The Unexpected Louis St-Laurent: Politics and Policies for a Modern Canada (The C.D. Howe Series in Canadian Political History)

Fills a great void in Canadian political history by investigating the impact of the often-overlooked figure ofLouis St-Laurent. Much of Canadas modern identity emerged from the innovative social policies and ambitious foreign policy of Louis St-Laurents government. His extraordinarily creative administration made decisions that still resonate on health care, pensions, and housing; on infrastructure and intergovernmental issues; and, further afield, in developing Canadas global middle-power role and resolving the Suez Crisis. Yet St-Laurent remains an enigmatic figure. The contributors to The Unexpected Louis St-Laurent were challenged to assess the personal role of the prime minister in these affairs. To what degree did he set the policy agenda? What was his approach to government structures and the substance of policy? They come to varying conclusions about the features of St-Laurents personality that made him effective (or sometimes less so), about the changes he wrought on the apparatus of the state and federalprovincial relations, and about the substance of his governments policies. The Unexpected Louis St-Laurent fills a great void in Canadian political history, bringing together seasoned professionals and new scholars to investigate the impact of an overlooked figure. Their meticulous work reveals the far-reaching influence of the politician who presided over the last stage of the longest uninterrupted run of power of any Canadian federal party. Scholars, students, and readers of Canadian history, policy, and politics will find this book interesting, and essential. « Much of Canada's modern identity emerged from the innovative social policies and ambitious foreign policy of Louis St-Laurent's Liberal government. His extraordinarily creative administration made decisions that still resonate today: on health care, pensions, and housing; on infrastructure and intergovernmental issues; and, further afield, in developing Canada's global middle-power role in global affairs and resolving the Suez Crisis. Yet St-Laurent remains an enigmatic figure. Contributors to The Unexpected Louis St-Laurent assess the degree to which he set the policy agenda. They explore the features of his personality that made him effective (or sometimes less so), the changes he wrought on the state apparatus and federal-provincial relations, and the substance of his government's policies. This wide-ranging collection fills a great void in Canadian political history, bringing together seasoned professionals and new scholars to investigate the far-reaching influence of a politician whose astute policies and bold resolve moved Canada into the modern era. »-- Résumé de l'éditeur "Much of Canada's modern identity emerged from the innovative social policies and ambitious foreign policy of Louis St-Laurent's Liberal government. His extraordinarily creative administration made decisions that still resonate today: on health care, pensions, and housing; on infrastructure and intergovernmental issues; and, further afield, on developing Canada's global middle-power role and resolving the Suez Crisis. Yet St-Laurent remains an enigmatic figure. The Unexpected Louis St-Laurent fills a great void in Canadian political history, bringing together well-established and emerging scholars to investigate the far-reaching influence of the politician who presided over the last stage of the longest uninterrupted run in power of any Canadian federal party."-- Provided by publisher "Much of Canada's modern identity emerged from the innovative social policies and ambitious foreign policy of Louis St-Laurent's Liberal government. His extraordinarily creative administration made decisions that still resonate today: on health care, pensions, and housing; on infrastructure and intergovernmental issues; and, further afield, on developing Canada's global middle-power role and resolving the Suez Crisis. Yet St-Laurent remains an enigmatic figure. The Unexpected Louis St-Laurent fills a great void in Canadian political history, bringing together well-established and emerging scholars to investigate the far-reaching influence of the politician who presided over the last stage of the longest uninterrupted run in power of any Canadian federal party."-- Résumé de l'éditeur. Much of Canada’s modern identity emerged from the innovative social policies and ambitious foreign policy of Louis St-Laurent’s Liberal government. His extraordinarily creative administration made decisions that still resonate today: on health care, pensions, and housing; on infrastructure and intergovernmental issues; and, further afield, in developing Canada’s global middle-power role in global affairs and resolving the Suez Crisis. Yet St-Laurent remains an enigmatic figure. The Unexpected Louis St-Laurent fills a great void in Canadian political history, bringing together well-established and new scholars to investigate the far-reaching influence of a politician whose astute policies and bold resolve moved Canada into the modern era. In this invigorating reappraisal of Louis St-Laurent and his government, leading Canadian historians and political scientists investigate the impact of an overlooked political figure whose innovative policies moved Canada into the modern era.