How Ottawa Spends, 2003-2004

How Ottawa Spends 2003-2004: Regime Change and Policy Shift covers a unique period in Canadian politics. During the past year Prime Minister Jean Cretien, relatively fresh from a third election victory, was given early retirement by his party at the instigation of heir apparent Paul Martin. Paradoxically, opinion polls suggest that there was implicit support for this move from the Canadian electorate. The result has been regime change and policy shift as the legacies of the departing leader clash with the policies of the new regime. Bringing even greater complexity and intrigue to the situation is the unusual assertiveness being displayed on all sides of the House of Commons. The 2003-2004 edition examines the core dynamics of national priority setting and public spending and explores in detail the key policy issues of the new situation. These include: Kyoto and climate change; health care in the wake of the Kirby and Romanow reports; the new national security agenda; North American integration; higher eduation; the innovation agenda; government S&T; internet broadband and community connectedness; pensions; and student financial aid.