Session: G1 - Roundtable: The Harper Record: Policy and Politics

Date: May 31, 2016 | Time: 08:45am to 10:15am | Location: Science Theatres 127

Chair/Présidente: Teresa Healy (School for International Training Graduate Institute)

Participants & Authors/Auteurs:

John Carlaw (York University)

Joyce Green (University of Regina)

James FitzGerald (York University)

Donna Wood (University of Victoria)

This roundtable develops the argument that the Conservative government of Stephen Harper has weakened its ties to Parliament, narrowed its relationship with civil society, exerted strategic control over inter-governmental relations, rejected scientific and expert knowledge, and sought to promote market relations through the activities of the state. Presenters consider the implications of Conservative government policies on Aboriginal organizations, civil society, immigrants and workers. There has been a decisive failure of the federal government to continue on the path of reconciliation and basic commitments to the physical security, economic development and overall well-being of Aboriginal peoples within Canada. Civil society organizations have been subject to mutually reinforcing tactics including funding cuts, isolation and disengagement, enhanced scrutiny, and direct rhetorical attacks on their credibility and, in some cases, the lawfulness of their activities. The Conservatives’ approach to achieving a majority government and a “minimum winning coalition” has adversely affected many actual and aspiring immigrants and has changed the nature of public debate on citizenship, immigration and Canadian identity in troubling ways. In workforce development, the government has eliminated pan-Canadian institutions that provided information to the public, made dramatic reductions to a variety of programs, and limited opportunities for engagement between governments, business, labour, Aboriginal organizations, training institutions, and unemployed Canadians. Together, these have had serious impacts on political institutions, discourse, and democracy in Canada. This roundtable brings together contributors to The Harper Record 2008-2015 edited by Teresa Healy and Stewart Trew and published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/harper-record-2008-2015