Horizontal Initiatives

On this page

• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
• General Information
• Performance Information
• Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative
• General Information
• Performance Information

Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

General Information

Name of horizontal initiative: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS)

Lead department: Employment and Social Development Canada

Federal partner organizations: Agriculture and Agri-food Canada; Canadian Heritage; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Global Affairs Canada; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Indigenous Services Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; National Research Council; Natural Resources Canada; and Parks Canada

Start date of the horizontal initiative: April 1, 2003, modified on May 30, 2019

End date of the horizontal initiative: Ongoing

Description of the horizontal initiative: the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy helps youth aged 15 to 30 to make a successful transition into the labour market. It particularly focuses on those facing barriers to employment by helping them get the information and gain the skills, work experience and abilities they need. The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy is a horizontal initiative led by Employment and Social Development Canada. It is delivered collaboratively with 11 other federal departments, agencies and crown corporations. It includes the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program, delivered by all partners, and the Canada Summer Jobs program, which is delivered only by Employment and Social Development Canada. The strategy is delivered nationally and regionally via contribution agreements

Governance structures:

• the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy has integrated a new strengthened governance structure. This structure will facilitate better coordination between the 12 participating federal organizations, stakeholders and youth
• the 12 participating federal departments, agencies and crown corporations have committed to collect common performance management information on an ongoing basis. This will ensure effective management of the program
• Employment and Social Development Canada is responsible for the leadership, coordination and management of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Interdepartmental Committees

Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (dollars): 9,168.98 million

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars): 9,469.84 million

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars): 8,710.22 million

Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative: May 30, 2019               

Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal, and source of funding (dollars): 1,908.6 million

Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars): 2,130.38 million

Total planned spending since the last renewal (dollars): 1,393.31 million

Total actual spending since the last renewal (dollars): 2,239.41 million

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: 2024 to 2025

Shared outcome of federal partner departments: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

Performance indicator(s): number of youth served

• percentage of youth employed / self-employed ^{Footnote 1}
• percentage of youth returned to school ^{Footnote 2}
• percentage of youth served from each of the following groups who are facing barriers to employment:
• indigenous youth
• visible minority youth
• youth with a disability
• youth living in official language minority communities
• youth living in rural and remote areas
• women

Note: not all departments report on every indicator listed above

Target(s): specific targets for each participating partner are included in the performance table below

Performance highlights:

• the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy’s programs served a total of 141,262 youth and  provided them with supports such as skills development, training, paid work experiences and wrap around supports
• 26,259 youth were served through the horizontal YESS Programs, of which over 55% (11,605) were employed following their participation. This number does not include Indigenous Services Canada’s and Quebec’s results as they are not available
• the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) Program offered job opportunities to 115,003 youth
• Both CSJ and YESS Programs have surpassed their target of 100,000 (CSJ) and 24,360 (YESS Program) youth served

Contact information: Rhonda Fernandes, Director General

Youth and Skills Innovation Directorate

Skills and Employment Branch

Email: rhonda.fernandes@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Place du Portage, Phase IV

140 Promenade du Portage

Gatineau QC

Performance information

Federal organization: Employment and Social Development Canada

Link to the department’s program inventory: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 256,917,068

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 281,370,326

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 273,715,523

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employments or return to school.

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 12,000
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 17,241

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed^{Footnote 3}

• target: 50% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 55.31%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 10% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 17.66%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• targets:
• indigenous: 20%
• visible minority youth: 40%
• youth with a disability: 25%^{Footnote 4}
• date to achieve targets: march 31, 2023
• actual results:
• indigenous: 17.59%
• visible minority youth: 38.76%
• youth with a disability: 25.27%

Link to the department’s program inventory: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

Horizontal initiative activity: Canada Summer Jobs

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 1,218,541,631

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 493,971,220

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 447,554,150

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 100,000
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 115,003

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 15% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 46.67%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 85% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 78.59%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target:
• indigenous: 7%
• visible minority: 16%
• youth with a disability: 2.5%
• women ^{Footnote 5}
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result:
• indigenous: 4.21%
• visible minority: 20.54%
• youth with a disability: 9.10%
• Women: 62.43%

Federal organization: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Link to the department’s program inventory: Sector Engagement and Development

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 27,035,876

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 3,694,109

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 4,002,056

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 300
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 249

