Can We Have National Standards

Under the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) announced in the 1995 Budget, the federal government is obliged to discuss principles and objectives with the provinces.  This paper discusses the meaning of various concepts – principles, objectives, conditions, standards and best practices – that are often used synonymously but are actually very different in their intent and impact.  The objectives of a social security system and the role of the CHST in fulfilling these objectives are considered.  The principles that ideally should be incorporated in the CHST are then identified.  The paper explores the notions of conditions and standards.  It is unlikely that either of these will be incorporated in the CHST; Ottawa will lose its capacity to enforce conditions or standards because of the declining and soon-to-disappear federal cash transfers under the proposed financing arrangements.  Finally, the paper looks at how the quality of program and service delivery can be improved through ‘best practices’ or exemplary models of service delivery.

ISBN – 1-895796039-3