The first and most detailed history of Canadian social security from colonial times to the present, The Emergence of Social Security in Canada has become a standard text in social work and related courses in post-secondary institutions across Canada, since its publication in 1980.

Written by well-known experts, this book provides an up-to-date portrait and analysis of one of the many dynamic faces of BC politics.

Jonathan Vance examines Canada's role in the formation of an important aspect of international law, traces the growth and activities of a number of national and local philanthropic agencies, and recounts the efforts of ex-prisoners to secure compensation for the long-term effects of captivity.