Clearly Canadian : Improving Equity and Accountability with an Overarching Equalization Program

By Boessenkool, Kenneth J.

Book Id: WPLBN0000691114
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 111.99 KB.
Reproduction Date: 2006

Title:	Clearly Canadian : Improving Equity and Accountability with an Overarching Equalization Program
Author:	Boessenkool, Kenneth J.
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Government Canada, Political science, Administration
Collections:	Canada Government Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	C.D. Howe institute


Citation APA MLA Chicago Boessenkool, K. J. (n.d.). Clearly Canadian : Improving Equity and Accountability with an Overarching Equalization Program. Retrieved from http://self.gutenberg.org/

Description
Canada Government Publication:

Summary
Summary: The equalization program is the centerpiece of the federal government?s redistributive efforts among the provinces. Equalization?s distributional impact, however, has been significantly undermined by Ottawa?s ability, and desire, to use other programs to effect further redistribution. In too many of its programs, Ottawa treats Canadians differently based on where they live. This situation is unstable, and threatens to weaken the broad support that the equalization has historically enjoyed. The 1999 quinquennial review of equalization will provide the opportunity to right these wrongs. Specifically, an over-arching equalization program that took account of interprovincial redistribution undertaken elsewhere in the federal budget holds out the promise of a more transparent system of interregional transfers. By confining its redistributional efforts to equalization, Ottawa would become more accountable to Canadians and increase the perception of fairness in Canada?s complex system of federal-provincial transfers. These benefits would surely reverse flagging support for equalization, reduce the game-playing that the current structure engenders, and make the entire federal-provincial interface more stable. Canadians would be clear winners as a result.