Publication of a new book by Diane Bellemare - Rethinking social compensation to create equitable prosperity

MONTREAL, Oct. 2, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - In this time of global economic turbulence, Canada has been able to avoid the worst thanks to an increase in public investment and to the development of its natural resources. There are nonetheless 1.4 million unemployed in the country, while certain regions and economic sectors are experiencing labour shortages.

In a new work published today by the Presses de l'Université du Québec (PUQ) entitled Créer et partager la prospérité, economist and Conservative senator Diane Bellemare stresses the need for federal and provincial public policies to target employment as a priority. She emphasizes that these public policies are not always well coordinated with each other, which undermines the creation of shared prosperity.

We should not be surprised that our income redistribution system has become inequitable and inefficient, says the author.

For example, employment insurance is now like a kind of equalization between the Western and Eastern parts of the country and serves as an income supplement for temporary and seasonal work. Furthermore, if long life learning and skills development are a necessity for professional mobility and growth, these could benefit from better public policies support.

Social compensation, prosperity and justice
The social compensation system, made up of a private compensation from employment and a public compensation consisting of income support programs and personal public services (such as health, education and training), has taken the form of the so-called "welfare" state in Canada.

Necessary for prosperity and social justice, this system needs to be adapted to the realities of the 21^st century to really help create equitable prosperity between the public and private sectors, and also between generations and regions. For this to happen, income support programs must be linked more closely with earned income and fit in with the pursuit of full employment, maintains Mrs. Bellemare.

In this fourth book, Diane Bellemare proposes an audacious social project for Canada within the framework of cooperative federalism. Aiming to help create and share prosperity, it rests on a historical and comparative analysis of public policies, on an analysis of current economic needs and on philosophical principles.

About the author
Diane Bellemare holds a PhD in economics from McGill University. She has been a full professor in the school of management at the University of Quebec at Montreal, President of the Société québécoise de développement de la main-d'œuvre and of the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail, Vice President of the Quebec Employers Council, and a consultant for public organizations and unions. She has also dabbled in provincial politics and is currently a Conservative senator.

SOURCE: Presses de l'Université du Québec

Ariane M. Gauthier
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