Author of
Available now! |
& |
Coming Soon! |
|
James G. Long began his career in the resource industry in New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. Born in Fredericton, he holds degrees in geology and economics from the University of New Brunswick and University of Calgary. He has been a resource consultant and founder of both public and private energy companies, and has written more than 100 specialized technical papers and reports.
Detailed study to create The McNair-Flemming Years 1930-1960, includes regional history, biographies, public policy, business development and hyper-partisan politics. It explores long-standing government fiscal challenges created by lack of industry, seasonal employment, demands to solve social problems in a sparsely populated, largely rural society, and the growing dependence on the Federal treasury. |
|
The basis of restructuring the role of government, social, educational, and healthcare reform was met with varying success by Premiers J.B. McNair and H.J. Flemming. Their leadership extended throughout the depression era, rationing and blackout drills during WWII, German U-boats in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Coronation of a Young Queen, post-war reconstruction, modernization and economic growth in a culture rooted in the past and resistant to change.
|
The McNair-Flemming Years is a two-volume history of New Brunswick politics and events, from the Depression to the beginning of the 1960s. Based largely on contemporaneous journalistic input from five daily New Brunswick newspapers, it is exactly as the title suggests: A Public Record of Uncertain Times. It is a distillation of the daily events that shaped public opinion and controlled political messaging, and upon which people formed their own bias and interpretation of the news.
John B. McNair is featured in Volume 1. He was an athlete, Rhodes Scholar, veteran of the First World War, who filled a prominent leadership role starting in 1935, as the Attorney-General of New Brunswick and as Premier 1940-1952. Under his guidance, New Brunswick embarked on a massive program of infrastructure spending, to pave roads, and to build bridges, hospitals, and schools. He provided calm reassurance to a nervous public during the darkest days of the Second World War. His innovative approach to politics brought professional advertising into election campaigns in the pre-television era. For almost a generation he was this Province’s leading public figure. |
|
Reviews
The McNair-Flemming Years, Volume 1 is an historical account of New Brunswick politics, covering 1929 to 1949, and their part in building the Canadian nation. More than reportage, it offers smart analysis over the course of the book. A broad brush uses the political activities in this Maritime province to consider its development, Canadian and social history, public policy, and business and economics over a transformational period of government in social, educational and healthcare reform; transportation advances from horse and buggy to automobiles and air travel; and media evolution from newspapers to radio to television. The story telling in this book is often splendid.
Laura Pratt - FriesenPress Editor
The McNair-Flemming Years tracks the plight of citizens: members of the teaching profession through the darkest days of the Depression; the bare survival of families in the fishing and farming communities; and a variety of tragedies the population faced during uncertain times. There was a very real fear during WWII that war was coming to North America, and cities in the Maritime Provinces, particularly Halifax, Saint John, and Moncton, were potential strategic targets. German submarines operated with impunity along the eastern U.S. and Canadian coastlines, sinking hundreds of merchant vessels and creating rationing of numerous imported goods.
- James G. Long
|
The McNair-Flemming Years Volume 2, explores the evolution away from text-heavy political advertising based on achievements, to an emphasis on the personality of leadership. In his last public speech before the 1952 election, Premier J.B. McNair said with confidence: "integrity and honesty will win for the Liberal Party," and he was wrong!
The image of Premier Hugh John Flemming 1952-1960, was carefully monitored by political campaign manager Dalton Camp, speechwriter Kenneth Carson, and PC Party bagman Ewart Atkinson. Party propaganda and priority news cycle coverage for the new premier, were maintained by Michael Wardell, the editor/owner of Fredericton's Daily Gleaner newspaper and the monthly periodical Atlantic Advocate. While his predecessor was challenged with significant international events, the affable, outgoing Mr. Flemming could concentrate on local events, his obsession with building of the Beechwood Dam, and his own self-promotion. He governed over a period of substantially increased debt, while holding fast to the belief that the path to prosperity was through increased Federal financial support. |
|
Reviews
The McNair-Flemming Years, Volume 2 [covering the period 1950 to 1960] is the second installment of a rich and comprehensive historical project looking back at New Brunswick history, politics, and economics during the years after the Second World War. Like its predecessor, Volume 2 is packed with marvelous, deep-dive history and is an extraordinary achievement of regional political research. Regular injections of context, observations, and comments on the larger goings-on of the country and world, like the Korean War, the polio vaccine, the spread of broadcast television, and the various incarnations and appearances of the royal family, helps put the smaller stories in perspective. This book will attract fans of Canadian, and especially Maritime history and politics.
Laura Pratt - FriesenPress Editor
Volume 2 of the McNair-Flemming Years details a journey into New Brunswick politics and events which have relevance in today’s news, riddled with ‘alternative facts’ and reported with sometimes outrageous media bias. Discussions include the first New Brunswick sales tax, politicization of the Beechwood Dam project, response to the Northumberland Strait fishing fleet disaster, and the election of a new premier. Significant problems in the basic structure and responsibilities of the provincial government had been identified; the province had lapsed into a state of economic stagnation; municipal governments were on the verge of bankruptcy; and a critical moment in New Brunswick society had arrived. The Robichaud Years were about to begin, and radical change was coming
- James G. Long
Bookstore
Available Now!
Paperback
Hardcover
Author Limited Edition Hardcover:
Introducing a custom FriesenPress print edition featuring premium paper, a glossy paper photo section, stitched binding, and a durable hardcover. This elegant edition is presented in a 8.5" x 11" format, 426 pages.
For a numbered and signed hardcover version please contact James G. Long using the contact form below.
Price: $53.50 CAD + Tax
Price: $53.50 CAD + Tax
eBook
Coming Soon!
