The Canada Assistance Plan (CAP) (French: Régime d'assistance publique du Canada) was a financing program created in 1966 by the Pearson government. The CAP consisted of a cost-sharing arrangement between the federal government and provinces, territories and municipalities whereby the federal government would partially fund eligible social programs.[1][2]
The 1995 Canadian federal budget announced that both the Canada Assistance Plan and the Established Programs Financing would be combined into a new block-fund fiscal arrangement called the Canada Health and Social Transfer starting in 1996-97 fiscal year.[1] Payments with respect to fiscal years ending on March 31, 1996 or before could be made until March 31, 2000. The Canada Assistance Plan therefore officially remained under existence until March 31, 2000.[3]
As of the early 1990s, the Canada Assistance Plan consisted of 3 parts (of which only 2 have ever been enacted):[2]
Part I (General Assistance and Welfare Services) under which the federal government would cover 50% of eligible costs for social programs (notably financial assistance programs, homes for special care, some health care costs not already covered under the Canada Health Act or other fiscal arrangements and child welfare);
Part II (Indian Welfare) was never enacted as no agreement had been signed between the federal government and the provinces;
Part III (Work Activity Projects) under which the federal government would cover 50% of eligible costs for improvement of employability of unemployed people.
History
Cuts to the program (1990s)
The 1990 Canadian federal budget capped the growth of the Canada Assistance Plan at 5% for provinces who did not receive equalization payments[note 1] for 1990-91 and 1991-92 fiscal years. That decision was incorporated into the Government Expenditure Restraint Act (C-69) that received royal assent on 1 February 1991.[4][5] The 1991 Canadian federal budget extended the measure through 1994–95.[6]
Further restrictions were applied when the 1994 Canadian federal budget froze CAP payments to their 1994-95 levels for the 1995-96 fiscal year.[7] Unlike the 1990 freeze it applied to all the Canadian provinces, including those who received equalization payments.[4][6]
Debates
From its inception the Canada Assistance Plan was under scrutiny from the federal government. As the arrangement was a cost-sharing program and open-ended in nature, the federal government was concerned about an escalation of costs it could not control.[4]
Despite escalating costs in the early 1980s, the Nielsen Task Force on Program Review[note 2] found that no serious alternative could replace the CAP.[8]
Relevance to Individuals with Disabilities and Families
One of Calgary, Alberta's Rehabilitation Research Institutes cited the Government of Canada: In 1986 there were over 302,000 children and 2,448,000 adults with developmental disabilities alone in Canada (Profile of Disabled Persons, Ottawa Ministry of Supply and Services, 1986). The Canadian Assistance Plan was a federal-provincial cost sharing arrangement and "supports the provision of adequate assistance to persons in need, and to encourage the development of welfare services that prevent and remove the causes of poverty, child neglect and dependence on social assistance" (Canadian Association of Mental Retardation, Parliamentary Task Force, 1984). Two associated programs for the disabled were: The Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons for Vocational Training and Education, and the established program funding (EPF) to block grant funds for relatively stabilized programs and services.
The researcher-author, David McClelland, discusses the institutional bias of the Canadian Assistance Plan, and ways it could contribute to individualized rehabilitation funding models in community living. [9] The Rehabilitation Individualized Funding Model of the Western World being proposed at the time is also discussed in Public Administration and Disability: Community Services Administration in the US (Racino, 2014). [10]
Notes and references
Notes
^At the time Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
^Officially the Ministerial Task Force on Program Review.
References
^ abDepartment of Finance (15 December 2014). "History of Health and Social Transfers". Retrieved 3 December 2020.
^ abCanada Assistance Plan : Annual report 1992-93. Human Resources Development Canada. 1994. ISBN0-662-61178-0.
^Budget Implementation Act of 1995 (S.C. 1995, c. 17, s. 31)
^ abcdCanada Assistance Plan : Final annual report 1994-1995, 1995-1996. Human Resources Development Canada. 2001.
^Government Expenditures Restraint Act, S.C. 1991, ch. 9, s. 2
^ abDepartment of Finance (April 1994). Federal transfers to provinces(PDF). Ottawa. p. 23. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
^Budget Implementation Act of 1994, S.C. 1994, c.18, s. 12
^"Canadians said losing billions a year : Government spending called out of control". Toronto Star. 1986-03-12. p. A26.
^ McClelland, David A. (1989, March). A Review of Rehabilitation Funding Models. Calgary, Alberta, Canada: The Vocational and Rehabilitation Research Institute.
^ Racino, Julie Ann. (2014). Public and individual budgeting and financing (pp.209-234). Public Administration and Disability: Community Services Administration in the US. NY, NY: CRC Press, Francis and Taylor Academics.
