Canadian Welfair Systems

This may not be the appropriate area to post my questions, but i was wondering if anyone could tell me about how Canada takes care of the elderly, and the handicapped. To be specific, i need to know if Canada has like Universal health care, and what they call in the States 'welfair'. If anyone could help me with this, i would greatly appreciate it. This is for academic purposes, you know, research.

Yes, we have universal healthcare.

Yes, we have something called welfare. However, in Ontario and other provinces there is "workfare" where welfare recipients only receive support if they are doing something constructive like volunteering.

We take care of our disabled. Short-term and Long-term.

"workfare" I never heard that before. On the island the last wednesday of each month, when the cheques are issued.....it is known as madi grai wednesday

Or welfare Wednesday.

We do have programs to assist the elderly and disabled, none of them are living the high life if you will, but they are not starving either. We used to own a business that catered to the elderly and disabled so I am very much aware of the programs offered, tax incentives, etc. that are offered to them, and it is not alot.

I think your question is a bit confused.

Universal Health Care is one thing. Here in Canada, it is called "Medicare", and it means that most medical procedures are covered for everyone who is a resident of Canada ( I think you have to live here 3 months or so for it to kick in); some things are not covered (circumcisions, for example), depending on where you live (each Province sets its own standards). Dentil, eyecare, and prescription drugs are NOT part of the system.

On the welfare side, each Province has its own welfare system which is set up to ensure that people can have enough means to live in a "basic" manner (although you could spend the rest of your life defining this and arguing over it); for those on welfare, generally speaking prescription medications and dentil coverage are also included.

For the elderly, there are several systems. There is the CPP which is essentially a pension plan that all people who are employed contribute to, once you hit 65 you receive a basic monthly pension, depending on your work history (your contributions over the years). Also, there is an old age supplement, for the elderly who don't have much income. Again,there are also systems for the elderly to cover prescription drugs, but these are dependent on income.

Essentially, the welfare and old age systems are there to ensure that, at the worst case, people in Canada have enough to live on.