Restructuring, Gender and Social Security Reform in Canada

Abstract

As a significant component of the institutional structure of the economy, social security reform has been at the policy forefront in Canada in recent years. This paper reviews the debate around reform and the programme changes that resulted, focussing on how these changes intersect with economic restructuring and their gender implications. Social security reform, like economic restructuring, has gendered impacts and reflects particular assumptions about gender relations. Changes to Employment Insurance and to the funding of welfare, social services and child benefits are discussed in this light, and comparisons are made with American reforms. The expected impacts by gender, work pattern, level of income and family situation are considered. The paper demonstrates the harmonizing down that has occurred and the penalties imposed on people in non-standard jobs and on welfare, who are disproportionately women.