January 13, 1997
(Social Services)

Meetings of ministers responsible for Social Services

Provincial/Territorial ministers responsible for Social Services met in Toronto this morning. The meeting was chaired by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Social Services for Newfoundland and Labrador, as lead minister for Provincial/Territorial Social Services Ministers. In the afternoon, Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada, joined his colleagues for a Federal/Provincial/Territorial meeting.

Provincial/Territorial discussions focused on two of the priorities set by premiers at the August 1996 Annual Premiers' Conference, namely an integrated child benefit and work on integrating income support benefits for persons with disabilities.

Today's discussions assessed the work by federal/provincial/territorial working groups in these two priority areas. Provincial/Territorial Ministers reviewed information on possible options and issues for consideration, in order for provincial/territorial governments to proceed to the next stage of identifying preferred directions in discussions with the federal government.

Provincial/Territorial Ministers agreed on the following objectives for a national child benefit:

• to help prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty;
• to promote attachment to the workforce - resulting in fewer families having to rely on social assistance - by ensuring that families will always be better off as a result of finding work; and
• to reduce overlap and duplication through closer harmonization of program objectives and benefits and through simplified administration.

Provincial/territorial ministers also agreed that:

• a National Child Benefit should not negatively impact families with children currently receiving social assistance as we work to remove disincentives to work for lower income families; and
• an effective National Child Benefit will require a significant, incremental and permanent federal investment, as well as appropriate and complementary provincial investments benefiting children in low income families.

Minister Aylward said: "All provinces and territories recognize the urgent need to move forward with our federal partners in addressing child poverty. The National Child Benefit will be an important step." The minister also noted that provinces and territories recognize that federal/provincial/territorial collaboration can be the basis for joint initiatives aimed at immediate and practical solutions for integrating income support for persons with disabilities, while longer term options are being explored. The minister stressed that she is encouraged by the fact that provinces and territories are willing to work with the federal government to take these important first steps.

The Minister of Quebec participated in the meeting in order to remind those present of her government's position, which is that it considers that social policies are within its exclusive jurisdiction and that, consequently, it intends to exercise full control over this sector in the province by claiming the transfer of tax points or an unconditional financial transfer corresponding to the expenses of the federal government in this regard in Quebec.

Provincial/Territorial Social Services Ministers invited the federal government to work with them in a spirit of trust, openness and mutual respect to create an environment that promotes partnership between both orders of government in addressing these priorities. Ministers worked with Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada, in the afternoon and furthered these discussions on a partnership basis.

Minister Pettigrew said that the meeting was a very positive step in the ongoing process to improve the situation for children in low income families and person with disabilities in Canada, a process that began at the meeting of First Ministers last June. Minister Pettigrew expressed confidence that both federal and provincial/territorial ministers are committed to working jointly towards a national child benefit. "In order to help poor children and to help parents get and keep jobs," he said. "We need to strengthen federal and provincial programs to assist low income families. We may not be able to do everything we'd like at first, but together we must take the necessary steps. Investing in children will pay dividends to all society."

Minister Pettigrew also announced an extension of federal funding for the Vocational Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Program (VRDP) for another year to allow the provinces and the federal government to redesign this long established cost-shared program to more effectively help persons with disabilities to enter the labour force.

Provincial/Territorial Social Services Ministers will now report on their progress and seek direction from premiers. Information will also be sent to the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Council on Social Policy Renewal for coordination with other social policy sectors, for example health and labour market.