Social Safety Nets and Policies to Protect Disadvantaged Groups: A Canadian Perspective

1. Social Safety Nets and Policies to Protect Disadvantaged Groups:A Canadian Perspective Michael J. Prince University of Victoria Canada

2. Outline • Introduction and Main Themes • Concepts of Disadvantaged Groups • Social Safety Nets: A Framework • Current Policy Actions and Trends • Conclusions

3. Introduction • Three key policy issues: • Relationship between safety nets and disadvantaged groups • Links between social programs, capacity building, and economic development • Future role of social policy in a global and knowledge-based economy

4. Main Themes • Canada has a complex bundle of social programs and policies • Several formal commitments to assisting disadvantaged groups • Four types of social safety net policies • Recent return of an active social role by Canadian government • Capacity building and issues of disadvantage on economic and social policy agendas

5. Disadvantaged Groups • Shared characteristics and circumstances • In past, present and or foreseeable future • Distinct from others in society • Characteristics/circumstances considered unfair and significant in relation to mainstream population • A political process to recognition and definition of groups seen as disadvantaged

6. Concepts of Disadvantaged Groups: Canadian Sources • Constitution and Charter of Rights, 1982 • Employment Equity Act, 1986 and 1995 • Social Union Framework Agreement, 1999 • Human Resources Development Canada • Canadian Health Research on Vulnerable Populations, 2002 • Canada’s Innovation Strategy, 2002

7. Social Safety Nets in Canada: Four Types • 1. Social Assistance • 2. Economic Inclusion • 3. Health and Social Security • 4. Human Capital Investment

8. Social Assistance • Programs of “last resort” • Means-tested or needs-tested • Minimal level of support • Client groups have no attachment to labour force or have non-standard work history • Main recent initiative for low-income families with children

9. Economic Inclusion • Focus on groups excluded from or marginalized in the paid labour force • Supports may include literacy, skill development and training, apprenticeships, wage subsidies, “workfare” • Recent initiatives for youth, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples, single mothers, visible minorities

10. Health and Social Security • Mainstream programs of welfare state • Social insurance and general access benefits • Support based on adequacy and income replacement • Client groups usually have or had a firm attachment to labour force • Recent measures focus on early childhood, Aboriginal communities, farmers

11. Human Capital Investment • Programs for those employed in good positions or with good prospects • Post-secondary access programs, funding for government research councils and universities • Goal of a well-educated, highly skilled, flexible workforce • Main recent initiatives on enhanced expenditure and tax support for higher education and learning

12. Conclusions • A distinctive policy discourse on disadvantaged groups • Growing interest in capacity building • Increasing attention to disadvantaged groups: early years evidence, labour skill shortages, Charter rights • Economic development and social development interconnected • Continued social role by governments