Social work is a regulated profession because its practitioners can have a substantial impact on a person’s life. They can be the difference between keeping your children in a custody dispute. Their reports can help or hurt refugee claims, or a person’s ability to obtain cosmetic gender surgery. Given the delicate issues at play, one would expect the profession to stay out of politics, but this is not the case.
Politics
Jamie Sarkonak: Social workers are told to push progressive climate, gender politics — or else
A March webinar by an Alberta social work association gave attendees ‘speaking points’ to help counter province’s social policies
In Ontario, the social-worker-as-political-advocate is sealed into the code of conduct. Violate the rules, and one can end up in a disciplinary proceeding.
“College registrants shall promote equity, inclusion and belonging in their work with clients and shall advocate for social change that challenges systemic oppression and seeks to eliminate implicit bias,” reads Ontario’s code. “College registrants shall approach all aspects of their work with humility (including cultural humility) and recognize how privilege and power imbalances affect policies and practice and impact clients.”
If you’re wondering what this is supposed to look like in practice, the college offers some pointers in its practice notes. In working with clients, the note on anti-Black racism explains that social workers should “always endeavour to initiate conversations about cultural diversity and race.” This is extreme, as not every client is actually going to want or need to talk about race.
It even goes as far as directing social workers in Ontario to advocate for legislative change when it comes to policing: “social workers who support or work with organizations that seek to change policies that authorize the excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies, given the disproportionate number of people of colour who suffer the consequences of such policies.” For reference, a police officer’s ability to use force is already constrained by law.
In B.C., the social work code of ethics asks that professionals “promote social justice and advocate for social change on behalf of their clients.” Alberta’s code, which dates back to 2005, asks that they “strive to advocate for changes in policy and legislation to improve social conditions in order to meet basic human needs and promote social justice.”
On matters of gender policy, for example, the Saskatchewan social workers’ association objected when the government announced it would be restricting schools from facilitating social transitions for children.
“Registered social workers are required to follow a Code of Ethics to ensure safe and ethical practice,” it wrote. “We believe that gender diverse young people are to be affirmed as the gender they understand themselves to be, as consistent with our values.”
Similarly, the Social Workers Association of Alberta (SWAA) warned in February that the province’s proposed restrictions on transgender medicine and cross-sex identification for minors at school might violate professional ethics. The association implored social workers to email the premier and legislative members to “tell them to stop the introduction of these policies and legislation.”
Beyond that, the SWAA even held a webinar in March on responding to Alberta’s gender policies, during which the facilitator gave out suggested “speaking points” to attendees. Among other things, the facilitator discouraged the use of the term “biologically female” (in favour of “cisgender”) and advised the class that “trans women are not a threat to cisgender women” in the context of sports.
Still, as ideology shapes ethics codes and practice standards, one should expect the political agenda of the leading organizations in the profession to take up more left-wing causes. An invitation to do so is now being extended by the Canadian Association of Social Workers in a 2024 update to its code of ethics.
This code doesn’t bind the social workers of the nation, but it’s likely to guide provincial regulators in updating their own binding codes in the future. It asks that professionals raise awareness of climate change and its impact on vulnerable people, as well as promote “government-sponsored educational programs” on “responsibilities toward environmental quality.” On social policy, it asks that they “(develop) insight into the social work profession’s historical role in colonialism” while also advocating “to end oppression, racism and discrimination.”
For a profession that has characterized racism elsewhere as an all-encompassing component of Canada’s existence, I’d rather they don’t try to become champions on the issue beyond helping clients who are actually suffering from racism. As for the climate lectures, please leave that for science class.
Quebec legislature member Youri Chassin has announced he’s leaving the Coalition Avenir Québec government to sit as an Independent.
He announced the decision shortly after writing an open letter criticizing Premier François Legault’s government for abandoning its principles of smaller government.
In the letter published in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec, Chassin accused the party of falling back on what he called the old formula of throwing money at problems instead of looking to do things differently.
