
Franchise timeline
Since 1982, when the issue of free trade with the United States was resurrected, dusted off and presented anew to Canadians, we have been buffetted by dissenting viewpoints on this contentious and crucial question. Can Canada stand alone and hold its own in the economically turbulent late 20th century? Should it even try? A major gap in the debate so far has been a comprehensive context in which the average Canadian could place the matter at hand. This series attempts to fill that gap. It clarifies not only Canada's economic position in relation to its closest neighbor, but also the United States' economic standing in the world. In the process, Reckoning clearly shows Canada's current position in the global economicy and where, perhaps, it should be heading.
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Part 1 · Jan 1, 1986
Riding the Tornado
This documentary focuses on boom-and-bust economic cycles, most notably that of Alberta oil during the '70s and early '80s. When the bust hit after a drop in world oil prices, those business people who knew how to "ride a tornado" cut their losses and moved on, while others were left devastated. When Newfoundland was faced with a possible oil boom of its own in the mid-'80s, it took the lessons of Alberta to heart. Part 3 of the series, Reckoning: The Political Economy of Canada.

Part 2 · Jan 1, 1986
Shift Change
This documentary looks at the microchip, an American invention exploited by the Japanese that caused a second industrial revolution. The devastating effect on millions of human lives is related through interviews with some of the newly jobless in Hamilton, Ontario. Using the example of Japan for contrast, host James Laxer demonstrates that the cost of technological advances need not be so high if their effects are foreseen and planned for. Part 2 of the series Reckoning: The Political Economy of Canada.
Part 3 · Jan 1, 1987
The Rise and Fall of American Business Culture
This documentary from 1987 looks at the serious malaise that plagued the US manufacturing sector at the time. No longer competitive in the world market, and forced to buy more than it could sell, the US nevertheless continued to bask in the glow of past glory rather than face its immediate predicament. Meanwhile, Japan and other Pacific Rim countries were gaining economic ground, perhaps permanently. This film was part one of the series, Reckoning: The Political Economy of Canada.