Big Promises, Small Government

George M. Abbott

ISBN 10: 0774864877 / ISBN 13: 9780774864879

Published by University of British Columbia Press, CA, 2020

About this Item

When Gordon Campbell's Liberal party won a massive majority on the strength of their New Era electoral platform in 2001, the premier's first act was to fulfill his campaign pledge to reduce personal income taxes. Big Promises, Small Government reveals the consequences of dramatic tax policy changes on social programs, arguing for more sustainable taxation. Despite sharply declining economic indices, the new premier expected that lower taxes would spur investment and growth, essentially paying for themselves. Instead, the precipitous and ideological decision to cut taxes and exempt health and education - some 70 percent of the provincial budget - from any decrease in expenditures, left smaller ministries scrambling to absorb the cuts to maintain a balanced budget. The damage was significant. This insider recounting of the real-world genesis, implementation, and consequences of a tax policy offers vital lessons to future governments and considerable insight into the role of taxes in society.

Seller Inventory # LU-9780774864879

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Big Promises, Small Government
• Publisher: University of British Columbia Press, CA
• Publication Date: 2020
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0774864877
• ISBN 13: 9780774864879
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Weight: 420 grams

About this title

Synopsis

After Gordon Campbell’s Liberal party won a massive majority in the Canadian parliament on the strength of their New Era electoral platform in 2001, the premier’s first act was to fulfill his campaign pledge to reduce personal income taxes. In Big Promises, Small Government, former elected official George Abbott reveals the consequences of those and other dramatic changes in tax policy on social programs, arguing for a more sustainable level of taxation. When Campbell’s confidence that that lower taxes would spur investment and growth, essentially paying for themselves, proved to be misguided, ministries had to scramble to maintain a balanced budget—a situation that was exacerbated by the the decision to exempt health and education from any cuts. The damage, Abbott shows, was significant. This insider account of the real-world genesis, implementation, and consequences of a tax policy offers vital lessons for future governments and considerable insight into the role of taxes in society.
 

About the Author

George Abbott is a public policy consultant and the president of Circle Square Solutions Ltd., in Victoria, British Columbia. He served for thirty-five years in elected public office, including seventeen years as MLA for Shuswap and twelve years as a cabinet minister.