Internationally, Canadians struggle with their national identity. Canadians try to argue that
they are not Americans, their big cousins to the south and are more than ice hockey and
maple syrup. Canadians like to boast that they have more in common with Sweden and its
snowy winters and extensive social programs. This presentation and paper outlines some of
the historical developments of social welfare in Canada and examines some of the recent
trends at dismantling the programs. In the neo-liberal state, efforts towards “globalization”
and “free trade” with the United States have attacked Canada’s social safety net,
marginalizing and suppressing the poor. Currently, the new conservative government,
elected in January 2006, promises further reductions in universal programs and targeted
services. The new government has pledged to cancel the previous government’s support of
day care facilities and provide funds directly to individuals. Under its new proposal, it plans
to grant parents $1200 per year per child under 6 of years of age. However, in spite of the
current trends, Canadians have maintained its humanitarian philosophy and resisted the
“Americanization” of its social programs. Some of this resistance has been successful but as
in many other countries much of it has failed.
Internationally, Canadians struggle with their national identity. Canadians try to argue thatthey are not Americans, their big cousins to the south and are more than ice hockey andmaple syrup. Canadians like to boast that they have more in common with Sweden and itssnowy winters and extensive social programs. This presentation and paper outlines some ofthe historical developments of social welfare in Canada and examines some of the recenttrends at dismantling the programs. In the neo-liberal state, efforts towards “globalization”and “free trade” with the United States have attacked Canada’s social safety net,marginalizing and suppressing the poor. Currently, the new conservative government,elected in January 2006, promises further reductions in universal programs and targetedservices. The new government has pledged to cancel the previous government’s support ofday care facilities and provide funds directly to individuals. Under its new proposal, it plansto grant parents $1200 per year per child under 6 of years of age. However, in spite of thecurrent trends, Canadians have maintained its humanitarian philosophy and resisted the“Americanization” of its social programs. Some of this resistance has been successful but asin many other countries much of it has failed.
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