Chris Schafer

Chris Schafer is the Executive Director of the Canadian Constitution Foundation.  Prior to joining the CCF, Chris was an associate at Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP in Ottawa, where his practice areas included constitutional and regulatory law. Chris holds an Honours B.A. in Political Science (Wilfrid Laurier), a Masters in Political Science (University of Western Ontario) and an LL.B. (Osgoode Hall Law School). A published author, Chris has written several studies and numerous articles on public policy and legal issues for think tanks, journals, and newspapers.

Recent Research by Chris Schafer

Towards A Worldwide Index of Human Freedom
— Jan 8, 2013
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This project, sponsored by Canada’s Fraser Institute, Germany’s Liberales Institut, and the United States’ Cato Institute, focuses on creating the first comprehensive and conceptually consistent index of freedom, including economic freedom, and is based on the “negative” definition of freedom—in other words, the absence of barriers or coercion that prevent individuals from acting as they might wish.

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Welfare in Saskatchewan: A Critical Evaluation
— Jan 16, 2003
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The provision of welfare and related services is one of the most sensitive activities government undertakes. Welfare recipients often face difficult situations involving serious problems-job loss, disability, marital breakdown-and they need assistance to tide them over for a short period of time until they are self-sufficient again. In many instances, individuals and families return to independence after a short duration on welfare. To extend assistance beyond this point may seem easier and more compassionate in the short-term, but it is detrimental in the long run. Those providing welfare and related services must ensure that those in need of assistance get it in a timely and supportive manner while ensuring that the system does not become a permanent source of support.

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Welfare Reform in British Columbia: A Report Card
— Oct 21, 2002
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This study examines and evaluates the commitments made by the BC government to welfare reform. It draws comparisons with recent welfare reforms in the United States because the US reforms have proven overwhelmingly successful at reducing welfare caseloads, increasing the employment and earnings of previous welfare recipients, and reducing poverty rates. The eight evaluation areas were selected based on research assessing successful US welfare reform. The reforms encompass two broad areas: policy and program provision. The eight evaluation areas are: Ending the entitlement to welfare, Diversion, Immediate work requirements and sanctions, Employment-focused back-to-work programs, Making Work Pay, Administrative privatization, Program delivery privatization, and Non-profit sector reform.

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