History of Canadian Social Welfare

by

John Graham

Introduction

For the purpose of this entry, social welfare history encompasses the evolution of social policies and the social welfare system, as well as the profession of social work and those institutions that are associated with either. Also for the purpose of this entry, social welfare and social policy are collapsed together in one category. Until the 1970s, the history of Canadian social welfare was not a great historical inquiry. A considerable increase in historical writings began between the 1970s and the 1980s, with an explosion of historical literature from the 1980s to the early 21st century, in which the number of topics and the variety of approaches increased considerably. Current sophistication in social welfare, social policy, and social work research includes the introduction of discourse analysis, the perspective of the socially excluded, and the critical rethinking of power relations. The selected references in this entry primarily discuss the evolution of the Canadian social welfare system and its impact on the socially excluded in general, and on women, aboriginal peoples, people with disabilities, children, and the elderly in particular. In addition to giving an overview of the evolution of scholarly writings on the topic, this entry provides a synopsis of the development and evolution of social policies and practices in times of political and economic transformations in Canada.

Introductory Works

Ismael 1987 and Rice and Prince 2000 present overviews of the politics behind social policy in Canada. Coates, et al. 2007; Hick 2005; Turner 2001; and Yelaja 1985 all provide the reader with an introduction to the characteristics of the profession of social work. Coates, et al. 2007 introduces the role played by religion and spirituality, while Hick 2005 presents the key concepts and fundamentals of the profession. Turner 2001 and Yelaja 1985 are more concerned with the principles and values of social work practice.

• Coates, John, John Russell Graham, Barbara Swartzentruber, and Brian Ouellette, eds. 2007. Spirituality and social work: Selected Canadian readings. Toronto: Canadian Scholars.

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  Explores the history, practice, and diversity of faith traditions with which spirituality and social work are intertwined. Chapters cover spirituality as a guiding construct in the development of Canadian social work, past and present considerations, the social gospel, and a Toronto charity’s transition from a religious to a professional social work ethos.

• Hick, Steven. 2005. Social work in Canada: An introduction, 2d ed. Toronto: Thompson Educational.

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  This Canadian text introduces key concepts of social work and offers the fundamentals to understanding the profession. It explores the background of social work and examines the profession’s practice with issues pertaining to political agendas among welfare state and income security, work with vulnerable and at-risk populations, and respect for diversity.

• Ismael, Jacqueline S., ed. 1987. Canadian social welfare policy: Federal and provincial dimensions. Kingston, ON: McGill-Queen’s Univ. Press.

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  Seven experts from a variety of disciplinary perspectives provide insight into particular reform efforts for specific social welfare policy areas and describe the subsequent impact of the jurisdictional framework in which policy is developed in Canada on these reform efforts.

• Rice, James J., and Michael J. Prince. 2000. Changing politics of Canadian social policy. Toronto: Univ. of Toronto Press.

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  The nature of social welfare provision is assessed in relation to three recent changes in Canadian social welfare. These include economic globalization, the changing needs of social protection, and the desire of diverse groups for community recognition.

• Turner, Francis J., ed. 2001. Social work practice: A Canadian perspective, 2d ed. Toronto: Pearson Education.

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  This second edition provides a detailed look into the principles and values of Canadian social work. The influence of societal structures, professional issues, and methods utilized within practice are examined. New and revised chapters from expert Canadian practitioners and scholars provide a way to establish the connection between theories used within social work and their delivery in practice.

• Yelaja, Shankar A. 1985. An introduction to social work practice in Canada. Toronto: Prentice Hall Canada.

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  This introductory text provides an overview of Canadian social work by examining the history of social work, the values behind the profession, methods of practice, and considerations for work with different populations.