One of Canada’s most compelling political writers reveals how government really works—and how ordinary citizens can make it work for them.   A lawyer, analyst, and former Nova Scotia cabinet minister, Graham Steele shared a candid chronicle of his experiences in Canadian government with his acclaimed memoir What I Learned About Politics. Now he presents an insiders’ guide to modern Canadians politics, answering elusive questions such as: Who really runs the parties? What does a backbencher do? And how does a citizen effectively navigate the system to achieve change?   A primer for anyone who wants to become a politician or influence one, The Effective Citizen explains how politicians think and what factors influence that thinking; how to interpret the “non-answer” in political speech; and acknowledges that in politics, “bland is safe.”