The Truth about Canada: Some Important, Some Astonishing, and Some Truly Appalling Things All Canadians Should Know About Our Country

by Mel Hurtig

Renowned as a passionate Canadian, bestselling author Mel Hurtig has combed through world statistics to see how Canada really measures up — and the results are astonishing, and often shocking.

This book is about how Canada has changed, very much for the worse, in the last twenty years. As a result of these profound (often hidden) changes, we are no longer the people we think we are. To take one example, the Canadian media usually leaves us with the impression that Canadians are really heavily taxed. Yes, compared to the U.S.A., the usual point of comparison. No, compared to other countries with our standard of living, other OECD countries, for example; there we come in 23rd on the high-tax scale.

The shocks in this book build up, chapter by chapter. How do we rank in the world in voter turnout? Try 109th. Number of physicians per 100,000 population? Try 54th. Our rank in reducing pollution? 126th out of 146 countries.

Some of the statistics are internal, comparing Canada then and now. They back up two of the book’s most powerful the failure of Canadian big business to turn record profits into ongoing investment in our country, and (no coincidence) the sellout of our assets at a rate that no other country would allow.

This statistics-based book ranges across all areas of our lives — including health, wages, productivity, culture, the media (“the most concentrated in the world”), and much else. Mel Hurtig’s message is that we can’t do anything to fix the direction we’re drifting in unless we recognize it — and recognize The Truth About Canada .

Genres: Canada, Politics, Nonfiction, History, Business

408 pages, Hardcover

First published April 29, 2008

Reviews

[Ixby Wuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Renowned as a passionate Canadian, bestselling author Mel Hurtig has combed through world statistics to see how Canada really measures up — and the results are astonishing, and often shocking.

This book is about how Canada has changed, very much for the worse, in the last twenty years. As a result of these profound (often hidden) changes, we are no longer the people we think we are. To take one example, the Canadian media usually leaves us with the impression that Canadians are really heavily taxed. Yes, compared to the U.S.A., the usual point of comparison. No, compared to other countries with our standard of living, other OECD countries, for example; there we come in 23rd on the high-tax scale.

The shocks in this book build up, chapter by chapter. How do we rank in the world in voter turnout? Try 109th. Number of physicians per 100,000 population? Try 54th. Our rank in reducing pollution? 126th out of 146 countries.

Some of the statistics are internal, comparing Canada then and now. They back up two of the book’s most powerful themes: the failure of Canadian big business to turn record profits into ongoing investment in our country, and (no coincidence) the sellout of our assets at a rate that no other country would allow.

This statistics-based book ranges across all areas of our lives — including health, wages, productivity, culture, the media (“the most concentrated in the world”), and much else. Mel Hurtig’s message is that we can’t do anything to fix the direction we’re drifting in unless we recognize it — and recognize The Truth About Canada.

From the Hardcover edition.

[Kathy Hamer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is about 20 years old, no longer relevant as things have changed.

[Roy]

This book is about how Canada has changed, very much for the worse, in the last twenty years . Asa result of these profund ( often hidden ) changes, we are no longer the people we think we are . In comparsion with others we now contribute far less abroad to help others nations than we like to believe . At home, while the rich are getting even richer, we share less and less with our most deserving fellow citzens , notably kids living in poverty . The shocks in this book build up , chapter by chapter. How do we rank in the world in voter turnout ? Try 109 th . Number of physicians per 100,000 population? Try 54 th . Education spending as a percentage of all government expenses ? Incredible , we,re 90 th . Some of the facts are internal , comparing Canada then and now. They back up two of the books most powerful themes; the failure of Canadian big business to turn record profits into productioins investment and research in our country, and ( no concidenc ) the selling of our asseets ar a rate that no other country would allow, as our major companies arev taken over and ' HALLOWED OUT ." cONTROVERSIALLY, THE BOOK PRODUCES BEFORE AND AFTER FIGURES THAT SUGGEST THAT THE fREE tRADE DEAL AND nafta ( SOFTWOOD LUMBER ANYONE? ) HAVE ACTUALLY HARMED cANADA . The statistics- based book ranges all across all mareas of our lives - including health , wages, productivity, culture , the media ( 'the most concentrated, culture in the world ) , and much else , Mel Hurtig message is that we ca,t do anything to fix the direction we,re drifting in unless we recognize it - and recognize THE TRUTH CANADA

[Byron Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a tough read because it is primarily statistics. And the more that get listed, the more my eyes tended to glaze over. However, this is the gist....



