Holes in the safety net, leaks in the roof: Changes in Canadian welfare policy and their implications for social housing programs'

This article surveys recent reforms to Canadian social. policy at the natio nal level and welfare programs at the provincial level to determine how soc ial housing policy and programming are being affected. The survey considers Canada's Social Security Review consultation. process, which played out ov er 1994 and 1995. The article outlines various concerns raised over the Can ada Health and Social Transfer, a fundamental reform to intergovernmental f iscal and policy relations announced in the 1995 federal budget and elabora ted on in the 1996 budget. The transfer of administrative responsibility for federally funded social h ousing to provincial and territorial governments is discussed and recent de velopments in welfare programs across Canada are described, noting housing elements within these programs.