*Note: These contents are assembled from several web sites, some of whom are now defunct. Although I have the documents in my records, I've provided the current links to available items. Copies of material from defunct sites, as well as my works, are provided below. Copyright belongs to the authors and/or publishers of the material according to the information contained in the documents. An internet search of the titles or of content from the material should be made for referencing purposes. The owner of this web site only claims authorship where indicated within the material.
"In the national interest": a social policy agenda for a new century – restore cooperative federalism, modernize medicare, put children first -2004 — Even in politics, change now comes fast. Social policies need belated re-shaping to fit the times. This article suggests how the necessary cooperation can be restored to our federalism
2001 Participation and Activity Limitation Survey A Profile of Disability in Canada, 2001 — Data focus on the use of and need for disability supports for individuals aged 15 and over. Topics covered include assistive aids or devices, help with everyday activities, specialized features in the home, local and long distance transportation, and tax credits.
ACCORDS AND DISCORD: THE POLITICS OF ASYMMETRICAL FEDERALISM AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS -2005 — Asymmetrical federalism is a simple concept but sometimes rendered unnecessarily complex. In its most basic form, it may be understood as differences among the states or provinces within a federal system. more at http://www.queensu.ca/iigr/WorkingPapers/Archive/2005.html
Accountability Regimes for the Federal Social Transfer -2008 — This paper arises out of research conducted as part of a Community-University Research Alliance project and takes as a starting point the accountability concerns of social rights advocacy organizations.
A comparative perspective on asymmetry in federations -2005 — A controversial question that arises when considering all intergovernmental agreements is whether they should treat all provinces and territories similarly or whether the agreements should be expected to differ from one province/territory to another.
Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities - 2009 Federal Disability Report — the Government of Canada's seventh annual report on disability. This report looks at the experiences of Canadians with disabilities and notes changes over time.
An Educator’s Guide to Changing the World -2003 — Changing the world calls for grand plans and even grander organizing abilities. Our legacy, as people concerned with social justice and ending oppression, is similarly grand. Canadians have a significant history of dealing with such issues
An Evaluation of the Sectoral Involvement in Departmental Policy Development (SIDPD) -2004 — The Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI) is a joint initiative between the voluntary sector and the Government of Canada that was announced in June of 2000. The long-term goal of the VSI is to strengthen the sector's capacity to meet the challenges of the future, and to enhance the relationship between the voluntary sector and the federal government.
Assessing, Selecting, and Implementing Instruments for Government Action -2007 — A broad spectrum of instruments for government action exists for advancing public policy. These instruments range from laws to economic, public, and peer pressure.
Building Blocks for Strong Communities A Profile of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Canada -2006 — The purpose of the report is to develop a fact-based portrait of the characteristics, contributions and capacity challenges of small and medium community sector organizations.
Building Blocks for Strong Communities Key Findings and Recommendations -2006 — The well-being and quality of life of Canadians depend in large measure on the roles played by family, community, the market and the state, the strength of each and the interrelationships among them.1 In this, both small- and medium-sized enterprises and small- and mediumsized community organizations play critical roles.
Caledon Institute of Social Policy — seeks to inform and influence public opinion and to foster public discussion on poverty and social policy
Canada at a Glance — Canada at a Glance presents current Canadian demographic, education, health and aging, justice, housing, income, labour market, household, economic, travel, financial, agricultural, foreign trade and environmental statistics. pdf at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-581-x/12-581-x2013000-eng.pdf
CANADA’S GREAT DIVIDE: The politics of the growing gap between rich and poor in the 1990s (2000) — more at www.socialjustice.org
Canadian Council on Social Development - Free Statistics — This area of our website contains historical archives of data tables on poverty, social assistance and income.
Canadian disability policy: still a hit-and-miss affair -2005
Canadian Heritage: Human Rights and Disabilities — Overview of Canadian laws and initiatives
Children and Youth with Special Needs Summary Report of Findings -2001
Citistates and the State of Cities: Political-Economy and Fiscal-Federalism Dimensions -2005
Community Voices, Perspectives and Priorities: An Inclusive Cities Canada-Edmonton Report -2005 — Edmonton participated with four other cities in Inclusive Cities Canada, a national initiative examining social inclusion in Canada’s cities.
Connecting Young People, Policy and Active Citizenship -2006 — CPRN’s objective was to bring the voices of young adults into Canada’s national conversation about our future together
Disability and the Income Tax -David G. Duff 2000 — This article considers the existing income tax provisions regarding families with disabled persons, analyzing the relationship between disabilities and appropriate tax liabilities, and providing suggestions for reform of the current tax structure.
Disability in Canada: A 2006 Profile -2011 — In 2006, the second cycle of Canada’s national survey of people with disabilities— the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS)—was conducted.
