Social Policy in Ontario

… the looming threat of potentially massive cuts to the Canada Health and Social transfers

Posted on February 1, 2011 in Governance Debates

Source: Canada without Poverty — Authors: Rob Rainer

cwp-csp.ca – Listserve
February 1, 2011

[This is a message to a Canada-wide group distribution list…  This message is also being sent today to all federal parliamentarians with email addresses, with special flagging for Prime Minister Harper and federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. ]

A rapidly emerging issue of immense public interest is the future of the Canada Health and Canada Social transfers. Critical decisions are coming about these transfers that could greatly shape the health and social security of Canadians in the coming years – and thus the very fabric of Canada. Through these transfers of many billions of dollars, the federal government helps support provinces and territories in the delivery of health care and social security services.  The legislation authorizing these transfers expires March 31, 2014.

In a remarkable open letter on January 25 to federal Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, former senior Department of Finance officials Scott Clark and Peter Devries lay out the stark implications of this issue.  This lengthy open letter (requires 20-30 minutes to read but well worth it), with detailed analysis, closes with these words and questions (bold lettering added here for emphasis):

“The decision you, or any government, will take with respect to the CHT and CST will set the course of the federal government and federal/provincial relations for many years to follow. Is it not possible to engage Canadians in this debate before a final decision is taken?  In the past you have supported the analysis and recommendations of the IMF [International Monetary Fund], and quite rightly so.  We would strongly recommend that you support the IMF conclusion in its recent report on ” the importance of increasing transparency and communication about these challenges (demographic) and their long-run implications, (and) to increase public awareness and contribute to a debate about possible solutions.”

See the full open letter here.

Rob Rainer
Executive Director / Directeur executif
CANADA WITHOUT POVERTY / CANADA SANS PAUVRETÉ

Working in alliance with the CWP Advocacy Network / Travaillant en alliance avec le Réseau de revendication CSP

Honorary Directors

Hon. Monique Bégin; Ed Broadbent; Ovide Mercredi

Ottawa office: 1210 – 1 rue Nicholas Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7; (613) 789-0096 (1-800-810-1076)

Montréal office: (514) 667-2205

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Dignity for All: The Campaign for a Poverty-free Canada

Tags: budget, Health, ideology, mental Health, poverty, standard of living

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