Cycling Into Saigon: The Conservative Transition in OntarioThe 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. |
Contents
Transitions | 3 |
The 1985 and 1990 Transitions | 17 |
Bureaucrats Politicians and Mandates | 41 |
Bureaucratic Preparations | 60 |
The Parties Prepare for Power | 76 |
The Common Sense Revolutionaries Take Over | 102 |
Making Transitions Better | 139 |
A Two Public Policy Forum Documents Given to Opposition Parties | 161 |
B Excerpts from Mission 97 | 167 |
The Conservative Transition Team | 180 |
Ensuring a Place in History | 187 |
Notes | 196 |
Other editions - View all
Cycling into Saigon: The Conservative Transition in Ontario David R. Cameron,Graham White Limited preview - 2011 |
Cycling Into Saigon: The Conservative Transition in Ontario David Cameron,Graham White No preview available - 2000 |
Common terms and phrases
1995 transition administration advisors agenda appointments approach Archives Bob Rae Brenda Elliott cabinet committees Cabinet Office cabinet secretary Canada Canadian caucus central agencies centre civil servants commitment Common Sense Revolution Conservatives David Agnew David Peterson decisions Democrats deputy ministers documents effective electoral ensure Ernie Eves ernment executive assistant experience Farlinger federal former government's Harris's implement incoming government interviewed involved issues leader legislation Liberal transition line ministries Lyn McLeod mandate McLeod meetings ment Mike Harris MPPs NDP government NDP's Ontario Hydro Ontario public service operations opposition parties organization Ottawa parliamentary partisan party's Peterson policy development political parties political staff politicians politicization Politics of Ontario positions premier Premier's Office priorities private sector professional provincial public servants Queen's Park Rae Days records responsibility restructuring role senior bureaucrats strategy structures swearing-in taking power tion Tories Toronto transition planning transition preparations transition process