A Letter for the Prime Minister About Equalization in Policy Development

Assignment 3: “Dear Prime Minister...” Research Paper- Length: Approximately 3000 words (12-14 pages double spaced)
Recommended number of references: 20-25
The purpose of this assignment is for you to provide a more substantial critical analysis of a Federal social policy. This paper provides an opportunity to explore how social policy issues at a community level can be informed by provincial, national and international research or advocacy.
Papers should use the same headings and answer the questions in the guidelines listed below:
1. Introduction:
Begin your paper in the following way:
Dear Prime Minister:
I am writing to you about … (see examples below or choose your own)
… changes I believe need to be made to Canada’s criminal justice system;
… the type of National childcare program Canada needs to implement;
… the health services that Aboriginal people living on Reserve desperately need;
… the ineffectiveness of present policies and programs that respond to violence against women and the changes I believe are needed;
… the most important change that needs to be made to improve the effectiveness of Canada’s Medicare system;
… improving Canada’s immigration system for people who settle on the Prairies.
In this section, clearly identify and describe the policy issue that is the focus of the analysis and outline why it is important to better understand this issue today.
3. Historical perspectives:
Summarize the approaches that have been taken to this policy issue in Canadian history.
4. Policy proposal:
What policy change do you propose to be implemented? What is new or different from
previous approaches taken? What social values or ideology informs this change or
proposal?
5. Policy choices:
What other choices would a government have with respect to this issue? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these policy alternatives? (note: it may make sense to integrate this section with the next section, and develop the policy choices based on the points of view and positions of others who studied this issue.)
6. Policy Perspectives:
What Royal Commissions, Parliamentary committees, research institutes, and lobbyadvocacy groups have studied this issue? What are their points of view or positions? The perspectives of 3 distinct groups are sufficient).
7. Universal/Selective Policy:
Does the suggested policy reform propose a universal or selective social approach, and why was this route selected?
8. Benefit:
Who will benefit most and least from this policy? Why? What implications would this reform have for women, Aboriginal peoples, cultural minorities, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized populations in Canada? (You can also integrate these reflections throughout your analysis in your paper.). In what ways is this policy redistributive? How should this reform be evaluated from the principle of equality?
9. Federal-Provincial-First Nations Relations:
What are the respective roles, responsibilities and relationships of the Federal and Provincial governments with respect to this policy? How well would this reform be taken up by groups within Canada who seek more sovereign powers (e.g., Province of Quebec, First Nations).
10. Conclusion:
Summarize the strengths and identify the limitations of the policy you propose.
Summarize your argument why the Prime Minister should take your advice and implement this policy reform.
Your paper must be double-spaced and approximately 3000 words in length, not including title page and references. Please use APA format for references and bibliography.