Both historical and contemporary features of Canadian social welfare are explored in this wide-ranging and in-depth collection. Social Fabric or Patchwork Quilt explores the evolution of the Canadian social welfare state from a system based upon voluntarism and philanthropy to one in which the State's involvementhas increased considerably. It also shows how the roles of governments at all levels have changed in recent times.

Chapters describe the developing Canadian welfare statefrom Confederation to the present.Beginning with an integrative framework in the general...