Disability-Related Policy in Canada — The Disability-Related Policy Website is a tool of the Disability and Information Technologies (Dis-IT) Research Alliance, headed by Deborah Stienstra at the University of Manitoba, and the community of disability organizations in Canada. See link to Policy Areas for links to several resource papers (Note some links are broken, but this is still a great site): http://www.disabilitypolicy.ca/groups/index.php
Disability Tax Fairness: Report of the Technical Advisory Committee on Tax Measures for Persons with Disabilities -2004 — The Committee’s mandate was to make recommendations that would help the federal government improve the fairness of the treatment of persons with disabilities under the income tax system, taking into account available fiscal resources.
Divided and Distracted Regionalism as Obstacle to Reducing Poverty and Inequality -2005 — Canada’s political agenda is increasingly marked by regional differences. The focus on decentralization and tightly controlled growth in government spending has resulted in more privatization of public goods, intensification of inequality, and heightened federal-provincial rancour.
Evergreen: A Child and Youth Mental Health Framework for Canada 2010 — In 2006, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology published its report on mental health in Canada: Out of The Shadows at Last: Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction Services in Canada (Kirby & Keon, 2006). Cognizant of the need to transform how mental health care is delivered across Canada, it called for the creation of the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), which was established by the Government of Canada in 2008. Subsequently, the Child and Youth Advisory Committee (CYAC) of the MHCC proposed to develop a national child and youth mental health framework that could be used by governments, institutions and organizations to assist with the development of mental health policies, plans, programs and services.
Factors influencing work participation for people with a visual impairment 2013 — Although individuals who have a visual impairment have an education level comparable to that of the general population, they are proportionally much less likely to be employed. In 2006, according to the Canadian Participation and Activity Limitation Survey, only 35% of individuals aged 15-64 who had a visual limitation reported having a job.
Federal fiscal arrangements in Canada: An analysis of incentives — This paper reviews the major federal-provincial transfer programs in Canada
Federalism in the Information Age: from the division of powers to citizen-centred government -2004 — information sharing has become a critical new area of federal-provincial — and, indeed, municipal — relations.
Fiscal Gaps and Imbalances: The New Fundamentals of Canadian Federalism -2005
Formal Knowledge Networks: A Study of Canadian Experiences -1998
FUNDING MATTERS: The Impact of Canada’s New Funding Regime on Nonprofit and Voluntary Organizations -2003 — The primary objective of this study is to document the changing funding landscape in Canada and to assess the impact of these changes on the financial capacity and longterm sustainability of nonprofit and voluntary organizations.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS to Address Disability Issues for the Government of Canada: Working Together for Full Citizenship — The purpose of this document is to outline the future directions the Government of Canada believes it must take to move towards full citizenship for all Canadians who are living with disabilities. These directions are consistent with the joint work begun with provinces and territories.
Healthcare Governance Models in Canada A Provincial Perspective 2013 — The governance of healthcare systems in Canada is becoming increasing challenging. The provincial and territorial governments are struggling with rising healthcare costs, resulting from a number of factors including: an aging population, growth in chronic diseases, implementation of new technologies, and the introduction of new and costly pharmaceuticals.
Homeless Hub — Resource information. A Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN) initiative. The CHRN has received financial support from the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. See http://homelessresearch.net/
Housing for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (CMHC) — This study examined the housing issues that adults with intellectual disabilities and their families are facing. Conducted between December 2004 and February 2006, A number of best practices are listed.
Implementing the Social Union Framework Agreement : A Learning and Reference Tool -2000
Inclusive Cities Canada: A Cross-Canada Civic Initiative -2006 — The goals of Inclusive Cities Canada includes: • to strengthen civic capacity to create and sustain inclusive communities for the mutual benefit of all people
Institute for Research on Public Policy — The IRPP seeks to improve public policy in Canada by generating research, providing insight and sparking debate on current and emerging policy issues facing Canadians and their governments.
Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities — To improve the employment situation for Canadians with disabilities, the Government of Canada provides $218 million each year through agreements with provinces
Measuring Up: Family Benefits in British Columbia and Alberta in International Perspective -2007 — This looks at the whole “family benefits package” — that is, the full range of federal and provincial public supports available to families, from tax allowances, cash benefits and exemptions from various social charges, to subsidies and services in kind.
Medical and Disability-Related Information -2011 — This guide is for persons with medical expenses or impairments in physical or mental functions and anyone supporting them.
Meeting the Needs of Children and Adolescents with Special Needs in Rural and Northern Canada -2006 — The goal was to develop action and research priorities to enhance the well-being of children and adolescents with special needs in rural and northern Canada.
Mixed Signals in the Disability Community: Successes, Setbacks ... -2003 — public benefits and services to agency clients have also been reduced. Efforts at increasing revenues though fundraising confront the phenomenon of donor fatigue.
