U. of Toronto Press

Health care in Canada; a citizen's guide to policy and politics.

Fierlbeck (political science, Dalhousie U.) argues that healthcare reform can no longer be discussed simply as a binary choice between public and private options. She explains how the Canadian healthcare system works, looks at the politics behind the healthcare system, and assesses the main political and theoretical debates surrounding healthcare in Canada. The book outlines the basic framework of the healthcare system, with chapters on specific areas such as administration and governance, healthcare and the courts, public health, human resources, drugs and drug policy, and mental health. Alternative models are described from other countries, such as Britain, the US, France, Sweden, and Germany. The book includes an extensive glossary and list of many websites, blog/news sites, and online journals. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

High ideals and noble intentions; voluntary sector-government relations in Canada.

In this wide-ranging historical review and set of policy recommendations, Elson (the Institute for Nonprofit Studies, Mount Royal U.) chronicles the relationship between the Canadian government and the country's charities and non-profits, from the 17th century to the present. Findings from case studies are synthesized to propose a framework for understanding the influence of institutional structures on policy outcomes. Focusing on three core issues — the federal regulatory regime, policy and advocacy, and federal funding — the book looks at the consequences of historical developments on today's policies related to the regulatory limits placed on charities, and compares contemporary Canadian policies with England's. The author makes recommendations for improving voluntary sector-government relations in Canada, arguing that a more productive policy relationship would benefit all Canadians. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)