History of Social Welfare in Canada: 1867 to Onward

The history of social welfare in Canada is a fascinating and complex story that reflects the constantly evolving social, economic, and political dynamics of the country. Canada achieved independence from Great Britain in 1867. Canada achieved self-governance in 1931, although it remained technically under British rule until that time.

Social welfare in Canada has its roots in the traditions of European settlers. It began with a focus on community and family-based support systems, which later developed into more organized and institutional forms. In the early 20th century, there was a noticeable change in Canada as industrialization and urbanization took hold.

This led to the recognition that government intervention was necessary to tackle issues such as poverty, unemployment, and social inequality. The Great Depression of the 1930s accelerated this transformation, resulting in the creation of a more organized welfare state.

Significant policies such as unemployment insurance, family allowances, and public healthcare were established during the post-World War II era, laying the groundwork for Canada’s contemporary social welfare system. Throughout the years, policies of social welfare in Canada have gone through significant changes, reflecting the changing values of society and the continuing debate surrounding the government’s responsibility in safeguarding the welfare of its people.

Today, Canada’s social welfare system is known for its combination of universal programs and targeted assistance, which aim to create a safety net for all Canadians while also addressing the unique needs of those who are vulnerable.

1867: Canada became a confederation, and social welfare largely remained a local and provincial responsibility, with churches and charities playing a significant role in providing aid.

1897: Herbert Ames’ study of the poor in Montreal was published.

1914: Canada’s first school of social services at the University of Toronto; emphasis of the first curriculum on social economics, social psychology and social ethics theories; Canada’s first women’s right to vote legislation in Manitoba.

1914-1918: World War I leads to increased demands for veteran support and widows’ pensions, highlighting the need for government involvement in social welfare.

1918: The Canadian Patriotic Fund, a private initiative, provides support to soldiers’ families during World War I, marking a shift toward more organized social support.

1927: Canada introduced social security, a subsidized old-age pension program for over 70-year-old citizens, based on a strict and often humiliating means test—the Old Age Pensions Act.

1928: The International Permanent Secretariat of Social Workers was founded; Canada is a charter member, spearheaded by Dr. Rene Sand, a Belgian advocate of social medicine, the predecessor to the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).

1929: Famous Five women from Alberta (Murphy, McClung, Parlby, Edwards, McWhinney) win approval from the Privy Council in England that women are included as “persons,” making them eligible for appointment to Canada’s Senate.

1930s: The Great Depression significantly impacts Canada, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty, prompting increased demands for government intervention to enhance social welfare in Canada.

1935: The federal government introduced the Employment and Social Insurance Act, although it has not been fully implemented due to constitutional challenges.

1940: The Unemployment Insurance Act was passed, creating Canada’s first national unemployment insurance program.

1944: The Family Allowances Act introduces monthly payments to families with children, becoming Canada’s first universal welfare program.

1950: Canada has eight graduate schools of social work offering two-year professional programs: Maritime School, Laval, University of Montreal, McGill, St. Patrick” s, Toronto, Manitoba, and UBC.

1951: The Old Age Security Act replaces the 1927 Old Age Pensions Act, providing a universal pension for Canadians over 70.

1957: The Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act is passed, laying the groundwork for a publicly funded healthcare system.

1966: The Canada Assistance Plan was introduced, a cost-sharing conditional grant from the federal government on an open-ended basis, which included 50% of provincial expenditures for welfare and social services of all kinds. Moreover, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is established, offering income security for retired, disabled, and surviving family members of deceased contributors.

1971: The Unemployment Insurance Act is revised to expand coverage and benefits.

1972: The Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work (CASSW) became Canada’s accrediting body for social work education.

1975: CASW was reorganized into a federated structure of 11 organizational members: 10 provincial and one territorial association.

1976: The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is introduced to provide additional income to low-income seniors.

1977: CASW develops a comprehensive code of ethics based on Canadian Bar Association guidelines; revised in 1983; accepted as a national standard in 1984; updated in 1994.

1982: The global definition of social work was unanimously approved by the 44 nations that make up the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW). It recognizes social work as both a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that aims to bring about social change, foster social cohesion, and empower individuals.

