In Canada, one issue that tends to prevail — arguably more than any other in Canadian public policy debate — is the issue of health care and health care delivery. At the heart of this issue is the debate over public versus private health care. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of public and private sector participation in health care.
[Read more…] about Canada’s Health Care SystemImmigration Policy in Canada
A geographically large country with a relatively small population, Canada has traditionally viewed immigration as a key instrument of population and economic growth. Over its history, however, immigration priorities and strategies have changed significantly, from an open border approach in Canada’s early history, to policy that could be characterized as explicitly discriminatory, to an economically focused approach. This article provides an introduction to immigration policy in Canada and explores immigration in the context of Canadian federalism, with specific focus on its history, key legislation and agencies in this area, and current issues/debates.
[Read more…] about Immigration Policy in CanadaEmployment Insurance in Canada
Employment insurance in Canada is a legacy of the Great Depression, and remains a pillar of the nation’s modern social programs. Since its creation in 1940, the program has undergone many significant evolutions, both philosophically and structurally. Moreover, debate over the program has remained constant throughout its existence, and is still present in contemporary political discourse.
This feature provides an introduction to the history, administration, and issues relating to Employment Insurance in Canada.
[Read more…] about Employment Insurance in CanadaFederalism and the Atlantic Provinces
Traditionally, Atlantic Canada has proven to be a strong ally of both Canadian federalism and of federal government involvement in its economic, social, and financial life. Nevertheless, the relations between the federal government and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island have been strained at times. This article provides an introduction to key issues and debates in Canadian federalism by looking through the lens of Atlantic Canada. The feature covers the regional economy and federal development policy, provincial finances and fiscal federalism, and offshore energy and relations between the federal government and the region.
[Read more…] about Federalism and the Atlantic ProvincesCanadian Federalism and Public Health Care
One of the most critical issues in Canadian federalism since the 1950s has been the delivery of public health care. This article provides an introduction to the nature and evolution of federal and provincial relations in the area of health care policy, with particular focus on the fiscal and policy aspects and their impact. Included is a discussion of the basic division of powers in health care, Canadian federalism and the introduction of public health care, and shifts in this federal-provincial relationship since the 1950s.
[Read more…] about Canadian Federalism and Public Health CareChild Care in Canada
Child care is a significant issue in the context of Canadian public policy and the relationship between federal, provincial, and territorial governments. This article provides an introduction to the complex nature of child care policy, including the operation of child care vis-à-vis Canadian federalism, an overview of provincial/territorial child care policies, a historical review of federal and intergovernmental child care initiatives, and a brief discussion of key issues in the politics of child care.
[Read more…] about Child Care in Canada