Social Programs: Tail or Dog

The conventional wisdom that sees social programs as drain on the economy fails to recognize the drain that the economy has placed on social programs.  There is no doubt that these need to be reformed.  Certain features of Unemployment Insurance and welfare, in particular, act as disincentives to labour market participation.  At the same time, the labour market has created serious problems for social programs; the growing number of working poor and unemployed Canadians; greater movement in and out of the labour market; and the difficulties that workers will face in trying to save money for retirement.  The federal government must address these labour market issues in its review of social programs.

ISBN – 1-895796-16-4