Overview

From December 1995 to summer 1998, Ontario witnessed eleven one-day general strikes and Days of Action across its major cities. These protests were sparked by the so-called Common Sense Revolution associated with Conservative Premier Mike Harris, elected to office in 1995. Written during the twenty-fifth anniversary of this significant social movement, Austerity and Resistance aims to tell its story and draw lessons from it. Paul Kellogg draws on his experiences as a former policy officer in the Government of Ontario and a journalist focused on social movements to offer a first-hand account of the challenges and contradictions of this era. He documents these tumultuous years, providing unique insights into how the social movement developed, shaped public consciousness, influenced policy, and impacted the lives of Ontario's political parties. The book explores how this understanding informs perceptions of neoliberalism in Ontario, arguing that Harris was wrong in his cuts to services, attacks on unions, and reductions in the public sector during the 1990s, a path that Conservative Premier Doug Ford appears to be repeating in the twenty-first century. Vividly illustrated, Austerity and Resistance tells the story of a significant social movement while drawing crucial lessons for today's political landscape.

Full Product Details

Author:   Paul Kellogg
Publisher:   University of Toronto Press
Imprint:   University of Toronto Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.420kg
ISBN:  

9781487556631

ISBN 10:   1487556632
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   30 December 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available, will be POD  
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Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables Preface Introduction: From Coronation Park to Queen’s Park 1. Contours of Politics, 1985–1995 2. Contours of a Backlash 3. Contours of a Movement 4. London Calling 5. Outrage Against the “Bully Bill” 6. Watershed I: Steeltown Shutdown 7. The Extraordinary Becomes Ordinary 8. Watershed II: The Streets of Toronto 9. Life in Some Northern Towns 10. Watershed III: The Class (Room) Struggle 11. Dénouement Conclusion: Social Movement Electoralism and a Class-In-Formation Appendix 1: Submissions to Bill 26 Hearings: Samples by Levels of Support Appendix 2: Submissions to Bill 26 Hearings: Complete List by Level of Support and Sector Original illustrations by Markus Neal Humby References Index

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Author Information

Paul Kellogg is an associate professor in the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies at Athabasca University.

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