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Creating the Canada/Quebec Pension Plans: An Historical and Political Analysis

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  • Kristina Babich
  • Daniel Béland

Abstract

Drawing on recent historical institutionalist scholarship, this paper explores the debates leading to the enactment of the Canada/Quebec Pension Plans (C/Q.P.P.) in 1965. More specifically, this analysis underlines the respective role of and the interaction between political institutions, business and labor power, and changing ideas about the role of public and private pensions in Canada. As argued, although the ideas that guided the enactment of C/Q.P.P. stressed the key role of private benefits, the enduring weight of Canadian-style federalism mitigated the impact of interest groups, especially business organizations, on the legislative process. Overall, the paper suggests that students of social policy should pay closer attention to the interaction between political institutions, interest group mobilization, and changing ideas about the relationship between public and private benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristina Babich & Daniel Béland, 2007. "Creating the Canada/Quebec Pension Plans: An Historical and Political Analysis," Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population Research Papers 223, McMaster University.
    • Handle: RePEc:mcm:sedapp:223
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    File URL: http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/sedap/p/sedap223.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bruno Théret, 1999. "Regionalism and Federalism: a Comparative Analysis of the Regulation of Economic Tensions between Regions by Canadian and American Federal Intergovernmental Transfer Programmes," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(3), pages 479-512, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    pensions; ideas; institutions; federalism; politics; social policy; business; labor; private benefits; Canada;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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