The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree P.C., M.P.
Minister of Public Safety
House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Dear Minister Anandasangaree,
The 2025 Canada Strong Budget affirms a major commitment to the public safety workforce with substantial investments to expand the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and overall, Border Security.
In contrast, there was no corresponding commitment to invest in the mental health and wellness of the public safety workforce and their families. The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) calls attention to this critical omission that will place public safety personnel at risk if left unaddressed.
CASW urges the Government of Canada to strengthen its commitment to the psychological health and safety of the public safety workforce by reaffirming financial support for the national Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) framework, enhancing funding for the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT), and broadening the definition of Public Safety Personnel (PSP).
In this regard, despite providing the largest portion of mental health services and often working directly alongside first responders, Registered Social Workers (RSW) are currently excluded from the federal definition of PSP. The exclusion contradicts evidence demonstrating their critical role in public safety and their vulnerability to workplace-related trauma.
Further, a public safety system that excludes a predominantly female profession cannot be considered equitable. PSP such as RCMP and CAF are male dominated, while social work is predominately female. This omission, as outlined in CASW's 2025 Position Statement - Social Workers Excluded as Public Safety Personnel - limits access to essential operational stress injury (OSI) supports, including those linked to PTSD.
As the national voice for 20,500 social workers in Canada, CASW recommends the following urgent actions from the federal government:
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Reaffirm financial support for the national Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) framework
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Commit to extending and increasing the funding for the Canadian Institute for Public Safety Research and Treatment (CIPSRT)
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Formally include RSWs as PSP in federal policy and programs
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Apply Gender Based Analysis (GBA) Plus meaningfully by addressing gender inequities in PSP classifications
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Extend OSI related supports and benefits to RSWs, aligning with existing evidence on trauma exposure
With dedicated new funding to increasing the workforce for the delivery of public safety services, the Government of Canada has a corresponding responsibility to support the psychological safety of PSP. Increasing the number of people to serve and protect Canadians without also strengthening their supports demonstrates a lack of public commitment to their short- and long-term health and wellbeing.
CASW would welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your team to discuss this recommendation.
Sincerely,
Barb Whitenect, BA, MSW, RSW
President
Canadian Association of Social Workers