Promised Land: Inside the Mike Harris Revolution

Promised Land: Inside the Mike Harris Revolution chronicles the rise of Ontario Premier Mike Harris and his Progressive Conservative government during the 1990s. The book focuses on the period from Harris's election as party leader through his implementation of the "Common Sense Revolution" platform. Author John Ibbitson gained direct access to key political figures and internal government meetings during this transformative period in Ontario politics. His reporting captures the day-to-day reality of major policy shifts in education, healthcare, taxation and social services under the Harris administration. The narrative follows both the public-facing political developments and behind-the-scenes strategic discussions that shaped the Harris government's ambitious reform agenda. Through extensive interviews and documentation, Ibbitson reconstructs pivotal moments and decision points in the administration's efforts to restructure Ontario's public sector. The book serves as both a political history and an examination of how ideology and pragmatism intersect in the exercise of provincial power. Its account of sweeping institutional change provides context for understanding modern Canadian conservatism and the evolution of provincial governance.

Reviews indicate readers value the insider perspective on Ontario politics during the Harris era and consider it relevant historical documentation of a transformative period in provincial governance. Multiple reviews cite Ibbitson's coverage of backroom dealings and policy formation processes. Readers appreciated: - Details about how specific policies like education reform were developed - Behind-the-scenes accounts of key political figures and their relationships - Clear explanations of the "Common Sense Revolution" platform Common criticisms: - Perceived bias in favor of Harris and conservative policies - Limited coverage of opposition perspectives - Focus on personalities over policy impacts Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (14 ratings) Amazon.ca: No ratings available LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (4 ratings) One academic reviewer noted: "Provides valuable primary source material but should be read alongside other accounts of the period." Several readers mentioned using it as a reference for understanding current Ontario politics.

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📚 Author John Ibbitson wrote this book while serving as Queen's Park columnist for the Ottawa Citizen, giving him direct access to observe the Harris government's actions firsthand. 🏛️ Mike Harris's "Common Sense Revolution" represented one of the most dramatic shifts in Ontario's political history, cutting government spending by $6 billion and reducing welfare rates by 21.6%. 📊 The book reveals that Harris's team developed their revolutionary platform in secret meetings at a Howard Johnson's hotel, far from the Progressive Conservative Party headquarters. 🗳️ Despite intense public protests and labor unrest, Harris won two majority governments (1995 and 1999), marking the first time Ontario's Progressive Conservatives had accomplished this feat since the 1950s. 📖 The book's title "Promised Land" is ironic, as Ibbitson later acknowledged that many of Harris's reforms were eventually reversed or significantly modified by subsequent governments.