Good evening.
On behalf of the board, federation partners, and our president, Jan Christianson-Wood, it is my privilege to have the opportunity tonight to share with this committee the priorities and hopes of the social work profession for Budget 2017 and beyond.
The Canadian Association of Social Workers was deeply encouraged by the 2016 budget focus on indigenous people, seniors, and children. Our submission today urges the Government of Canada to continue making accountable investments in building a stronger and more equitable Canada.
Accountable health and social investments have been a central focus of advocacy for CASW in recent years. We support the Government of Canada in now seeking greater accountability for future investments in health, and we urge that this same accountability be expected when it comes to social investments.
That is why CASW continues to advocate for the adoption of our proposed social care act—national legislation that, if adopted by government, would set a framework of principles to guide the Canada social transfer and other needed investments.
It is now undeniable that the investments in the social determinants of health have the greatest impact on the health of Canadians, and in turn on the nation's health care costs.
Demanding accountability for federal social investments is not unreasonable: it is responsible government that charts a course for developing, implementing, and evaluating shared performance indicators and outcomes across Canada.
This would in turn support the promise and delivery of a national poverty reduction strategy with the potential of realizing the reduction in the financial burden of primary health care sought by each province and territory.
Budget 2016 enhanced the guaranteed income supplement, which, combined with old age security, moves forward a basic income for seniors. CASW welcomed the enhancement of the GIS as well as the redirecting of the Canada child tax benefit to maximize support for low-income families and their children.
We encourage the federal government to continue progressively moving forward with a targeted affordable basic income for both these highly vulnerable and marginalized populations.
Basic income has the potential to become Canada's next great public policy legacy.
Supporting the social determinants of health through a basic income is vital, but housing is also integral to creating a Canada that is not only compassionate but cost-effective. Research has proven that when people do not have access to a stable income or housing, they are much more likely to experience health challenges. Indeed, the experience of emergency room and front-line social workers is that people without access to secure housing often fall victim to the revolving door of acute care.
With the knowledge that one acute care bed costs the health care system about $1,100 per day, the time is now to comprehensively address the basic supports required for all people to live in Canada with dignity and health.
As a proud member of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, CASW agrees that Canada needs a national housing strategy with a robust implementation plan, coordinated among provinces, territories, municipalities, and indigenous governments to ensure effectiveness and accountability. Again, a social care act could be a key piece in the development of accountability for such an initiative.
Another priority for social workers is addressing access to mental health services across Canada.
As an active member of the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, we have helped develop and fully support the coalition's recommendations found in Mental Health Now!, calling for increasing mental health spending from 7% to 9% of total public health spending. Increasing the federal share to 25% would translate into an increased annual federal investment of $777.5 million.
While such dollars could flow to the provinces and territories via the Canada health and social transfer, we strongly recommend that the funds be earmarked through a mental health transfer or a dedicated envelope to maximize accountability.
Further, CASW supports the Mental Health Now! recommendations that the federal government establish a five-year $100-million mental health innovation fund, a targeted and time-limited fund to spread innovation and lead sustainable change in addressing the mental health needs of all Canadians.
Finally, CASW shares the expressed concerns of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada that over half the dollars earmarked in Budget 2016 for children on reserve will not be spent until the final year of this government's mandate or after the next election. CASW urges that this government live up to its promise of ending the long history of discrimination against first nations children and take immediate action to bring equity of services to all Canadians both on- and off-reserve.
Thank you, and I'll be happy to address any questions this committee may have.