The Wealthy Banker's Wife: The Assault on Equality in Canada

L. Richard Lund is a Ph.D. candidate in history at York University.

In this provocative book, journalist Linda McQuaig advocates halting
Canada’s drift toward an American-style welfare state—a drift, she
argues, that began under the Mulroney government. In support of her
position, she presents overwhelming evidence indicating the marked
inferiority of American social policy relative to that of Western
Europe.

She also addresses economic concerns about high levels of social
spending by illustrating that a number of Western European nations,
especially Sweden, enjoyed greater economic growth, lower unemployment,
and lower debt levels during the 1980s than either the U.S. or Canada.
McQuaig does acknowledge that Western Europeans pay higher taxes than
most Canadians would accept; she argues, however, that a European-style
tax policy would force a shift of consumer purchasing power to health,
education, income support, and other programs that benefit society as a
whole and make the economy more competitive over the long term.

McQuaig’s case is compelling, if not original. More novel is her
packaging of these arguments in a concise, readable book that is
accessible to a popular audience, yet not overly simplistic. The book
would have benefited from a title more reflective of its contents, a
more systematic citation system, and greater consideration of the unique
challenges Canada faces as a result of the fact that its largest trading
partner is a dinosaur when it comes to social policy. Despite these
weaknesses, The Wealthy Banker’s Wife is a must read, because it
enables readers to make an informed decision about the future of their
welfare state.