How to research…How to research…

Canadian social Canadian social policiespolicies

& legislation& legislation

SSW Social Policy 2SSW Social Policy 2September 17 & 18, 2008 – d’Alessio & NicholsSeptember 17 & 18, 2008 – d’Alessio & Nichols

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Help is available…Help is available…

Staff Staff in the Libraryin the Library Tutoring Tutoring - student teachers - student teachers Self study Self study - LRC online Guides - LRC online Guides EmailEmail TelephoneTelephone Chat – “AskON”Chat – “AskON”

How do policies become law? How do policies become law?

A number of people see a problem or A number of people see a problem or needneed

They spread the word, they lobbyThey spread the word, they lobby Government gets involved (if not an Government gets involved (if not an

initiator)…formulates policies to initiator)…formulates policies to solve the problemsolve the problem

Legislatures direct drafting of Legislatures direct drafting of legislation – then present for a votelegislation – then present for a vote

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Two examples of social policies Two examples of social policies that became law…that became law…

1. Social 1. Social unacceptability unacceptability of hate of hate propagandapropaganda

2. Need for day 2. Need for day care centrescare centres

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Ontario Day Nurseries ActLast amendment: 2006, c. 35, Sched. C, s. 25.

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Example1: Example1: Policy Policy is made intois made into Law Law

PolicyPolicy

On On hate hate statements statements

(a Federal (a Federal responsibility responsibility primarily )primarily )

►► Legislation Legislation (Laws)(Laws)

Canadian Human Canadian Human Rights Act (1985)Rights Act (1985)

Criminal CodeCriminal Code

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Example2: Example2: Policy is made into LawPolicy is made into Law

PolicyPolicy To provide appropriate To provide appropriate

Day Care Nurseries in Day Care Nurseries in the province of the province of OntarioOntario

A provincial policy A provincial policy primarilyprimarily

►►Legislation Legislation (main)(main)

Day Nurseries Act Day Nurseries Act (1990)(1990)

Early Childhood Early Childhood Educators Act (2007)Educators Act (2007)

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Policies in CanadaPolicies in Canada

Powers are divided Powers are divided between the Federal & between the Federal & Provincial Provincial governments governments (Constitution Act, 1867)(Constitution Act, 1867)

Provinces have Provinces have taxation powers over taxation powers over municipalities municipalities (Constitution Act, 1867)(Constitution Act, 1867)

FEDERALFEDERAL policiespolicies

PROVINCIALPROVINCIAL policiespolicies

• MUNICIPAL MUNICIPAL policiespolicies

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ManyMany policy areas are shared… policy areas are shared…

ExamplesExamples ImmigrationImmigration Natural resourcesNatural resources HealthHealth Agriculture Agriculture

Provincial

Municipal

Federal

http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/idb/forsey/index-e.asp idb/forsey/index-e.asp

How Canadians How Canadians Govern Govern ThemselvesThemselves, , 66thth ed., by ed., by Eugene ForseyEugene Forsey

(free on the (free on the Internet)Internet)

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Eugene Forsey. How Canadians Govern Themselves website…

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Social policies Social policies – – often Provincial…often Provincial…

LabourLabour (maximum hours, (maximum hours, minimum wages, safety, minimum wages, safety, workers’ compensation, workers’ compensation, industrial relations)industrial relations)

HoweverHowever, Federal , Federal government takes care of government takes care of certain industries such as certain industries such as banking, telephones, works banking, telephones, works declared by Parliament to declared by Parliament to be for the general be for the general advantage of Canada, etc._advantage of Canada, etc._

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Some Provincial Policy areas…Some Provincial Policy areas… Health Health service delivery service delivery

is primarily provincial & is primarily provincial & territorial territorial – except for groups that fall except for groups that fall

under federal jurisdiction,under federal jurisdiction,such as aboriginalsuch as aboriginalpeoples, the Canadianpeoples, the Canadianforces & veterans.forces & veterans.

– Also the Federal Also the Federal Government shares in Government shares in policy when it offers tax policy when it offers tax revenues to provinces for revenues to provinces for hospitals & medical care hospitals & medical care “with strings” (conditions “with strings” (conditions that certain Federal that certain Federal policies are implemented.)policies are implemented.)

