I'll be starting. Good afternoon.

On behalf of the board of the Canadian Association of Social Workers and our provincial and territorial partner organizations, I'd like to thank the HUMA committee for hearing the perspective of social workers in this dialogue on the potential of social finance in Canada.

Today, I will be sharing my time with Dr. James Mulvale, who is joining us from Winnipeg.

I will present a few fairly general principles, while Dr. Mulvale will speak a little more specifically about our recommendations.

To begin, the Canadian Association of Social Workers, or CASW, is deeply concerned about growing inequity in Canada and has focused it advocacy efforts in recent years to highlighting very realistic ways that all levels of government can work together to support a more equitable Canada.

CASW has often reaffirmed the importance of a pan-Canadian vision of social policy based upon a concept of coordinated federalism in which the federal government negotiates with the provinces and territories and helps to finance social programs under certain guiding principles. It's a vision that would ensure that all Canadians' basic rights were met and that there would be a common minimum standard of service across the country.

CASW appreciates that the intention behind social investments is to hold those investments accountable to benchmarks of achievement, in other words, a return on investment. To this end, CASW is advocating that the federal government ask of itself what it's expecting from others.

As you know, the Canada social transfer is a primary source of federal funding in Canada that supports the provincial and territorial social programs. The CST funds many programs that are very important to maintaining a good quality of life for all of us. At present, the CST is largely an unconditional transfer, meaning it lacks agreed-upon principles of accountability to ensure equity of social programs across Canada or, again, in other words, a common return on investment.

As this committee deliberates on the potential of social finance in Canada, CASW asks that it entertain principles of accountability that can be applied to all investments by government, whether it is the CST or the financial backstopping of other different forms of social investment.

The Government of Alberta has adopted a social policy framework complete with principles that guide decisions and program delivery. We suggest that Canada adopt a similar vision when it comes to the Canada social transfer as well as to social enterprise.

As you know, the Canada Health Act guides the delivery of healthcare in Canada. Similarly, a Social Services Act, with broad principles including need, comprehensiveness, accessibility, fairness, portability, universality, and public or non-profit administration—if adopted—would guide all investments in social services in Canada.

I now will pass my time to Dr. Mulvale.