Profiting the Crown: Canada's Polymer Corporation, 1942-1990

By Matthew J. Bellamy

Book Overview

Born in the crucible of World War II, Polymer Corporation Ltd.-Canada's sole producer of synthetic rubber - played a critical and profitable role in the Canadian economy for over fifty years. During the years 1943-45, Polymer produced the rubber necessary to keep Canada in the war. Later, as the cornerstone of Canada's chemical valley in Sarnia, Ontario, Polymer exported its products all over the world, generating remarkable profits for the Crown and becoming the earliest example of Canadian state capitalism. By embracing science and cutting-edge technology, Polymer continuously brought new products into wide-spread commercial use. The government eventually recognized the importance - and profitability - of this ground-breaking crown corporation by placing its image on the back of the ten-dollar bill. Crown corporations are widely regarded as a Canadian invention. Since 1841 they have been dexterously implemented and hotly debated as instruments of public policy. However the failures of a number of state-run enterprises in the twentieth century have led a majority of Canadians to conclude that government has no place in the boardrooms of the nation. Matthew Bellamy's comprehensive account of Polymer's rise and evolution contradicts this widely held position and brings to light the accomplishments of one of Canada's pioneering crown corporations.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0773532013
• ISBN13: 9780773532014
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"