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Some Provincial Policy areas…Some Provincial Policy areas… EducationEducation is is

primarily the primarily the responsibility of responsibility of provincial legislaturesprovincial legislatures

However,However, the Federal the Federal Government shares in Government shares in policy when it offers policy when it offers tax revenues to tax revenues to provinces for provinces for educational purposes educational purposes – especially at the – especially at the post-secondary level. post-secondary level.

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Some Federal Policy areasSome Federal Policy areas

DefenceDefence

Criminal law & Criminal law & procedure in procedure in criminal casescriminal cases

Money & bankingMoney & banking

Information when a Policy Information when a Policy becomes Law…becomes Law…

Government publishes the law in a Government publishes the law in a variety of documents – paper and variety of documents – paper and onlineonline

News reporters and journalists report News reporters and journalists report and discuss in the media – when law and discuss in the media – when law is passed – and when issues arise is passed – and when issues arise later onlater on

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Canadian Social Policy & Legislation

Research tools Newspapers (paper & e-resources)

E-resources (journal articles, newspaper articles, statistics)

Books Internet (government laws, website Info &

discussion, statistics)

What newspapers offer…What newspapers offer… Current info on policy Current info on policy

issues & legislation – issues & legislation – news!news!

Hot topics - including Hot topics - including problems in societyproblems in society

Debates, different Debates, different viewpoints & opinionsviewpoints & opinions

Analysis & background infoAnalysis & background info

Tips on research studies, Tips on research studies, government policies & government policies & other publicationsother publications

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What LRC e-resources offer…What LRC e-resources offer…

Newspaper Newspaper articles – articles – currentcurrent and back filesand back files

JournalJournal articlesarticles Encyclopedia Encyclopedia

essaysessays StatisticsStatistics

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E-resourcesE-resources

LRC subscribes LRC subscribes to about to about 80 80 e-resourcese-resources

e-resources in the Library that contain newspaper

articles…

Lexis NexisLexis Nexis Thomson GaleThomson Gale EBSCOEBSCO ProquestProquest FP InfomartFP Infomart

►►See handout for more details

2020

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What the Library What the Library bookbook collection collection offers…offers…

Historical / background informationHistorical / background information Description of issues in broad Description of issues in broad

contextcontext Opinions, discussion, researchOpinions, discussion, research Brief summaries – e.g. encyclopedia Brief summaries – e.g. encyclopedia

articlesarticles

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What the Internet offers…What the Internet offers…

Laws Laws (full text - (full text - government websites)government websites)

StatisticsStatistics Opinion Opinion (political (political

party websites, “think party websites, “think tank” websites, tank” websites, newspaper websites, newspaper websites, etc.)etc.)

ResearchResearch

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Internet vs E-resourcesInternet vs E-resources

InternetInternet More More general general

content content Quality varies Quality varies

widelywidely

E-resourcesE-resources More More academic academic

contentcontent More consistent More consistent

reliable qualityreliable quality2323

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Evaluating web sites on the Evaluating web sites on the Internet …Internet …

Be particularly critical when viewing Be particularly critical when viewing websites, as the quality varies widelywebsites, as the quality varies widely

Who is the author? Who is the author? Who sponsors the author?Who sponsors the author? How recent?How recent? Is it reliable, accurate? Is it reliable, accurate?

Sample search – Hate statements

Policy areaPolicy area that that is primarily a is primarily a Federal Federal responsibilityresponsibility

Legislation (Laws) Legislation (Laws) were passedwere passed

Canadian Human Canadian Human Rights Act (1985)Rights Act (1985)

Criminal CodeCriminal Code

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Canadian Encyclopedia…

Results forsearch on Hate propaganda…

A recommended site as one starting point

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Department of Justice Canada website – for federal laws…

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Sample search – day careSample search – day care

A Policy area A Policy area

Primarily the Primarily the responsibility of responsibility of the provincial the provincial governmentsgovernments

►►Legislation (laws) Legislation (laws) were passed in were passed in

OntarioOntario Day Nurseries Act Day Nurseries Act

(1990)(1990)

Early Childhood Early Childhood Educators Act (2007)Educators Act (2007)

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E-Laws government site for Ontario laws…

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E-resources – searching for day E-resources – searching for day care issuecare issue

LRC subscribes to LRC subscribes to about about 8080

e-resourcese-resources

many containing many containing journal & journal & newspaper articlesnewspaper articles

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Go to E-Resources by Type (for newspapers)

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Search LexisNexis (newspaper database)…

day care ontario

Limit to:•Major U.S. & World publications•All available dates

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View All results - then select Newspapers under “Sources by Category”

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View newspapers only (999 records in this search)

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View all – or select a specific newspaper – e.g. Globe and Mail

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Tag records you want to keep and click “View Tagged”

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Select your records and print, email, save, or export

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Go to E-Resources by Subject – Social Sciences for journal articles…

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In Canadian Reference Centre (EBSCO),search for day care AND ontarioLimit to full text.

