In Canada, disparate social policies-to do with health, family, income security, housing, and so forth-influence caregiving to elders. They are contradictory policies because of their different objectives, histories, and jurisdictions. The wider context of societal and socio-demographic changes highlight additional contradictions in the principles on which social policies regarding ciuegiving rest. Some of these contradictions are discussed in terms of policies, their consequences, whether intended or not, and what the future might hold for Canadian policies and programs wia implications for caregiving to elders.