In this book, leading experts and scholars of public policy present challenging views of the issues raised by the diminishing role of government. Using former cabinet minister and senator Allan J. MacEachen's career in public service as the organizing focus of the collection, contributors contrast the current retreat of government with the activist approach advocated by MacEachen and his generation.

They examine whether the public good will be enhanced by continuing retreat or whether that trend is the consequence of policy mistakes that can and should be corrected.