Provinces: Free Trade

Federal Cash Dept: Start with the health-care system. Mr. Harper and company have outlined plans for funding changes that will allow provinces to spend federal cash as they like, no strings attached. If provinces wish to go the privatization route, they ll be free to do so, according to Globe and Mail. Also in the works is a bold, market-driven reshaping of trade policy. It entails a pronounced move away from the all eggs in one U.S. basket approach to a courting of free trade everywhere. There s already been the dismantling of the age-old Wheat Board. And speaking of sacred cows, there s serious talk of bringing an end to the supply-management system that shields farmers from foreign imports on eggs and dairy products and if there s a theme, it s market efficiency. If there s a target, it s some of the country s long-standing sacred cows. The transformation, some of which will be outlined in Thursday s budget, will incense social democrats but find big favour on the right. Then there s Old Age Security, a planned overhaul aimed at making the system more sustainable over the long term. The reforms are reportedly going to move the age of eligibility from 65 to 67. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.