The final draft of the definition was prepared and presented by representatives from Canada and Spain, who were given the special honor of presenting it to the federation’s General Meeting for approval.

1984: The Canada Health Act is passed, reinforcing the principles of universal healthcare coverage and banning extra billing and user fees.

1990: Economic challenges lead to cuts in social welfare spending and restructuring of programs.

1996: The Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) replaces CAP, consolidating funding for healthcare, post-secondary education, and social services.

2004: The Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) is introduced, providing direct payments to families for each child under six.

2006: The Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) is introduced, offering tax credits to low-income working Canadians to encourage workforce participation.

2016: The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) replaces the UCCB, providing a more generous and income-tested child benefit to families.

2019: The Guaranteed Income Supplement is enhanced to provide greater support to low-income seniors.

2020: The COVID-19 pandemic prompts the introduction of emergency support measures, including the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), to support individuals affected by the pandemic’s economic impact.

2021: The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is enhanced, providing additional financial support to low-income workers.

The year saw a positive turnaround from the challenging times of COVID-19, with employment bouncing back by 4.8% after a notable decline in 2020. In 2021, there was a 7.5% decrease in the unemployment rate, suggesting a positive trend towards reaching employment levels similar to those before the pandemic.

Canada has set a goal to significantly decrease its poverty rate by 2030, in comparison to the levels observed in 2015. In 2020, there was a significant decrease in the poverty rate, primarily attributed to the provision of federal emergency benefits during the pandemic.

2022: The rising inflation rate began to affect social welfare in Canada especially income. Many households experienced income increases, but these were often below inflation rates, leading to a decrease in real income for some groups.

2023: In 2023, eight provinces made the decision to raise social assistance benefits in order to address the impact of inflation. For instance, British Columbia has increased its Shelter Allowance and implemented extra supplements for families.

Challenges for Vulnerable Groups

Despite some improvements in benefits, certain groups, such as unattached singles and individuals with disabilities, faced significant challenges. In certain provinces, the removal of temporary supports led to actual decreases in income for these households.

Psychiatric social workers have played a significant role in Canada’s history of service delivery in the field of population health. In 1714, Quebec took a significant step forward by establishing wards dedicated to the care of the mentally ill, marking the beginning of recorded treatment practices.

During the 1830s, there was a strong presence of social services provided by charity organizations and church parishes, known as the Social Gospel Movement. In 1835, asylums for the insane were established in Saint John and New Brunswick. In 1841, in Toronto, there was a shift towards institutionally based care for the mentally ill.

In 1887, asylums were transformed into hospitals, with the addition of nurses and attendants to provide care for the mentally ill. The University of Toronto initiated social work training in 1914. In 1918, Dr. Clarence Hincks and Clifford Beers established the Canadian National Committee for Mental Hygiene, which eventually evolved into the Canadian Mental Health Association.

In the 1930s, Hincks advocated for the importance of early intervention in preventing and treating mental illness before it could severely impact individuals.

World War II had a significant impact on how people viewed mental health. 1951 marked the introduction of Mental Health Week across Canada. During the first half of the twentieth century, there was a shift towards community-based care in the field of psychiatric social work, which continued with the deinstitutionalization movement starting in the late 1960s.

Psychiatric social work goes beyond the traditional medical approach of individual diagnosis and instead focuses on identifying and addressing social inequities and structural issues. In the 1980s, there were amendments made to the Mental Health Act that granted individuals the right to select alternative treatment options. Later, there was a shift in focus towards addressing mental health issues and identifying the underlying environmental factors affecting the workforce.

Conclusion

System of social welfare in Canada has developed over time, transitioning from a reliance on community and family support to a comprehensive network of government programs. The system experienced significant growth as a result of industrialization, urbanization, and the Great Depression, which was due to the efforts of local and religious organizations.

Post-World War II was a significant turning point as it saw the introduction of important programs such as unemployment insurance, family allowances, and public healthcare. Throughout the years, system of social welfare in Canada system continued to thrive through various challenges and reforms, ensuring its citizens have a reliable safety net.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen some encouraging progress, like more people finding jobs and specific benefits being adjusted to better meet people’s needs. However, the ongoing economic challenges are still impacting those who are most vulnerable, requiring policies that provide sufficient support to these individuals.