Providing public income support may advance public health: recent federal policy developments in Canada’s social safety net

Michael J. Prince

Chapter 11 in Handbook on the Social Determinants of Health, 2025, pp 141-152 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines the relationship between income security and public health by investigating social policy decisions and program reforms recently made at the national level in Canada. In recent years, under the Liberal governments of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, an impressive range of income program developments has taken place. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a unique and financially substantial provision of cash benefit measures for individuals and families, most of it provided by the federal government and much of it of a temporary nature. While it is a high-income country, Canada is, when viewed internationally, a modest investor in social protection. The pandemic and associated economic recession highlighted serious gaps in the social safety net and, looking ahead, underscored the need for more systemic reforms in the provision of income support.

Keywords: Economics and Finance; Sociology and Social Policy; Sustainable Development Goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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