Each of these histories provides the general reader with an accurate summary of the province's development from prehistoric to modern times, including the broad outline of major developments such as exploration, settlement, economic growth, and social and political development. Relations with the federal government are explained from the province's point of view. Each book is approximately 70 pages, containing 10-12 chapters, an index and a map of the province on the cover in the official provincial colours. Each book has been checked for accuracy, balance and readability by over half a dozen professional Canadian historians, editors, analysts and general readers. Price: $7.95.

A Short History of Manitoba mentions in particular the Riel Resistance, the School Question, provincial rights, the rise and relative decline of Winnipeg, the growing conservatism of politics, and the way the Depression changed the province from a champion of provincial rights into a defender of strong federalism. ISBN0-920002-15-3

A Short History of Saskatchewan mentions in particular the North-West Rebellion, the achievement and limitations on provincial status in 1905, the way government handled successfully the problems facing a one-crop economy, the devastation of the Depression, the achievements of Canada's first socialist government, the introduction of Medicare, and the struggle to diversify the economy. ISBN 0-9694667-3-0

A Short History of Alberta mentions in particular the era of ranching, the achievement and limitations on provincial status in 1905, the revolt of the farmers, the way the Depression led to the radical Social Credit Government, and the way that government and the succeeding Conservative one successfully defended the province's interests and addressed its problems. ISBN 0-9694667-2-2

A Short History of BC mentions in particular the gold rush, Confederation and the problems implementing it, the growth of the province before World War I, the Depression, the spectacular development of the province during and after World War II, the Social Credit regime of "Wacky" Bennett, and the period up to the mid 1980s. ISBN 0-9694667-4-9

A Short History of Ontario covers settlement, the War of 1812, the Rebellions of 1837, Confederation, the growth of the province before World War I, Prohibition, the Depression, the development of the province during and after World War II, the Conservative regime, and the period up to the mid 1980s. This book won a medal from the Speaker of the Ontario Legislative Assembly.ISBN 978-0-9694667-6-5.

A Short History of Quebec covers the French regime and settlement, British conquest, economic development and British settlement, the growth of Montreal, the World Wars and Depression, the Duplessis regime, the Quiet Revolution, the Parti Quebecois and separatism, and developments in the 1980s and 1990s. ISBN 978-0-9694667-8-9.

A Short History of Nova Scotia mentions the expulsion of the Acadians, the arrival of the Loyalists, Responsible Government, the disastrous Confederation arrangement, one-party dominance, the 1920-39 depression, de-industrialization and strikes, post-war stagnation, and the revival under Robert Stanfield. ISBN 978-0-9694667-9-6.

A Short History of New Brunswick deals with the arrival of the Loyalists and the Acadians, the development of the timber trade, reform and Responsible Government, the rejection and then acceptance of Confederation, economic developments in the twentieth century, the Robichaud Revolution and the Hatfield years. ISBN 97809865967604

A Short History of Prince Edward Island covers the land problem, settlement, the Golden Age, the struggle to avoid Confederation, economic stagnation and out-migration, the world wars and Depression, post-war economic development, and The Plan under Alex Campbell. ISBN 9780986596711

A Short History of Newfoundland and Labrador mentions in particular the cod fishery, the difficulty of diversifying the economy, the slow and uneven development of settlement and institutions, the Golden Age prior to the First World War, the loss of independence during the Depression, Confederation in 1949, and post-Confederation developments. ISBN 978-0-9865967-3-5

A Short History of the Canadian North mentions in particular the slow pace of exploration, the fur trade and the whaling industry, the Klondike Gold Rush, Canadian sovereignty and the role of the police, the Second World War, the policy of assimilating the Aboriginal population, and the slow and uneven economic and political developments before 2000. ISBN 978-0-9865967-2-8

Rivals for Power: Ottawa and the Provinces, the contentious history of the Canadian federation. This is a comprehensive, 350-page history of federalism, factually-sound but written for the general reader. It begins with several chapters on the background to Confederation and its achievement and an analysis of the British North American Act. Every province entered Confederation differently and each one has had a different relationship with Ottawa -- all those variations are explored in detail. John A. Macdonald implemented the new system and by 1896 it was clear that Canada had a genuine federal system and not the central-dominated one he wanted.

The Laurier years were the Golden Age of federalism, but the First World War and new trends in the twentieth century increasingly blurred the line between federal and provincial responsibilities, mainly with federal involvement in provincial affairs. The Depression was a disaster for federalism and Canadians and the Second World War and post-war period resumed the trend towards federal involvement in provincial matters. Since Ottawa reflected primarily English-Canadian values and desires, Quebec increasingly objected to federal interference setting the stage for Quebec separatism and the constitutional battles that dominated politics from the 1960s to the 1990s. Eventually both federal and provincial politicians from both Quebec and elsewhere seemed to accept that most Canadian problems require the attention of all three levels of government, and federalism today reflects hundreds of compromises and agreements far removed from the constitution of 1867 which, oddly, has never been amended to reflect most of these changes. But politics and history never ends, and no one knows what Canadian federalism will look like a decade or more from the 150th anniversary. This book reflects the fact that the author wrote histories of all ten provinces and spent his career in the federal civil service and can therefore see federalism from many different perspectives. As a historian and diplomat he also studied centre-regional relations in a dozen foreign countries and can therefore place Canadian federalism in an international context. The book is based on 40 original documents and over 400 secondary sources.

A SHORT HISTORY OF ALBERTA

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