May 20, 2025
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C, M.P.
Minister of Jobs and Families
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Dear Minister Hajdu,
On behalf of the over 22,000 members of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), I want to extend sincere congratulations on your appointment as Minister of Jobs and Families. CASW looks forward to supporting your continued advocacy efforts to address systemic inequities and disparities in Canada and ensure all Canadians have access to social supports that are necessary for greater quality of life.
As background for you, CASW is the national association for the social work profession, composed of ten partner federation partners across provinces and territories, representing a diverse body of social work professionals in Canada. CASW’s mandate is two fold; to promote and support the profession of social work and to advance issues of social justice.
For the past nine years, CASW actively advocated for the inclusion of social workers in student loan forgiveness programs. In Budget 2024 the Government of Canada committed to the inclusion of social workers in the Canada Student Loan forgiveness programme for rural and remote workers.
The regulations to amend the Canada Student Financial Assistance are in the final stages and CASW appreciates your upholding this commitment with the swift approval and publication of the proposed amendments.
Again, on behalf of the CASW Board and federation partners, we look forward to supporting your government in meaningfully progressing towards economic and social security for all.
Sincerely,
Barb Whitenect, MSW, RSW
CASW President