Canadian Association of Social Workers Releases Major Paper on Law Enforcement
and Social Services in Canada
March 9, 2022 – Today, the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) releases a major paper on law enforcement and social services in this country titled Safety, Community, and Social Work: Possibilities for the Future. Drafted in response to the calls for racial justice that have been heard particularly loudly since the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and subsequent movements for racial justice across the globe, this paper speaks to the history of policing and social services in Canada, highlights some emerging models for community safety, and makes recommendations for the future.
“In spring 2020, dissatisfaction and anger toward law enforcement in Canada was reaching fever pitch -- and social work was often proposed as an alternative,” said CASW President, Joan Davis-Whelan. “Knowing that social work has its own problematic realities, and that there’s no easy solution to the ways society’s systems have been and continue to be participants in racism, colonialism, and classism, CASW wanted to respond responsibly: with a well-researched, evidence-based document that shows not only how we got here, but how we can create a better future. We’re happy to announce that document is now available.”
The first section of the document covers the history of policing in Canada, and how it dovetails with increasing austerity and the erosion of social services in this country – leaving police to fill inappropriate roles for their training and scope. It further speaks to the deeply racist and colonial histories – and ongoing realities – of many of Canada’s social systems, including policing and social work.
“We knew we couldn’t make recommendations for the future without an honest look back – a truth telling – because this comprehensive understanding is critical in not replicating the problems of the past,” said Davis-Whelan.
The next sections highlight some emerging models for community safety that have had early success in preventing violent encounters with police and meeting communities’ needs, and further speaks to the importance of robust social supports in eliminating preventable deaths in encounters with law enforcement. Finally, the paper makes recommendations for the future: some actionable now, and some for responsible implementation over the coming years.
“The recommendations may seem broad ranging for a paper that, at first glance, seems to be about policing. But the recommendations are as broad as the issues that brought us here: some are actions that can be taken right now, like immediately banning the practice of ‘carding.’ Others are longer term – like the proposal to study a basic income in Canada through a series of pilot projects, and the critical importance that reconciliation be embedded in everything we do” said Davis-Whelan. “There’s no panacea to solve racial injustice and ‘fix’ policing in Canada, and our recommendations reflect this complexity.”
For inquiries contact:
Fred Phelps, CASW Executive Director
fred.phelps@casw-acts.ca
613.729.6668