The Department of Social Development, also referred to as Social Development Canada, was from Dec. 2003 to Feb. 2006 the
department of the government of
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
with responsibility for developing and implementing social policies involving
families
Family (from ) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictability, structure, and safety as ...
with
children
A child () is a human being between the stages of childbirth, birth and puberty, or between the Development of the human body, developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking ...
,
disabled
Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physica ...
people,
senior citizens
Old age is the range of ages for people nearing and surpassing life expectancy. People who are of old age are also referred to as: old people, elderly, elders, senior citizens, seniors or older adults. Old age is not a definite biological sta ...
and others through a series of
programmes and
services. The department was also responsible for the
Canada Pension Plan
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP; ) is a contributory, earnings-related social insurance program. It is one of the two major components of Canada's public retirement income system, the other being Old Age Security (OAS). Other parts of Canada's retir ...
.
Overview
The Department of Social Development was created in December, 1997 when Human Resources Development Canada was reorganized into two separate departments. In January 1999, Bill C-23, an Act to establish the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development and Bill C-22, an Act to establish the Department of Social Development and repeal the Department of Human Resources Development was given Royal Assent in Canadian Parliament.
On February 6, 2006, through a series of Orders in Councils, the department was merged with
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. The combined department was initially referred to as Human Resources and Social Development Canada, but in late 2008 reverted to its previous name. While the new department has not yet been sanctioned by specific legislation, its predecessor components have in fact ceased to exist.
External links
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
{{Government Departments of Canada
Former Canadian federal departments and agencies