An Introduction to Canada's Public Social Services Understanding Income and Health Programs

by McGilly, Frank

• ISBN13: 9780195412321
• ISBN10: 019541232X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-07-16
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This book surveys, in depth, Canada's public programs in income support and health care, among the highest priority issues facing the country. It describes existing programs (employment insurance, pensions, medicare, etc.), taking account both of their historical, economic and political contexts and of recent changes.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xi
General Introduction
Overview and Objectives	1	(1)
Seven Major Challenges	2	(13)
Social Welfare and the Canadian System of Government	15	(11)
The Institutions of Society	26	(2)
The Underlying Point of View	28	(5)
Bibliography	33	(7)
Part One INCOME PROGRAMS
Income: Basic Concepts and Issues
The Concept of Income	40	(2)
Objectives of Income Programs	42	(4)
The Money Must Come From Somewhere: Taxes, Contributions	46	(1)
Benefits and Eligibility for Benefits	47	(3)
Study Questions	50	(2)
Employment Insurance
What Is Employment Insurance?	52	(12)
Background to the Unemployment Insurance Act, 1940 and After	64	(4)
Legislation	68	(1)
Criticisms	68	(5)
Other Aspects of the Issue	73	(1)
Problems for Discussion	74	(2)
Study Questions	76	(1)
Bibliography	77	(3)
Workers' Compensation
What Is Workers' Compensation?	80	(8)
Background to Workers' Compensation	88	(3)
Legislation	91	(1)
Criticisms	92	(4)
Occupational Health and Safety	96	(1)
Problems for Discussion	96	(2)
Study Questions	98	(1)
Bibliography	98	(3)
Incomes for Older People
The Nature and Dimensions of the Problem	101	(3)
Public Transfer Programs for Older People	104	(6)
Public Contributory Pensions: The Canada and Quebec Pension Plans	110	(3)
The Canada/Quebec Pension Plans and Other Programs	113	(1)
Private Pensions	114	(3)
The Jurisdictional Question: Federal or Provincial?	117	(1)
Troublesome Issues and Next Steps	118	(7)
Study Questions	125	(1)
Bibliography	125	(4)
Public Assistance and the Working Poor; Child and Family Benefits
Public Assistance as Concept and Program	129	(8)
Public Assistance: A Selective Transfer Program	137	(5)
The Issue of Incentive to Work: `Workfare'	142	(3)
The Federal-Provincial Relationship in Public Assistance	145	(4)
Programs for the Working Poor; Child and Family Benefits	149	(10)
Criticisms and Questions	159	(2)
Study Questions	161	(1)
Bibliography	162	(10)
Part Two HEALTH CARE SERVICES
Hospitalization Insurance in Canada
Introduction: Sickness, Health, and Social Policy	172	(2)
The Hospital, Health, and Society	174	(3)
A Thematic History of Hospitalization Insurance in Canada	177	(8)
Hospitalization Insurance Programs in the Provinces	185	(4)
Hospital Services: A Big Budget Item	189	(1)
Criticisms and Questions	189	(4)
Study Questions	193	(1)
Bibliography	193	(1)
Medicine and Medicare
The Background of the Medicare Issue in Canada	194	(4)
An Outline of the History of Medicare in Canada	198	(1)
The Canadian Medical Care Act, 1966	199	(2)
Medicare in Quebec and Elsewhere	201	(4)
The Limited Potential Benefits of Medical Care: Is It a `Social Good'?	205	(3)
Criticisms and Questions	208	(5)
Study Questions	213	(1)
Hospitalization and Medicare Legislation	213	(1)
Bibliography	214	(6)
Health Beyond Hospitals and Doctors
Critiques of What We Have Now	220	(3)
The Green Paper of 1974 and Other Criticisms	223	(4)
Alternative Policy #1: Community Health	227	(6)
Alternative Policy #2: Occupational Health	233	(2)
Other Alternatives for Health Policy	235	(2)
Legislation	237	(1)
Bibliography	237	(7)
Part Three RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT
The New Millennium: Sunset or New Dawn of the Welfare State?
Overview	244	(3)
The Limited Attainment of Goals	247	(9)
Changes in Policy and Administration	256	(6)
Social Programs: The Welfare State	262	(3)
At the Gate of the Twenty-First Century	265	(3)
Bibliography	268	(5)
Appendix A Poverty Lines	273	(9)
Appendix B The Redistribution of Income	282	(14)
Appendix C Federal Sharing in the Costs of Health Care	296	(7)
Useful Web Sites	303	(3)
Index	306