How Ottawa Spends

In How Ottawa Spends, some of the country's top political analysts get inside the byzantine world of federal decision-making, shedding light on the real priorities of the political parties. Among their findings: federal spending cuts do not necessarily "stick", because affected ministers are often given an offsetting package of funds for different purposes; while Ottawa has become the country's biggest advertiser (close to $60 million in 1982-83), it has increasing trouble discerning between information and propaganda; because they are afraid of losing their regional blocs of support, none of the federal parties is willing to behave like a truly national party. Published in 1983, How Ottawa Spends is an eye-opening look at federal spending priorities.