Breaking Free of Neoliberalism in Trump Times
How Canada can strengthen our sovereignty and address the American challenge, inequality and the climate crisis
by Alex Himelfarb
Alex Himelfarb explores neoliberalism’s history and troubling reappearance in Canadian politics, and why the need for new thinking is more urgent than ever
As the world reels from the turmoil of American politics, former senior bureaucrat Alex Himelfarb addresses the challenges facing Canadians after decades of neoliberal thinking have undermined the capacity of governments to protect and support their citizens.
Himelfarb offers an insider’s account of how the neoliberal ideas of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher were first brought to Canada by Brian Mulroney and Paul Martin. In 2025, Canadians opted for the unifying message of Mark Carney and Elbows Up, and Carney’s speech at Davos in early 2026 recognized that we need a whole new approach to the world’s politics and economics. Yet in a series of rapid decisions, his government has quietly reinforced the neoliberal agenda of unregulated industries, growing inequality, and limited action on climate change. Gaining a majority in mid-2026, the Carney government was free to pursue economic growth to achieve greater independence from US-Canada ties. Yet this single-minded agenda misses much of what Canadians expect and need from their federal government.
Drawing on 30 years at the highest levels of government, Himelfarb proposes a different path for a democratic and sustainable future in Canada. “If we understand how we got here,” he writes, “we will be in better shape to find our way out.”
About the Author
ALEX HIMELFARB is an academic and civil service legend having spent almost 30 years serving in various departments. He was appointed Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet in 2002, serving three Prime Ministers. A former Ambassador of Canada to the Italian Republic with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Albania, the Republic of San Marino, and High Commissioner to the Republic of Malta. He taught at the University of New Brunswick for a decade before joining the public service and was Director of the Glendon School of Public and International Affairs at York University from 2009 to 2014. He has chaired and sat on numerous non-governmental boards, including the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, the Atkinson foundation, the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives and the World Wildlife Fund Canada. Ever involved he splits his time between Ottawa and Toronto with his wife, three children and faithful Australian labradoodle.
Reviews
"This book is a clarion call to defend the best things about Canada from all its enemies — both the despot south of the border, and opportunistic elites right here at home exploiting his antics to get what they always wanted."
“Alex Himelfarb writes so well about power, but also about possibility, reminding us that the future is not something we inherit from markets. It is something we build together. Clear, compelling, and low-key radical, Breaking Free of Neoliberalism is a bracing argument for recovering the public, the collective, and the democratic.”
“While it sometimes seems human aspirations have been extinguished in this dark age of Trump, Alex Himelfarb provides a glimmer of hope, giving us the outline of a promising path forward. In this sharp and insightful book, Himelfarb shows that the end of Trump won’t be enough; we’ll also need to free ourselves of the debilitating ‘neoliberalism’ that’s cut off our sense of collective possibilities.”
“Himelfarb saw it coming. This book arrives as a new Canadian government, armed with a bold mandate, nonetheless finds itself navigating within the same neoliberal boundaries — market preference, private sector solutions, soft power, climate measures and human right on the cutting room floor. The book has never been more relevant.”
Breaking Free is an authoritative chronicle of the history of neoliberalism from its inception in the post-war era to its current manifestation under the Trump regime. It is a riveting account of where we are in the era of neoliberalism and a roadmap forward for Canada to break free of a US empire in decline, achieve sovereignty, and confront the existential climate and inequality crises. It is a necessary guide for what citizens must do collectively to overcome the hurdles we face as a nation.”
“Alex Himelfarb provides a richly detailed and accessible history of neoliberalism in Canada. In this volume, he warns that spooked by a moment of crisis and desperate to avoid importing MAGA-style politics, Canadians have elected a prime minister working from a dated playbook — fossil fuel development, privatization, public sector cuts — that will only deepen the turmoil Canadians face. As Himelfarb reminds us, there really is an alternative but it will require us to break free from the orthodoxies of an exhausted political age.”
In these extraordinary times of transformative change, Himmelfarb warns Canadians that they cannot afford to be complacent [or] rely on the old tools and ideas to protect us from Trump’s trade bombs. His book is also…a feisty read about the roots of neo-liberalism and powerfully illustrates how robust democracy and Canadian sovereignty are indispensable for our survival.”
Subjects (BISAC)
Subjects
Similar Titles
-
Divided We Fall
An analysis of the forces driving disunity in Canada. This book offers Canadians a path forward in rebuilding civic responsibility and finding common ground.
$27.95, Paperback
Reclaiming Canadian Sovereignty in a Ruptured World
Diplomat, politician and author Bob Rae assembles the most thoughtful voices in Canada to explore the urgent questions about our country’s future.
$27.95, Paperback
The Scandalous Rise of Inequality in Canada
A distinguished economist breaks the silence and explains why most Canadians are stuck — while a few grow rapidly more wealthy
$27.95, Paperback