Class 5

Question 1

What is social welfare?

Answer 1

The well-being of society AND general efforts to improve that well-being

Question 2

Factors that effect social well-being

Answer 2

Health, environment, wealth, social participation etc.

Question 3

What groups influence social welfare?

Answer 3

Government, nonprofit and voluntary sector, private sector, individuals and families

Question 4

What is a policy?

Answer 4

• Decisions made about what to do (or not to do) in relation to a specific problem
• Policy can be made by different levels of government, within organizations or even by individuals.

Question 5

What is social policy? (including factors that influence policies)

Answer 5

• Policies developed and implemented to promote the well-being of, or address specific problems in, society.
• Social policy can be defined narrowly (i.e. only to include social services, healthcare etc.) or broadly (to include, for example, immigration policy, taxation policy as well as social justice and social inclusion) - Many factors influence social policy (e.g values, status quo, group power etc)

Question 6

What is the welfare state?

Answer 6

The structures that a government creates to enact social policy and improve social welfare.
(i.e. the ‘safety net’ to ensure that the basic needs of all people in a society are being met.)

Question 7

What are the types of social welfare programs?

Answer 7

Government, private, third-sector (charity and social enterprise)
Policies/programs at federal, provincial and municipal level.
Universal, demogrant, means-tested, contributions-based (social insurance)

Question 8

What is fiscal welfare?

Answer 8

Support provided through the taxation system, including:

• Progressive income tax
• Tax write offs, e.g. RRSPs, tuition credits
• Medical expense tax credit
• Other tax benefits

Question 9

What are benefits provided by privately provided occupational welfare?

Answer 9

• Occupational pensions
• Health benefits
• Subsidised car and/or technology
• Meals
• Education

Question 10

Social welfare programs provided by the 
Third sector/ civil society

Answer 10

• Programs for homeless e.g. shelters and day programs
• Food security programs: e.g. -Community gardens and foodbanks
• Addictions programs e.g. safe injection sites
• Programs for particular populations, e.g. Indigenous peoples, refugees, survivors of gender-based violence, children and youth, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ and others