Another change is to "universal" programs. These are programs for everyone. In the 1950s and 1960s, people thought it was important to have universal programs. The family allowance was one of them. It does not exist any more. Medicare is another universal program. Everybody gets it, no matter what they earn. But today some people think we cannot afford this.

In 1995, the federal government made changes to the Canada Assistance Plan. These changes may mean much less money for social programs in the future.

No one knows what other changes will come. But some people fear that the social safety net will come apart. And many people find that it does not meet their needs now. Here is what one woman has to say about her life over the last few years.

They say you need education. They say you need training. So I go to school. I'm in training. I got the kids, the school, the homework. Meanwhile, I got nothing to show for it. I got nothing left over from one cheque to another. I can't buy anything. Forget treats. Then there's Christmas. You think you're getting along, and then comes Christmas. What am I supposed to do about Christmas? I mean, I'm trying. But some nights I feel like giving it all up. They say, keep at it, you'll get a job. I tell myself that. But it's hard to keep going when you got nothing to show for it. I mean, how long do I have to wait for things to get better? ¹⁶

There are still many things that could be done to improve the social safety net. We know this because some people are always in danger of falling through it.