NEWS RELEASE

STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS,SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Backgrounder

Social Cohesion: Initiating Public Debate

Date : October 26, 1998

As we enter a new, post-deficit era, governments are under increasing pressure to start thinking more about the longer-term societal implications of economic policies. There are concerns that the drive toward greater economic performance could be undermined if the sacrifices and social costs demanded by globalization are seen to fall only on the poorest and weakest segments of society. This has led, in turn, to a preoccupation with issues related to social cohesion.

Social cohesion is an important idea that resonates with many Canadians, when they have a chance to think about what keeps our society together and working toward common goals. Governments have not had the opportunity to think through the full implications of this idea so the Senate is well-placed to expand the discourse and issue an influential report.

During its hearings, the Committee has an opportunity to involve the public in discussing the social consequences of recent economic and public policy trends. In addition, the Committee can:

¤ provoke a broad cross-section of witnesses in key Canadian institutions to talk about their role in sustaining social cohesion;

¤ comment on whether some institutions are particularly important to this debate and whether they need new direction or new resources;

¤ give some guidance to government agencies and others involved in the public debate about how to monitor progress in the coming years; and

¤ advise governments about steps they might take to consider the repercussions of their decisions for the highly interconnected social goals of economic growth, social cohesion and political freedom.

The Senate, as the Chamber of sober second thought, is ideally placed to initiate a public dialogue about future links between economic and social policies in Canada.

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology will generally hold public hearings twice a week until March 31, 1999, in the Victoria Building, 140 Wellington Street, Room 705, Ottawa. The public and the media are invited to attend. The Committee will present its report on June 30, 1999.

Contact: 

Sheena Pennie / Marie-Josée Bernier                  Nadine Huggins                       Hon. Senator Murray

Delta Media                                                       Committee Clerk                     The Senate

613-233-9191                                                   613-990-0088                        613-995-2407