"There are lies, damned lies, and statistics." Everything that you commonly see that compares the Canada and the United States is based on statistics. Which statistics are selected and how the point of reference is critical. Most Canadian media (and predominantly right wing think tanks) select macro level statistics which may or may not be relevant. For example, is GDP per capita relevant if income distribution is not taken into account.



This book chooses a broader world base for the comparing statistics and tries to use more accurate measures for statistics. For example, if GDP per capita is the same or close between two countries but one country has citizens that work 200 hours per year less, then that country actually has a better standard of living.



As can be expected from Mel Hurtig (canadian nationailist and lefty extrordinaire - I mean that as a type of compliment) the main thrust of the book is that in most ways Canada is superior to the US despite what some selected statistics indicate. An when compared at a worldwide level, Canada could be improved by providing more social supports similar to many northern European countries.



A good book to make you think about the typical media coverage.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely a three-star book, but I'm tempted feel like it deserves a higher average rating, because there are much worse books with higher averages. (Although if you pick your books by average GR reading you probably read mostly Neil Gaiman, not Canadian political screeds.) In any case, Canadians really need to be disabused of their rosy self-image, and to figure out that being better than America doesn't mean being good. Unfortunately, Hurtig's wooden prose style and constant procession of facts and figures stop this from being the kind of book that can disillusion a mass audience. The argument here is rock solid, but it's rather dry to read. I'm all for including hard evidence, but a good argumentative book will also make that evidence feel personal and real, and Hurtig doesn't do that a lot. This is a really good resource for those who want facts to combat the image of their country Canadians are sold, but as a straight read it's a bit dull.

[May · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavy on the stats but very revealing on what he had to say about Canada's healthcare, post-secondary education, foreign aid, and electoral system. Hurtig does not paint a rosy picture of our country. More than anything, Hurtig is telling his reader that we must learn to question and investigate what we hear in the media and what is really coming out of our politicians' mouths. While this book will not impact how I will vote in this federal election, it does, however, confirm my choice and makes me wish for better options. If I have one criticism of the book, is that it's tends to be all gloom and doom without providing options on what I, as an ordinary citizen, can do to make things better for my fellow citizens.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Canadian should read this book...it was truly scary to see the direction our country is being driven to and all against our wishes. We are truly powerless against the secret agenda our politicians and conglomerate media have to break us apart and sell us off to the highest bidder. We are turning into a McJob nation run by foreign companies that funnel the profits along with our natural resources out of our country. Wake up! I think it will take a revolution as it seems no matter who we elect, they do not listen to the majority of Canadians. There is also a good chapter in the book in regards to changing the way we elect our politicians, as well. Let's start there.......

[TheTyee.ca]

Mel Hurtig might be the angriest man in Canada. He's angry at our "myopic" politicians, he's angry at our "selfish" big business, he's angry at our "continentalist" media -- and if you aren't angry at them, too, then he's probably angry at you. Hurtig has just released The Truth About Canada, which he claims is "one of the most anti-establishment books published in my lifetime" -- no small feat for a man of 75.
Read more ...
http://thetyee.ca/Books/2008/05/14/Me...

[Exrex · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought I would read something more left wing that what I usually read. I have to say so far I am dissapointed, its just a rant that we aren't as nice as we used to be. And every "solution" tossed out so far has been more government spending, and therefore higher taxes.

I will be interested to see as I read the book if there are any real solutions proposed.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

The information was useful, but it was presented in a less-interesting format than the average textbook. It was scattered, strident, and focused more on presenting numbers than explaining them (and I like math, so if I'm noticing this it must be going too far). I wish more people knew about the topic, but I won't be recommending this book.

[Aimee Warrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get through this statistics-heavy dry read and really, i wanted to give it 3.5 stars but since that's not an option I rounded up. Getting passed the exhausting numbers the information in the book is both fascinating and blood boiling. Overall I feel this is a valuable book on the Canadian economic and political situation.

[Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished about 100 or so pages of this book. It had some good sources for stats, but that is pretty much all it was. Didn’t offer any way to change what we’ve gotten into but just shows the bleakness of the situation. Perhaps meant to be a wakeup call, just depressing mostly.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. It's a little difficult to get through as the author throws around a lot of statistics, but still very good overall.

I'd take some of what he says with a grain of salt.

[Luisbatiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting facts about what has become (and is becoming) Canada in the last decades.