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The Period of Reform

This was a very active period of social welfare legislation and reform. Here is a concise list of some of the major events during the period, and the important social services and income security programs legislated.

Special Committee of the House of Commons discussing the Unemployment Insurance Act, Aug. 1940, National Archives Neg. no. PA93704.

revision of Old Age Pension Act, 1951,
Constitutional Amendment for pensions
Old Age Assistance Act, 1951
Federal Day Care, 1942
Family Allowance Act, 1944, 1973
National Housing Act, 1944, 1964, 1973
Public Housing, Toronto, 1948
Saskatchewan Hospitalization Plan, 1947
Hospital Insurance Diagnostic Services Act, 1957
Old Age Security Act, 1951
Old Age Assistance Act, 1951
Minority government and economic growth, 1963-1968
growth of the Public Sector and Public Sector Unionization
Labour Conflict, Labour Unity, 1956
Unemployment Assistance Act, 1956
founding of the NDP, 1961
resurgence of the Women's Movement in the 1960s
Canada Pension Plan, 1965
Canada Assistance Plan Act, 1966 consolidates Welfare for disabled, single parents, employable recipients into one program but there was no occupational pension this was the Canada and Quebec pension plan act, 1965 But workers would not benefit for many years so a supplement was devised to bridge the gap. This was the Guaranteed Income Supplement, 1966, which has had a lot to do with raising the elderly out of poverty.
Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act, 1957
Medicare, Sask., 1962
Royal Commission on health services, 1963
national Medicare, 1968
Conditions for Aboriginal people had little changed as a 1960's report showed
the government proposed the Hawthorn Report, 1966
1969 White Paper on Indian self-government proposed to hand things over to Native people. Native people saw it as abandoning its responsibilities under treaties signed in the 18th and 19th centuries restrictions on immigration of Jews to Canada during second world war are finally lifted in 1947 and an Immigration point system,
1967 Divorce Act,
1968 Abortion, Contraception,
amendments to Criminal Code,
1969 Unemployment Insurance Act,
1971 new is the introduction of Maternity Benefits, UI
1971 Second minority government,
1972 amendment to Family Allowances,
1973 amendment to the National Housing Act, Beverage Report, Report on British Social Security, 1943 Sir William Beverage wrote a comprehensive report on post-war social security for Britain. It in includes comprehensive health insurance, and income security. He says his plan will provide insurance for the maintenance of income and health.





© 1998, Steve Hick.