Dear Editor Released almost a year ago, Harperism, by Burnaby author Donald Gutstein, provides a timely study of the fundamental nature of the changes to the Canadian political and social landscape that has been wrought by Stephen Harper since he was sworn in as Prime Minister in 2006.
Citing the principle “economic freedom must come before political freedom” as central to Harper’s ideological imperative, Gutstein superbly describes the slow and often stealthy reshaping of Canada over the last 10 years. More than that, he documents the years leading up to Harper’s ascension to leader of the Conservative Party, and the pivotal role played by corporate-funded think tanks like the Fraser Institute in making it happen.
For anyone who wants a better understanding of the disintegration of the kinder, gentler Canada that used to be, reading Harperism will fill in the blanks, and then some.
But take heed. It sometimes can be a shocking, if not scary, read.
Bill Brassington Sr., Burnaby
