By Kenzie Love
The title of Ludovic Viger’s new book The Great Canadian Reset says it all. Faced with a series of interlocking political, economic, and environmental crises, the current system isn’t sustainable and can’t be fixed with some minor tweaks. Instead, a full “reset” is required. The subtitle of his book is clear on what he believes it is: Why Co-ops Are the Answer to Our Toughest Problems.
“I was looking for one model, or one solution that could help at least make it viable for most Canadians to live in an era of decline,” he says. “And that’s why I came across cooperativism.”
The decline which Viger speaks of is rooted in the fact that economic growth of the kind Canadians experienced in past decades can no longer be expected as the norm going forward. However, he sees possibilities in the co-op model for a new and better approach if Canadians embrace it as the foundation for the reset in question.
“It could be the opportunity we need to democratize our economy, build systems that value people over profit maximization and overconsumption of resources, and foster shared prosperity,” he writes.
Worker co-ops play a key role in Viger’s vision for the future, based on their track record of resilience in tough economic times, egalitarian structure, and ability to appeal across the political spectrum, based on the control it offers members over their own labour.
“People like to have a stake in what they produce and what they do, and what service they offer,” he says. “And I think worker co-ops provide the best fit for that need in terms of economic freedom.”
While Viger sees co-ops as having broad appeal within Canadian society, he also acknowledges that many Canadians are unaware of the benefits they offer. But he believes education, awareness-raising and conversation centred around success stories in the co-op sector can help change this. Viger is also aware of the critical importance of government action when it comes to co-operatives, but believes that governments can most effectively support co-operatives by creating the conditions that will allow co-operatives to flourish independently. “Policies that support entrepreneurship and a flexible regulatory framework can support business owners to more easily adapt to challenges and shocks,” he writes.
To this end, The Great Reset lays out a blueprint whereby sectors ranging from healthcare to agriculture would all be transformed with a shift to the co-operative model, allowing for greater sovereignty for both Canada as a whole and the communities within by “relocalizing” the economy and society, putting power in the hands of the users of a system.
“I propose a set of policies where you could take on those ideas and promote them, at least having a conversation about where we want to go,” he says. “What resources do we have, and how do we want to use them, and how are we going to deal with the challenges that are going to affect us?”
While Viger is dismayed by the lack of attention to the co-operative model displayed by many Canadian politicians, who he feels prefer to focus instead on endless economic growth, he’s hopeful that the recognition that dramatic changes are inevitable will spur Canada to transform a crisis into an opportunity.
“There’s a course reset that needs to happen whether it’s cooperation or not,” he says. “But at least having a conversation about it is one of my goals with the book.”
Interested in having a group conversation about The Great Reset? Email Kenzie Love at admin@canadianworker.coop to indicate your interest.