Alex in Wonderland

Penny E. Bryden teaches history at Mount Allison University in New
Brunswick.

Alex Macdonald, former Attorney-General in British Columbia’s New
Democratic government, has written a fascinating critique of the current
direction of Canadian politics. Structured around a series of
conversations with current politicians, civil servants, and otherwise
astute observers of the present state, the book introduces its readers
to the concerns of the left. While this makes for a wild and wacky
contemplation of what ails us, reality being almost as wonderful as the
original Wonderland, the author’s serious concerns about the effects
of the conservative agenda of the 1980s are matched only by his deep and
abiding conviction that there are legitimate solutions available and
that Canadians have the capacity to reverse the current trends.

Macdonald’s chief worries are that the soul of the nation will be
gobbled up by the United States, and now Mexico, as a result of the free
trade agreements; that our constant quest for material gain will bring
about our ruin; and that without immediate and radical intervention, the
natural beauty of the Canadian environment will be destroyed beyond
repair. While bemoaning the relentless accumulation of wealth by a small
segment of Canadian society, and pointing to those at the bottom of the
social scale who are attempting to make do with less, Macdonald outlines
his plan for the future. Income must be redistributed more radically:
the state must begin to provide an increasing array of social services,
including day care and subsidized housing, in order to stop the trend
toward even greater economic disparity. Native industries must be
encouraged and the tendency to rely on American goods and to imitate the
American political model must be stopped immediately, most directly by
canceling the free trade agreements. Macdonald advocates the adoption of
a socialist/environmentalist model instead, combined with a vigorous
commitment on the part of lawmakers and the community to old-fashioned
values of hard work and compassion. Although many will disagree with his
prescriptions, most will find it difficult to be anything but engaged
with this thoughtful and thought-provoking blueprint for Canada.