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As Americans herald a new political era of hope and social inclusion, Canada's government has stripped the words "social development" from the title of one of its largest cabinet posts.
Diane Finley became the new minister last week of Human Resources and Skills Development -- formerly known as Human Resources and Social Development.
Conservatives say the quiet name change signals renewed focus on skills training and a faltering economy.
"It was intentional, obviously," said Kory Teneycke, spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"I think the best thing that one can do to help improve the life of someone who is unemployed is to help them get another job."
Anti-poverty advocates say the subtle shift is a powerful sign of the latest Tory regression on social issues. This is the same government, they stress, that gutted the $5.1-billion Kelowna Accord to lift aboriginal living standards and scrapped provincial agreements for a national child-care plan.
Ottawa does provide billions of dollars a year to the provinces to help fund health, education and a range of social programs.
"But their focus has not ever been on social development," said Armine Yalnizyan, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. "I think they're going to be in a bit of a squeeze this time because you've got six provinces that have woken up and smelled the coffee."
Quebec, Newfoundland, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and New Brunswick have all put in place or announced plans for poverty-cutting strategies, Yalnizyan said.
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- reprinted from the Canadian Press