Moving Backwards: Canada's State of Transportation Accessibility in an International Context -2005
OUT OF THE SHADOWS AT LAST Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction Services in Canada 2006 — Yet the more than two thousand personal stories submitted to the Standing Senate Committee on Social affairs, Science and Technology by Canadians living with mental illness, and their families, make clear that these words continue to ring true. It was difficult emotionally for Committee members to hear these stories. Listening to them, and reading them, had a profound effect on every one of us.
Participation and Activity Limitation Survey, 2001 Children with disabilities and their families
Paved with Good Intentions: The Failure of Passive Disability Policy in Canada -2009 — In Canada, as in much of the developed world, many adults with disabilities remain outside the mainstream, especially in regard to economic opportunities. Unfortunately, many of the disability policies currently pursued by Canadian governments are unlikely to improve this situation, and may in fact make it worse.
Poverty Reduction Policies and Programs Canada -2009
Poverty Reduction Policies and Programs Northwest Territories -2009
Poverty Reduction Policies and Programs Yukon -2009
Pride and Prejudice: The Ambivalence of Canadian Attitudes toward Disability and Inclusion -2009 — this paper examines the 2004 benchmark survey and focus group results on Canadian attitudes toward disability issues commissioned by the Office for Disability Issues, Social Development Canada.
Recruitment of Persons with Disabilities: A Literature Review -2011 — The purpose of this literature review is to find out what the main barriers are to the recruitment of PWD, in both the public and private sectors, in Canada and abroad; to determine what strategies, best practices, tools and resources have been developed to reach this talented labour pool and to discuss what actions for improvement, if any, can be drawn from this review.
Risk and Opportunity: Creating Options for Vulnerable Workers -2006
Shiftings Sands: Exploring the Political Foundations of SUFA -2001 — For some, the Social Union Framework Agreement (SUFA) has heralded a transformation of the Canadian federal system, one that brings a new level of cooperation, civility and citizen engagement to intergovernmental relations.
Social Determinants of Health THE CANADIAN FACTS 2010 — We have known for a very long time that health inequities exist. These inequities affect all Canadians but they have especially strong impacts upon the health of those living in poverty. Adding social sciences evidence – the understanding of social structures and of power relationships – we have now accumulated indisputable evidence that “social injustice is killing people on a grand scale.” includes adverse mental health outcomes
Strengthening the Federation Citizens’ Dialogue on Sharing Public Funds for a Better Canada -2006 — The citizens' perspective on how our governments should share public funds is surprisingly free of jurisdictional jealousies.
SUFA and Citizen Engagement: Fake or Genuine Masterpiece? -2001
Technical Advisory Committee on Tax Measures for Persons with Disabilities -2003-2005 — to address issues related to tax measures benefiting persons with disabilities.
The Canada Social Transfer and the Deconstruction of Pan-Canadian Social Policy -2013 — Since the early 20th century, the Government of Canada has used the federal spending power to help provincial governments carry out their constitutional responsibilities for health care, post secondary education, social assistance and social services.
The NWT Disability Framework -2004
The Paradox of the Social Union Framework Agreement -2002 — SUFA deals with rules that determine how governments manage social programs, a matter of concern to all Canadians.
The Role of Multiculturalism Policy in Addressing Social Inclusion Processes in Canada -2011 — One of the key questions we explore is whether multiculturalism policy should move beyond focusing on the integration of population groups marginalized by national, racial, religious or ethnic origins, to addressing broader social inclusionary processes that influence inequities and impact on nation building as a whole.
The Social Union Framework Agreement: Lost Opportunity or New Beginning? -2000 — The Social Union Framework Agreement of 1999 has the potential to be the most far reaching reform in the workings of the federation since the changes associated with the Constitution Act, 1982.
The State of Homelessness in Canada 2013 — the first extensive Canadian report card on homelessness. This report examines what we know about homelessness, the historical, social and economic context in which it has emerged, demographic features of the problem, and potential solutions. The State of Homelessness provides a starting point to inform the development of a consistent, evidence-based approach towards ending homelessness.
The Well-Being of Canada’s Young Children 2011 Government of Canada Report
This issue of Perception focuses on the state of Canada’s social programs -2005 — more from the Canadian Council on Social Development - http://www.ccsd.ca/
Welfare Re-form: The Future of Social Policy Sherri Torjman and Ken Battle, November 2013 — This paper is the text of an address delivered by Sherri Torjman at the conference Welfare Re-form: The Future of Social Policy in Canada held on October 24 and 25, 2013, in Regina.
Working Conference on Strategies to Ensure Economic Security for All Canadians -2003 — to facilitate discussion of possible new policy architectures for income security