Social Policy of the Liberal Government and Canadian Federalism

This article is devotedto the relationship between federal government and the provinces in the social sphere. There are the great differences among provincialsystems in Canada. The main question is the balance between national standards and provincial diversity. What is the future of the provincialdiversity? Shall it be expected to continue or Ottawa can use its fiscal pressure to attach national standards. From our point of view, a varietyof systems of provincial aid is a process inevitable because of the policies pursued by the liberal government - the gradual reduction of expensesfrom Ottawa to provincial social programs and attempt to strengthen the provision of national standards. Sure, the main task of theliberals can not be unapproved: there are no backward provinces and "backwoods" living separately from the plans of the rest of Canada onthe territory of Canada. But the strict unilateral action of Ottawa, in any case can not be approved. It is important to find the optimal model ofsocial policy which would respect the interests of the provincial and maintain the national standards. The presence of such diversity of socialsystems suggest about the difficulties of creating such systems, that would respond to the interest of both levels: federal and provincial. Andthe resolving of this problem is not observed in the nearest future. There are fears that the adoption of one system for all would only worsenthe problem. Perhaps, therefore, the selection has still made in favor of provincial diversity.

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