"From Rights to Needs" examines the history of family allowances in Canada from their debut in the House of Commons in 1929 to their demise under the Mulroney Government in 1992. Focusing on the historical-political question of how policies are made, Raymond Blake traces the discourse around family allowances through the machinations of political parties, the Ottawa bureaucracy, and federal-provincial relations.Situating family allowances within a wider discussion of Canadian federalism, citizenship, and social rights in Canada, Blake shows that even after administrators realized the allowance program was becoming ineffective, changes came slowly because politicians feared a heavy political toll. He also traces why and how the Mulroney Conservatives finally made changes to family allowances, making them more selective, and heralding a change from an emphasis on universality to one of selectivity in Canadian social policy."From Rights to Needs" is a nuanced and comprehensive exploration of the origins and development of family allowances. It will appeal to readers in the public policy community; students and scholars in political science, history, social work, and sociology; and general readers interested in the history and politics of Canadian welfare.