Canada's Performance 2006: The Government of Canada's Contribution

2. Social Affairs

Context

In a country as diverse socially, culturally, and geographically as Canada, the federal government must continue to encourage the active participation of its citizens in community life. The Government of Canada is committed to building a stronger, more cooperative federation in which all levels of government work together to promote core values, linguistic duality, ethnic diversity, art, culture, and active citizenship, while enhancing the health, safety, and standard of living of citizens. It is also committed to working collaboratively with Aboriginal leaders and their communities to improve the well-being of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

Collaboration between federal, provincial, and territorial governments is essential to provide Canadians with a publicly funded health system that can cope with the breadth of health issues.

The Government of Canada is dedicated to strengthening the justice system and reinforcing Canada's capacity to address the dangers posed by local crimes. To ensure the safety of Canadian communities, the Government of Canada also works in partnership with volunteers, academics, governments, and community organizations on ways to prevent crime by investing in approaches that help stakeholders address the root causes of crime and victimization, such as family violence, gang recruitment, or substance abuse. The Government of Canada establishes and enforces laws that keep Canadians safe, regulate Canadian society, and protect disadvantaged groups in Canadian communities. It is also the federal government's responsibility to work collaboratively with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in developing healthy, sustainable communities and in achieving their economic, social, and cultural aspirations.

A country that builds upon its foundation of linguistic duality and fosters creative expression across the diversity of its people also encourages dialogue, intercultural exchange, and, ultimately, a more inclusive society. At the same time, a society based on the values of inclusion and openness to diversity is better able to generate new ideas from a broader spectrum of experiences and views.

A wide array of social programs exists to strengthen Canada's social well-being and to enhance the quality of life of its citizens. Some of these initiatives are aimed at preserving the ethno-cultural traditions that enrich our society, improving the chances for Canadian children to have a good start in life, and helping seniors to enjoy a dignified life, while fully participating in their communities. Other initiatives help facilitate the successful integration of newcomers through access to settlement supports and by granting Canadian citizenship to eligible persons. The Government of Canada also provides direct support, tax assistance, and funding to citizens, as well as public and voluntary sector organizations.

This section tracks the Government of Canada's contribution to four outcome areas related to social affairs:

1.  healthy Canadians

2.  safe and secure communities;

3.  a diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion; and

4.  a vibrant Canadian culture and heritage.

Healthy Canadians

Performance context

To set its programs, expenditures, and performance in context, the Government of Canada is tracking key measures of long-term progress in the area of healthy Canadians. In the electronic version of the report, clicking on indicators in the Performance Highlights table below will lead you to detailed information about performance and trends.

The Government of Canada's contribution to healthy Canadians

Canada's universal health care system exists to safeguard and improve the health of all Canadians. Responsibility for public health and access to quality health care services is shared among federal, provincial, or territorial governments. All levels of government and other stakeholders are working together to renew and strengthen Canada's publicly funded health care system and to ensure Canadians receive adequate health care services in a timely manner. In Budget 2006, the Government of Canada announced important commitments to ensure that evidence-based benchmarks for medically acceptable wait times are established, starting in five priority areas: cancer care, cardiac care, diagnostic imaging procedures, joint replacements, and sight restoration. As stated in the Speech from the Throne, Canada's new government will work with the provinces and territories to make sure that all Canadians receive essential medical treatment within clinically acceptable waiting times.

While all levels of government play key roles in Canada's health care system, the federal government's responsibilities divide into five broad areas:

1) Supporting the health care system by setting and administering national principles or standards under the Canada Health Act and assisting in the financing of provincial and territorial health care services through fiscal transfers. Set at $19 billion in 2005–06, health cash transfers are legislated to increase by 6 per cent annually up to 2013–14. This increase means an additional $1.1 billion in 2006–07 and a further $1.2 billion in 2007–08 in support of provincial-territorial health systems. (Source: Department of Finance Canada)

2) Delivering direct health services to specific groups, including veterans, military personnel, inmates of federal penitentiaries, refugee claimants, serving members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), as well as First Nations populations living on reserves and the Inuit. The Government of Canada is committed to reducing the gap in health status between Aboriginal peoples and non-Aboriginal people by providing a range of ongoing programs to different segments of on-reserve First Nations and recognized Inuit populations. For example, primary health care services are provided through nursing stations and community health centres in remote and/or isolated communities to supplement and support the services that provincial, territorial, and regional health authorities provide. In addition, the Government of Canada provides supplementary health benefits to approximately 764,523 eligible First Nations and Inuit to cover pharmaceuticals, dental services, vision services, medical transportation, medical supplies and equipment, and crisis intervention mental health counselling.

3) Promoting multiple strategies to improve the health of the population. The federal government promotes physical activity, sport, and health at the national level; works to prevent and control the risks of disease and injuries; supports and funds research; and manages public health emergencies. To support such population health activities and to protect the health of Canadians, Budget 2006 provided Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada with $104 million over two years to develop and implement with various partners the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control.

4) Working with key partners to ensure that Canadians have accurate, timely health information on which to base decisions (e.g. evaluating and monitoring safety and therapeutic effectiveness of drugs and medical devices; monitoring food safety and taking risk management action as appropriate, including issuing food recalls and allergy alerts; monitoring air quality and its effect on human health; and posting smog alerts).

5) Representing Canada at international fora on global health initiatives and participating in multinational efforts to eradicate disease, improve health, and reduce risk associated with public health threats.

Links to detailed departmental information

Several departments, agencies, and Crown corporations that receive appropriations contribute to the outcome of healthy Canadians through their respective strategic outcomes and program activities. This document serves as a road map to facilitate navigation through the departmental and agency performance reports. Clicking on the links in the electronic version of the following table will lead you to planning, performance, and resource information that is contained in the organizations' departmental performance reports and reports on plans and priorities, as well as in the Annual Report to Parliament on Crown Corporations and Other Corporate Interests of Canada. The Strategic Outcomes database, which can be found at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/krc/cp-rc_e.asp, also leads to relevant audits and evaluations.