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Original Essays | April 29, 2013
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This title in other editionsThe Truth about Canada: "Some Important, Some Astonishing, and Some Truly Appalling Things All Canadians Should Know about Our Country"by Mel Hurtig
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Renowned as a passionate Canadian, bestselling author Mel Hurtig has combed through world statistics to see how Canada really measures up — and the results are astonishing, and often shocking.
This book is about how Canada has changed, very much for the worse, in the last twenty years. As a result of these profound (often hidden) changes, we are no longer the people we think we are. To take one example, the Canadian media usually leaves us with the impression that Canadians are really heavily taxed. Yes, compared to the U.S.A., the usual point of comparison. No, compared to other countries with our standard of living, other OECD countries, for example; there we come in 23rd on the high-tax scale. The shocks in this book build up, chapter by chapter. How do we rank in the world in voter turnout? Try 109th. Number of physicians per 100,000 population? Try 54th. Our rank in reducing pollution? 126th out of 146 countries. Some of the statistics are internal, comparing Canada then and now. They back up two of the book’s most powerful themes: the failure of Canadian big business to turn record profits into ongoing investment in our country, and (no coincidence) the sellout of our assets at a rate that no other country would allow. This statistics-based book ranges across all areas of our lives — including health, wages, productivity, culture, the media (“the most concentrated in the world”), and much else. Mel Hurtig’s message is that we can’t do anything to fix the direction we’re drifting in unless we recognize it — and recognize The Truth About Canada. From the Hardcover edition. About the AuthorMel Hurtig is the legendary Edmonton bookseller, publisher, and creator of The Canadian Encyclopedia who became a political activist, then an author in 1991 with his huge bestseller The Betrayal of Canada. He is also the author of Pay the Rent or Feed the Kids, The Vanishing Country, and Rushing to Armageddon. He is a member of the Order of Canada, and has received many honorary degrees and honours. He lives in Vancouver.
From the Hardcover edition. Table of ContentsAcknowledgements
Preface Part One 1. Health Care in Canada and Our Tragic, Inexcusable Shortage of Doctors 2. Poverty in Canada Part Two 3. Aboriginal Peoples in Canada 4. Canadian Social Policy 5. Employment and Unemployment in Canada 6. Ottawa’s UI/EI Cash Cow 7. Welfare in Canada 8. Immigration and Emigration Part Three 9. Wages in Canada 10. The Distribution of Income in Canada 11. The Distribution of Wealth in Canada 12. Big-Business Bellyaching and Actual Corporate Profits in Canada Part Four 13. Big-Business Investment in Canada 14. Research and Development 15. Productivity in Canada 16. Manufacturing in Canada 17. Cars, Trucks, and Auto Parts 18. Corporate Taxes in Canada 19. Personal Taxes 20. How Competitive Is Canada? Part Five 21. Education in Canada 22. Culture in Canada 23. The Media in Canada Part Six 24. Foreign Investment, Foreign Ownership, Foreign Control 25. Foreign Takeovers 26. Canadian Investment Abroad 27. The Free Trade Agreement 28. NAFTA 29. Trade in Goods and Services 30. Globalization Part Seven 31. Foreign Aid 32. Defence, the Military, the Arms Trade, Peacekeeping, and the Arctic Part Eight 33. Government in Canada 34. Decentralization 35. Energy Policy in Canada 36. Water 37. Gross Domestic Product 38. Standard of Living and the Quality of Life Part Nine 39. Reforming Our Dysfunctional Electoral System 40. Women in Canada Conclusion Glossary Notes From the Hardcover edition. What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
Related SubjectsHistory and Social Science » Politics » General
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