The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a central element of the Canadian Constitution and has a major impact on the relationship between Canadians and their governments. The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction to the content, application, and enforcement of Charter rights, as well as to explain the role of the courts in determining the precise nature and scope of Charter rights.
[Read more…] about The Canadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsGoods and Services Tax in Canada
The introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) represented a significant change to Canada’s system of taxation, was well as a major source of debate in Canadian politics. This article provides an introduction to the GST, which includes an overview of its operation, a review of its political history, and a summary of key debates on the GST.
[Read more…] about Goods and Services Tax in Canada2002 Mazankowski Report on Health Care in Alberta
In 2002, several key reports on the future of health care were released, each of which outlined visions for reforming the Canadian health care system. At the federal level, there was the Report of the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada (the “Romanow Report”) and the Report of the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (the “Kirby Report”). At the provincial level, the Government of Alberta released the 2002 Report of the Premier’s Advisory Council on Health (commonly referred to as the “Mazankowski Report”). This article provides background on the Mazankowski Report, as well as an overview and analysis of its themes and recommendations.
[Read more…] about 2002 Mazankowski Report on Health Care in AlbertaRomanow Commission on the Future of Health Care
In 2002, the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, headed by former Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow, released two reports on the nation’s health care system. The Commission’s findings and recommendations have taken a central place in the debate on the value and future of Canada’s public healthcare system. The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction to the Commission’s key findings and recommendations and, in so doing, review the Commission’s organization and activities, as well as summarizing both its interim report, Shape the Future of Health Care, and its final report, Building on Values: The Future of Health Care in Canada.
[Read more…] about Romanow Commission on the Future of Health CareThe Canada Health Act
The Canada Health Act is a central element of the nation’s health care policy and federal-provincial/territorial relations. This article provides an introduction to the Act, with a focus on its purpose and key provisions, as well as its administrative bodies and processes.
[Read more…] about The Canada Health ActThe Charter & Health Care in Canada
The issue of waiting lists in Canada’s public health care system has given rise to a new national debate: the nature of health care rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In June 2005, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered a politically controversial decision in the case of Chaoulli v. Quebec (Attorney General), finding that citizens had a right to access private health care when the public system failed to provide adequate health services. This article discusses the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in that case, as well as its potential impact on Canada’s health care system.
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