Cycling into Saigon: The Common Sense Revolutionaries Take Over
7 Not Politics but Good Government: Making Transitions Better
Appendices
A Two Public Policy Forum Documents Given to Opposition Parties
B Excerpts from Mission '97
C The Liberal Approach to Organization, Management, and Decision-Making in the Government of Ontario
D The Conservative Transition Team
E Introduction to Political Briefing Material Given to Conservative Ministers
F Speech by Premier Harris to Deputy Ministers, 27 June 1995
G On the Record: Ensuring a Place in History / Peter DeLottinville and Ian E. Wilson
Notes
Bibliography
Index