Chassin says public services are more fragile than ever, despite rising spending that pushed the province to a record $11-billion deficit projected in the last budget.
He is the second CAQ member to leave the party in a little more than one week, after economy and energy minister Pierre Fitzgibbon announced Sept. 4 he would leave because he lost motivation to do his job.
Chassin says he has no intention of joining another party and will instead sit as an Independent until the end of his term.
He has represented the Saint-Jérôme riding since the CAQ rose to power in 2018, but has not served in cabinet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
MONTREAL – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he will not be taking advice from Pierre Poilievre after the Conservative leader challenged him to bring down government.
“I say directly to Pierre Poilievre: I’m not going to listen to you,” said Singh on Wednesday, accusing Poilievre of wanting to take away dental-care coverage from Canadians, among other things.
“I’m not going to listen to your advice. You want to destroy people’s lives, I want to build up a brighter future.”
Earlier in the day, Poilievre challenged Singh to commit to voting non-confidence in the government, saying his party will force a vote in the House of Commons “at the earliest possibly opportunity.”
“I’m asking Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to commit unequivocally before Monday’s byelections: will they vote non-confidence to bring down the costly coalition and trigger a carbon tax election, or will Jagmeet Singh sell out Canadians again?” Poilievre said.
“It’s put up or shut up time for the NDP.”
While Singh rejected the idea he would ever listen to Poilievre, he did not say how the NDP would vote on a non-confidence motion.
“I’ve said on any vote, we’re going to look at the vote and we’ll make our decision. I’m not going to say our decision ahead of time,” he said.
Singh’s top adviser said on Tuesday the NDP leader is not particularly eager to trigger an election, even as the Conservatives challenge him to do just that.
Anne McGrath, Singh’s principal secretary, says there will be more volatility in Parliament and the odds of an early election have risen.
“I don’t think he is anxious to launch one, or chomping at the bit to have one, but it can happen,” she said in an interview.
New Democrat MPs are in a second day of meetings in Montreal as they nail down a plan for how to navigate the minority Parliament this fall.
The caucus retreat comes one week after Singh announced the party has left the supply-and-confidence agreement with the governing Liberals.
It’s also taking place in the very city where New Democrats are hoping to pick up a seat on Monday, when voters go to the polls in Montreal’s LaSalle—Émard—Verdun. A second byelection is being held that day in the Winnipeg riding of Elmwood—Transcona, where the NDP is hoping to hold onto a seat the Conservatives are also vying for.
While New Democrats are seeking to distance themselves from the Liberals, they don’t appear ready to trigger a general election.
Singh signalled on Tuesday that he will have more to say Wednesday about the party’s strategy for the upcoming sitting.
He is hoping to convince Canadians that his party can defeat the federal Conservatives, who have been riding high in the polls over the last year.
Singh has attacked Poilievre as someone who would bring back Harper-style cuts to programs that Canadians rely on, including the national dental-care program that was part of the supply-and-confidence agreement.
The Canadian Press has asked Poilievre’s office whether the Conservative leader intends to keep the program in place, if he forms government after the next election.
With the return of Parliament just days away, the NDP is also keeping in mind how other parties will look to capitalize on the new makeup of the House of Commons.
The Bloc Québécois has already indicated that it’s written up a list of demands for the Liberals in exchange for support on votes.
The next federal election must take place by October 2025 at the latest.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante is defending her decision to turn off comments on her social media accounts — with an announcement on social media.
She posted screenshots to X this morning of vulgar names she’s been called on the platform, and says comments on her posts for months have been dominated by insults, to the point that she decided to block them.
Montreal’s Opposition leader and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association have criticized Plante for limiting freedom of expression by restricting comments on her X and Instagram accounts.
They say elected officials who use social media should be willing to hear from constituents on those platforms.
However, Plante says some people may believe there is a fundamental right to call someone offensive names and to normalize violence online, but she disagrees.
Her statement on X is closed to comments.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 11, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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