Ottawa, ON, April 1, 2026 – The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is pleased to announce that the Association québécoise des travailleuses sociales et des travailleurs sociaux (AQTS) has signed an affiliation agreement to join its national federation.
“Without organizational representation in Quebec, the CASW federation simply did not feel whole,” said CASW President, Barbara Whitenect. “We were missing a valued partner, with distinct perspectives, within in the fabric of our national organization.”
Established in June 2022, AQTS aims to provide social workers in Quebec with opportunities to come together and give a voice to their concerns. AQTS is a grassroots organization started by a handful of dedicated social workers in Quebec that identified the need for an association to support social workers and address issues of social justice.
“As a small, but dedicated group of volunteers, we built AQTS from an idea into an organization and joining the CASW was the natural next step to provide our members with benefits and services that will support their practice,” notes AQTS delegate, Gaelle Troude. “We look forward to continuing to build on our momentum in partnership with CASW.”
CASW has been without a partner in Quebec since 2004 when, after almost 50 years of membership, the Quebec Order of Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists chose to leave the national federation.
“We are welcoming AQTS into the federation during our 100th Anniversary year,” notes Whitenect. “At this time of great challenges to our nation's sovereignty, having a unified federation is something all social workers in Canada can celebrate.”
Effective April 1, 2026, CASW will end offering direct individual affiliate memberships to Quebec social workers.