The Social Union Framework Agreement: Issues in Canadian policy making

The Social Union Framework Agreement (SUFA) was signed by the federal and provincial governments (except Québec) in February 1999 creating a new framework for social policy making. In addition to setting the rules for how the federal and provincial governments should work, (it requires the consent of a majority of provinces to initiate a new program in an area of provincial jurisdiction like child care), the Agreement also lays out principles of equity and fairness in social programs; codifies rules for the federal spending power; and promises collaboration, accountability and transparency. (For details of the Agreement, see the Government of Canada's Social Union website.)

SUFA's last clause promises a review at the end of three years (to include the participation of "social policy experts".) As SUFA's initial three years came to an end on February 4, 2002, an examination of its effectiveness and impact on Canadian social policy -- especially as it relates to early childhood care and education policy -- is imperative.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Social Union Framework Agreement: Third Year Review (2002)
F/P/T Council on Social Policy Renewal is conducting a review as called for in the Social Union Framework Agreement. For the purpose of asking for and sharing input and feedback, the F/P/T Council has commissioned a web site and written to a number of groups and individuals known to be interested in the SUFA. The website provides information on making a submission, links to useful reports on SUFA and will post submissions.
F/P/T Council on Social Policy Renewal.

SUFA accountability: Three-year pilot project
Treasury Board Secretariat is using a pilot approach to ensure that the federal government is meeting its accountability commitments under the Social Union Framework Agreement (SUFA). Departmental, interdepartmental and inter-jurisdictional initiatives have been examined, including the Early Childhood Development Initiative.
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Link to Early Childhood Development Initiative.

The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC's response to the Social Union Framework Agreement (SUFA) review
Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC, 2002

Is this as good as it gets? Child care as a test case for assessing the Social Union Framework Agreement
Friendly, Martha
Canadian Review of Social Policy, Number 47 (Spring), 2001

Reclaiming our humanity
Torjman, Sherri
Caledon Institute of Social Policy, 2001

SUFA and citizen engagement: Fake or genuine masterpiece?
Phillips, Susan
Policy matters, Volume 2, Number 7 (December), 2001

Power and purpose in intergovernmental relations
Noël, Alain
Policy matters, Volume 2, Number 6 (November), 2001

The Canadian Social Union : Questions about the division of powers and fiscal federalism
Political and Social Affairs Division, Parliamentary Research Branch, Jan. 2001.

Canary in a coal mine: Child care and Canadian federalism
Friendly, Martha
Childcare Resource and Research Unit, 2000

PRINT RESOURCES

The following print materials are available in most academic libraries. They are also available at CRRU; contact the Unit for more information.

Reflections on the Social Union Framework Agreement and the Early Childhood Development Services Agreement: Are we moving in the right direction for young children
Rothman, Laurel
SOURCE: Canadian Review of Social Policy, Number 47 (Spring), 2001

The Social Union Framework Agreement: Disappointing and irrelevant
Richards, John
SOURCE: Canadian Review of Social Policy, Number 47 (Spring), 2001

The child care agenda and the Social Union
White, Linda
SOURCE: Bakvis, Herman & Skogstad, G. (Editors). Canadian federalism: Performance, effectiveness, and legitimacy, pp.105-123. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2001

The Canadian Social Union: An analysis of intergovernmental regimes at the sector and program level
Lazar, Harvey
Paper prepared for the Queen's International Institute on Social Policy, School of Policy Studies, Queen's University, 2001.

The federal imperative
Kent, Tom
SOURCE: Cleveland, G. & Krashinsky, M. (Editors). (2000). Our children's future: Child care policy in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp.69-73

Child care and the Social Union Framework Agreement: Lament or leverage?
MacLeod, Alfred
SOURCE: Cleveland, G. & Krashinsky, M. (Editors). (2000). Our children's future: Child care policy in Canada.
Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 74-82

The politics of child care in Canada: Provincial and federal governments
Rae, Bob
SOURCE: Cleveland, G. & Krashinsky, M. (Editors). (2000). Our children's future: Child care policy in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto.

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This list in not intended to be an exhaustive examination of this topic; for a more comprehensive list, search the Childcare Resource and Research Unit resource library catalogue Childcare Information Resource Collection (CIRC).