July 20, 2017
Julie Payette
Governor General Designate
State Ceremonial and Protocol
25 Eddy Street
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0M5
Dear Ms. Payette,
On behalf of the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), I would like to extend our sincere congratulations on your appointment as Governor General Designate of Canada. We look forward to your installation later this fall, and know that your extensive and unique breadth of experience will bring a fresh perspective to Canada.
CASW is the national association voice for social workers in Canada. Our mission is to strengthen and promote the profession while advancing issues of social justice. To this end, CASW is an organization known for its commitment to equity and human rights for all Canadians.
Over the last number of years, our advocacy efforts have focused on building a more equitable and transparent Canada through policies and legislation that comprehensively support the social determinants of health. Chief among these have been our proposed Social Care Act for Canada, which recommends principles similar to the Canada Health Act to guide future social investments, as well as the potential of a basic income in Canada.
Please accept this letter as an invitation to meet with CASW, at your convenience, to further discuss the priorities of the social work profession in Canada. Annually, March marks National Social Work Month in Canada – a time when social workers gather to celebrate the profession, as well as recognize areas in which work remains to be done. We would welcome an opportunity to meet with your office in March 2018.
Again, on behalf of the CASW federation, I extend sincere congratulations on your appointment. CASW looks forward to your time as Governor General of Canada with great hope and optimism.
Sincerely,
Jan Christianson-Wood, MSW, RSW
President, CASW
