Report on Social Security for Canada: New Edition

by Leonard Marsh

Overview

Report on Social Security for Canada, written in wartime, presented to Canadians a picture of a better life in the postwar world. It outlined what governments could do to ensure that all citizens could afford the food, clothing, and shelter necessary to participate fully in their community. Authored by Leonard Marsh for the wartime Federal Advisory Committee on Reconstruction, the report was the subject of enormous attention when it was presented to the House of Commons in March 1943. Drawing on the work of his mentor, William Beveridge, and of John Maynard Keynes, Marsh primarily recommended an employment program meant to ensure lower unemployment and higher incomes. His report also discussed family allowances to make certain that no child would go without, health care insurance, temporary assistance in case of illness, a pension plan, and various other social benefits related to maternity, disability, loss of employment, and death. Today Report on Social Security for Canada is seen as a foundational text for the Canadian social security system. In this edition Allan Moscovitch provides the historical context, an outline of Marsh’s accomplishments, and suggestions for how to enhance the welfare state and respond to the social needs of Canadians in the twenty-first century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780773551565
Publisher:	McGill-Queens University Press
Publication date:	03/21/2018
Series:	Carleton Library Series , #244
Edition description:	New
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Leonard Marsh (1906–1983) was a social scientist, director of the McGill Social Science Research project, and a professor at McGill University and the University of British Columbia. Allan Moscovitch is professor emeritus at Carleton University.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the New Edition Allan Moscovitch ix

Preface Michael Bliss xxxvii

Introduction xli

Letter of Transmittal 3

Prefatory Note 5

Part 1 The Basis of the Task

1 Canadian Perspective 9

2 Categories of Social Need 20

3 Minimum Standards and Existing Social Legislation 27

4 Securance of the Social Minimum: Social Insurance Principles 48

Part 2 Employment

5 A National Employment Programme 65

6 Occupational Readjustment: Placement, Guidance, and Training Facilities 73

7 Unemployment Insurance 77

8 Unemployment Assistance 87

Part 3 The Universal Risks: Sickness, Invalidity, Old Age

9 Health Insurance (Medical Care) 99

10 Industrial Accident and Disease: Workmen's Compensation 106

11 Disability and Invalidity 116

12 Existing Old Age Pensions and Retirement Provisions 127

13 Contributory Retirement Insurance 140

14 Health Insurance and Other Social Security Plans 151

Part 4 Family Needs

15 Children's Allowances 161

16 Women's Needs in the Social Security System 171

17 Widowhood: Mothers' Allowances 176

18 Survivors' Insurance 183

19 Funeral Benefits 187

Part 5 Conclusion

20 Outlines of a Comprehensive System 193

21 Constitutional and Administrative Decisions 204

22 Financial Considerations 215

Appendices

I Industrial Accidents (Workmen's Compensation): provincial schedules of payments 226

II Fatal Accidents (Workmen's Compensation): provincial schedules of payments 228

III Mother's Allowances: Summary of main provisions in Canada 231

IV Training and Placement

a Dominion Employment Service Policy 234

b Selected Reports of Subcommittee on Post-War Employment Opportunities 238

v Industrial Retirement Plans in Canada 248

vi Rental Variations and the Minimum Standard 258

Index to Tables 271

Index 273