Ministers' message

From Employment and Social Development Canada

Official title: Employment and Social Development Canada 2016–2017 Departmental Results Report

We are pleased to present Employment and Social Development Canada’s 2016–17 Departmental Report on Results.

As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation throughout 2017, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on how Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has evolved, and to consider how the Department will continue to innovate, improve and modernize its programs and services for Canadians. It’s also an opportunity to thank ESDC, Labour Program and Service Canada employees for delivering necessary support to Canadians so they may build stronger futures.

Every Canadian deserves a real and fair chance at success and to achieve their full potential. The top priority of our government is supporting the middle class and helping more Canadians join it. We want to expand the middle class and make it more resilient. By encouraging social innovation, we can improve Canadians’ quality of life through collaborating with new partners and testing creative ideas to tackle social issues.

ESDC continues to work on strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities. Improvements to the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy demonstrate our commitment to promoting economic development and job creation for Indigenous communities across the country.

The Department moved forward on a number of key commitments to support the middle class and inclusive growth, including introduction of a more generous and better-targeted Canada Child Benefit for Canadian families, which is the most significant social policy innovation in a generation. The introduction of the Canada Child Benefit along with the establishment of the Early Learning and Childcare Framework will ensure children have a real chance to succeed regardless of their background.

We have taken action to support young people starting post-secondary education, making post-secondary education more affordable for students from low-income and middle-income families by increasing the Canada Student Grant and providing better financial support to students. We have implemented measures for young Canadians to create new Student Work Placement opportunities and will improve the Youth Employment Strategy with the help of the valuable input received from the Expert Panel on Youth Employment.

Several Employment Insurance improvements came into effect so that more Canadians are getting the help they need, when they need it. We are continuing work to ensure that workplaces are safe, productive and cooperative, including by repealing Bills C-377 and C-525 to help bring back a fair and balanced approach to labour relations, implementing regulatory changes on asbestos, and completing public consultations on how to ensure that federal institutions are workplaces free from harassment and sexual violence.

To help lift seniors out of poverty and enhance their income security, we have increased the Guaranteed Income Supplement for the lowest-income single seniors and restored the age of eligibility for the Old Age Security pension to 65. We want to support our seniors by ensuring that benefits keep pace with the actual cost of living.

This was an exciting year for accessibility programs and our overall accessibility agenda, as we held open discussions and consultations with all levels of government, partners from the disability community, Indigenous communities and Canadians across the country. This has become Canada’s largest and most accessible Government of Canada consultation on disability issues. The results will inform accessibility legislation, and help to eliminate systemic barriers and deliver equal opportunities to all Canadians living with disabilities.

We are determined to improve the economic well-being of all Canadian families. This includes better access to affordable child care, fostering a more resilient workforce, helping adult learners adapt to a changing job market, as well as enhancing programs and services to reduce poverty and tackle homelessness.

We are committed to service excellence and transforming the way we deliver services to Canadians, employers, communities and organizations. The Department will continue to transform the way it delivers services so that, in the future, Canadians receive high-quality, easy-to-access, simple and secure services that are responsive to their needs, whether they are offered online, through call centres or in person.

We are dedicated to continuing an open, transparent dialogue with Canadians and our partners to reach our goals, and to giving every Canadian a fair and equal chance at success.

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P. 
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

The Honourable Kent Hehr, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities