"Affordable safety" might not have changed the CAR, but the support mechanisms in the context of what ATC provides now compared to past times certainly have.
Correct! He who shall not be named ripped half the guts out of the system without replacing it to maintain safety levels. Classic example, removal of Flight Service Units with no mandating of Unicoms to ensure radio operation. Beep Backs had to be dreamed up.
Removal of "government-provided" Operational Control was not replaced with mandatory company operational control. In addition, AsA do not fulfill their ICAO obligations when it only provides hazard info within 1 hour of arrival.