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The Canada Assistance Plan CAP French Regime d assistance publique du Canada was a financing program created in 1966 by the Pearson government The CAP consisted of a cost sharing arrangement between the federal government and provinces territories and municipalities whereby the federal government would partially fund eligible social programs 1 2 The 1995 Canadian federal budget announced that both the Canada Assistance Plan and the Established Programs Financing would be combined into a new block fund fiscal arrangement called the Canada Health and Social Transfer starting in 1996 97 fiscal year 1 Payments with respect to fiscal years ending on March 31 1996 or before could be made until March 31 2000 The Canada Assistance Plan therefore officially remained under existence until March 31 2000 3 Contents 1 Structure 2 History 2 1 Cuts to the program 1990s 3 Debates 4 Relevance to Individuals with Disabilities and Families 5 Notes and references 5 1 Notes 5 2 References 6 Related linksStructure EditAs of the early 1990s the Canada Assistance Plan consisted of 3 parts of which only 2 have ever been enacted 2 Part I General Assistance and Welfare Services under which the federal government would cover 50 of eligible costs for social programs notably financial assistance programs homes for special care some health care costs not already covered under the Canada Health Act or other fiscal arrangements and child welfare Part II Indian Welfare was never enacted as no agreement had been signed between the federal government and the provinces Part III Work Activity Projects under which the federal government would cover 50 of eligible costs for improvement of employability of unemployed people History EditCuts to the program 1990s Edit The 1990 Canadian federal budget capped the growth of the Canada Assistance Plan at 5 for provinces who did not receive equalization payments note 1 for 1990 91 and 1991 92 fiscal years That decision was incorporated into the Government Expenditure Restraint Act C 69 that received royal assent on 1 February 1991 4 5 The 1991 Canadian federal budget extended the measure through 1994 95 6 The government of British Columbia challenged that provision in courts and the Supreme Court of Canada in the landmark Reference Re Canada Assistance Plan BC decision ruled on 15 August 1991 that the capping was indeed constitutional 4 Further restrictions were applied when the 1994 Canadian federal budget froze CAP payments to their 1994 95 levels for the 1995 96 fiscal year 7 Unlike the 1990 freeze it applied to all the Canadian provinces including those who received equalization payments 4 6 Debates EditFrom its inception the Canada Assistance Plan was under scrutiny from the federal government As the arrangement was a cost sharing program and open ended in nature the federal government was concerned about an escalation of costs it could not control 4 Despite escalating costs in the early 1980s the Nielsen Task Force on Program Review note 2 found that no serious alternative could replace the CAP 8 Relevance to Individuals with Disabilities and Families EditOne of Calgary Alberta s Rehabilitation Research Institutes cited the Government of Canada In 1986 there were over 302 000 children and 2 448 000 adults with developmental disabilities alone in Canada Profile of Disabled Persons Ottawa Ministry of Supply and Services 1986 The Canadian Assistance Plan was a federal provincial cost sharing arrangement and supports the provision of adequate assistance to persons in need and to encourage the development of welfare services that prevent and remove the causes of poverty child neglect and dependence on social assistance Canadian Association of Mental Retardation Parliamentary Task Force 1984 Two associated programs for the disabled were The Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons for Vocational Training and Education and the established program funding EPF to block grant funds for relatively stabilized programs and services The researcher author David McClelland discusses the institutional bias of the Canadian Assistance Plan and ways it could contribute to individualized rehabilitation funding models in community living 9 The Rehabilitation Individualized Funding Model of the Western World being proposed at the time is also discussed in Public Administration and Disability Community Services Administration in the US Racino 2014 10 Notes and references EditNotes Edit At the time Ontario Alberta and British Columbia Officially the Ministerial Task Force on Program Review References Edit a b Department of Finance 15 December 2014 History of Health and Social Transfers Retrieved 3 December 2020 a b Canada Assistance Plan Annual report 1992 93 Human Resources Development Canada 1994 ISBN 0 662 61178 0 Budget Implementation Act of 1995 S C 1995 c 17 s 31 a b c d Canada Assistance Plan Final annual report 1994 1995 1995 1996 Human Resources Development Canada 2001 Government Expenditures Restraint Act S C 1991 ch 9 s 2 a b Department of Finance April 1994 Federal transfers to provinces PDF Ottawa p 23 Retrieved 9 January 2020 Budget Implementation Act of 1994 S C 1994 c 18 s 12 Canadians said losing billions a year Government spending called out of control Toronto Star 1986 03 12 p A26 McClelland David A 1989 March A Review of Rehabilitation Funding Models Calgary Alberta Canada The Vocational and Rehabilitation Research Institute Racino Julie Ann 2014 Public and individual budgeting and financing pp 209 234 Public Administration and Disability Community Services Administration in the US NY NY CRC Press Francis and Taylor Academics Related links EditEstablished Programs Financing Territorial Formula Financing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Canada Assistance Plan amp oldid 1119542799, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
