Continuities and Discontinuities : The Political Economy of Social Welfare and Labour Market Policy in Canada

by Johnson, Andrew F.; McBride, Stephen; Smith, Patrick J.; Johnson, Andrew F.; McBride, Stephen; Smith, Patrick J.

• ISBN13: 9780802074218
• ISBN10: 0802074219
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1994-12-01
• Publisher: Univ of Toronto Pr

Summary

Continuities and Discontinuities assesses the making of Canadian social and labour market policy in the context of two factors - globalization and neoconservatism. Specialists from a variety of fields and disciplines examine the relation between Canada's changing political economy and its social welfare and labour market policy. These essays analysing continuities and discontinuities in policy emerged from research that initially was presented at the 5th Conference on Social Welfare Policy held at Bishop's University in 1991, and that since then has been revised to reflect the situation of the mid-1990s.

Part I introduces the three broad areas explored in the volume. Part II addresses new trends in Canadian political economy and their relation to public policy.

Part III analyses social welfare policy. Of the essays included, several investigate the democratizing of the Canadian welfare state and controversies in the conception and definition of poverty. Others address the AIDS crisis, health policy, and social policy issues that primarily affect women, children, and native peoples.

In Part IV recent Canadian labour market policies are investigated and appraised, and alternatives suggested or evaluated. One essay argues that employment security and high wages could generate high productivity and international competitiveness; another examines the impact of the growth in part-time employment on the welfare state; a third probes the relation of organized labour to a guaranteed annual income; others investigate the impact of neoconservatism on labour market policy-making in various provinces and regions.

Globalization and neoconservatism continue to shape change and require constant evaluation. These thought-provoking and informative essays are an important contribution to the ongoing debate on social welfare and labour market policy in Canada.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction	p. 3
Political Economy in Transition: Implications for the Canadian Welfare State
Neo-conservatism and Beyond	p. 25
Changing Gears: Democratizing the Welfare State	p. 36
Need and Welfare: 'Thin' and 'Thick' Approaches	p. 44
Challenges for a New Political Economy	p. 62
Social Welfare and the New Right: A Class Mobilization Perspective	p. 76
Canadian Social Welfare Policy
Decentralized Social Services: A Critique of Models of Service Delivery	p. 97
Holistic Social and Health Services in Indian Communities	p. 110
Neo-conservatism and Social Policy Responses to the AIDS Crisis	p. 126
Poverty: Myths, Misconceptions, and Half-truths	p. 148
Rhetoric and Reality: Health Care Cutbacks in Three Provinces	p. 174
Social Assistance and 'Employability' for Single Mothers in Nova Scotia	p. 191
False Economies in Newfoundland's Social and Child Welfare Policies	p. 207
Mothers and Children: Ensuring Acceptable Standards of Living	p. 218
Canadian Labour Market Policy
Regional Development Policy and Labour Markets in Atlantic Canada	p. 235
Towards a Neo-corporatist Labour Market Policy in Quebec	p. 253
The Political Economy of Ontario's Labour Market Policy	p. 268
Labour Markets and Neo-conservative Policy in British Columbia, 1986-1991	p. 291
Defending the Welfare State and Labour Market Policy	p. 306
Part-time Workers, the Welfare State, and Labour Market Relations	p. 327
Canadian Organized Labour and the Guaranteed Annual Income	p. 350
Epilogue	p. 367
Contributors	p. 373
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