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ANDAND(Boolean operator that (Boolean operator that combinescombines))

Your 2nd TermYour 1st Term

AND

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In Canadian Reference Centre …day care AND ontario311 records found…

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Get more with search strings…e.g. day care OR daycare OR day nurseries

AND ontario

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OROR(Boolean operator the (Boolean operator the collectscollects))

Your 1st term O R

Your 2nd term

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OROR(Boolean operator the (Boolean operator the collectscollects))

Your 1st term O R

Your 2nd term

Day care OR daycare OR day nurseriesAND ontario479 records found…

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Get more focus by …limiting day care string to title field only

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Limit day care string to title field (more focus)…143 records found

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Database Search ToolsDatabase Search Tools: : LimitsLimits

1.1. Limit to full text articles onlyLimit to full text articles only2.2. Limit search terms to a specific field (Limit search terms to a specific field (e.g. subject, e.g. subject,

title, abstract, author, reviews, etc.)title, abstract, author, reviews, etc.)3.3. Ask the computer to combine many terms (e.g. Ask the computer to combine many terms (e.g.

carrier AND sweater AND criticism AND hockey)carrier AND sweater AND criticism AND hockey)4.4. Limit to scholarly articles onlyLimit to scholarly articles only5.5. Limit by publication date or typeLimit by publication date or type6.6. Limit to articles of a certain number of pagesLimit to articles of a certain number of pages7.7. Lock a phrase to avoid casual results; Lock a phrase to avoid casual results; e.g.. e.g..

“peter jones” or “inconvenient truth”“peter jones” or “inconvenient truth”

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Database Search ToolsDatabase Search Tools: : ExpandersExpanders

1.1. Search all fieldsSearch all fields

2.2. Ask the computer to search a variety of Ask the computer to search a variety of similar terms by using the OR operator to similar terms by using the OR operator to create a ‘search string’create a ‘search string’

3.3. Use truncation to get all variations of a Use truncation to get all variations of a word (e.g. word (e.g. canad*canad* will get you all words will get you all words that start with this stem)that start with this stem)

4.4. Check the thesaurus (aka Subject Terms, Check the thesaurus (aka Subject Terms, Topics) for keywords recommendedTopics) for keywords recommended

5.5. EtcEtc

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THESAURUSTHESAURUS

A “thesaurus” or “subject terms A “thesaurus” or “subject terms list” or “topics” tab – gives you list” or “topics” tab – gives you ideas for more keywordsideas for more keywords

Use to increase your chances of Use to increase your chances of success, or if you are having success, or if you are having troubletrouble

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ConceptConcept: “policy”: “policy”

Use KeywordsUse Keywords & phrases to & phrases to express the conceptexpress the concept::

Synonyms & closely related wordsSynonyms & closely related words::– Policy, policies, public policy, social Policy, policies, public policy, social

policy, political policy, issue, issues, policy, political policy, issue, issues, debate, debates, program, programs, debate, debates, program, programs, government, etc.government, etc.

Distantly related words:Distantly related words: – Legislation, regulation, law, laws, etc.Legislation, regulation, law, laws, etc.

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Social Policy at municipal Social Policy at municipal level of governmentlevel of government

Topic: Littering in the City of Topic: Littering in the City of TorontoToronto

Where do I find the legislation?Where do I find the legislation?

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Toronto Municipal Code - on Toronto government website

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StatisticsStatistics

ESTATESTAT: a Statistics Canada e-: a Statistics Canada e-resource on subscription in the LRCresource on subscription in the LRC

Statistics Canada website (Internet)Statistics Canada website (Internet)

Many otherMany other sources… sources…

Ask the staff for helpAsk the staff for help

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