In a new Fraser Institute policy paper, Preston
Manning and Mike Harris say Canada can dramatically improve its
approach to K-12 education, welfare, health and child care by
better balancing federal/provincial responsibilities, offering
more freedom of choice, and empowering Canadians with personal
responsibility.
"If we truly want to achieve the highest quality of life, we must
rebalance our current approach to key social programs," said
Manning. "This rebalancing is based on the principle that
services to Canadians - especially the young, the ill, and those
trapped in poverty - should be delivered by governments and
organizations closest to those they serve and should involve a
better mix of public and private resources."
"
Caring for Canadians" is Volume II in the "Canada Strong and Free" series of papers by Manning and Harris.
Key recommendations include expanding freedom of choice in K-12
education via educational vouchers issued to parents by
provincial governments; expansion of the shift from "welfare to
workfare" pioneered by Mr. Harris's administration in Ontario;
getting the federal government out of the child care field by
ending federal spending initiatives in this area and ceding the
equivalent tax room to the provinces; and making the tax system
neutral with respect to the form of child care parents choose for
their children.
With respect to health care, they advance further recommendations
for achieving the goal of giving Canadians the best health care
system in the world, by strengthening universal access regardless
of the ability to pay while offering a "mixed approach" (public
and private) to health care delivery, payment, and insurance.
"The urgency of revitalizing the way we care for Canadians cannot
be understated," added Harris. "This does not only apply to
improved social services, but to making Canada the best-governed
democratic federation in the world."