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Lecture 8 HIST 382
Summary & Outline
This lecture deals with the development of the Canadian
welfare state, a point of contrast with the United States that is often cited
as a distinguishing national feature. The welfare state in Canada, in fact, originated a bit later than
in the U.S.,
but it became more extensive and comprehensive. The greatest example of this
is health care in Canada.
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Introduction
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The title of the lecture is a quotation from Robertson
Davies intended to explain a Canadian idea Americans may find peculiar: the
idea that socialism and conservatism might be somehow compatible. This idea brings forward differences
between Canadian communitarianism and American
individualism.
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The Welfare State
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The origins of the welfare state in Canada are
several: progressive, political, economic, bureaucratic, and regional. The Second World War was crucial in its
implementation. Of all the elements
in the Canadian welfare state, health care is the most substantial and
distinctive.
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Multiculturalism
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Canada,
as a nation and a society, is both bi-national (two founding peoples) and
multicultural. Multiculturalism is a
core tenet of Canadian public values, officially declared since 1971.
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HIST 382
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