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 60% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 72.59%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 30% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 41.32%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target:
• youth living in rural and remote areas: approximately 30%
• indigenous youth: approximately 10%
• visible minority youth: approximately 8%
• youth with a disability: less than 1%
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result:
• youth living in rural and remote areas: 62.50%
• indigenous youth: 28.91%
• visible minority youth: 29.71%
• youth with a disability: 28.91%

Federal organization: Canadian Heritage

Link to the department’s program inventory: Young Canada Works Initiative

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 25,232,259

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 14,195,974

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 14,178,199

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 1,591
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 1,747

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 0%
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: Not applicable ^{Footnote 6}

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 0% ^{Footnote 7}
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 0%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target:
• YCW - Official Languages:
• indigenous youth: 5%
• visible minority youth 35%
• youth with a disability: 5%
• youth living in official language minority communities: 50%
• YCW-Preservation and Access to Heritage:
• indigenous youth: 7%
• visible minority youth: 10%
• youth with a disability: 8%
• youth living in official language minority communities: 10%
• women: 65%
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result:
• YCW - Official Languages:
• Indigenous youth: 5%
• visible minority youth: 24% 
• youth with a disability: 5%
• youth living in official language minority communities: 49% 
• YCW-Preservation and Access to Heritage:
• Indigenous youth: 6.91%
• visible minority youth: 13.09%
• youth with a disability: 12.66% 
• youth living in official language minority communities: 5.90%
• women: 71.44%

Federal organization: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Link to the department’s program inventory: Housing Internship for Indigenous Youth

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 12,191,000

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 5,800,000

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 7,150,949

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 319
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 417

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 20% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 35.49%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 10% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 14.63%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target: 100% of youth served are Indigenous persons
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 100%

Federal organization: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Link to the department’s program inventory: Science Horizons Internship Program

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 42,240,313

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 14,553,313

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 14,613,195

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school.

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 453
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 578

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 80% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 86.67%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 6% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 2.98%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target:
• Indigenous: approximately 2.1%
• visible minority: approximately 20%
• youth with a disability: less than 2.1%
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result:
• Indigenous: 4.5%
• visible minority: 24.05%
• youth with a disability: 6.4%

Federal organization: Global Affairs Canada

Link to the department’s program inventory: International Youth Internship Program

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 0

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 6,400,000

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 3,865,690

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 210
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 183

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 70% of total youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 30.06%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 10% of total youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 25.10%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target:
• indigenous: 1%
• visible minority: 15%
• youth with a disability: 1%
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result:
• indigenous: 0.5%
• visible minority: 43%
• youth with a disability: 3.8%

Federal organization: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Link to the department’s program inventory: Settlement Program

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 0

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 15,822,648

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 11,121,086

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 1,000
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 3,225

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 0%^{Footnote 8}
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: not applicable vi

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 0%^{Footnote 9}
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 0% vii

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target: 100% of clients are youth facing barriers to employment as newcomers to Canada
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: results 100%

Federal organization: Indigenous Services Canada

Link to the department’s program inventory: First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 183,023,906

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 55,982,668

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 98,541,071

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 6,557
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: not applicable^{Footnote 10}

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 29%
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: not applicable viii

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 31%
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: not applicable viii

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target: 100% of youth served are Indigenous persons
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: not applicable viii

Federal organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Link to the department’s program inventory: Digital Skills for Youth

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 14,171,000

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 11,363,000

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 11,883,889

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 360
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 468

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 0% ^{Footnote 11}
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 0% ix

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 0% ^{Footnote 12}
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 0% x

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target:
• Indigenous: 5%
• visible Minority: 25%
• youth with a disability: 3%
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: Results will be available August 2023
• Indigenous: 5.6%
• visible minority: 42.7%
• youth with a disability: 6.0%

Federal organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Link to the department’s program inventory: Computers for Schools Intern Program

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 12,700,000

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 5,037,616

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 4,852,404

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 160
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 187

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 15% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 4.3%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 10% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 20.9%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target:
• Indigenous: 5%
• visible minority: 30%
• youth with a disability: 3.5%
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result:
• Indigenous: 5.9%
• visible minority: 39.6%
• youth with a disability: 13.4%

Federal organization: National Research Council

Link to the department’s program inventory: Youth Employment Program

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 44,600,000

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 15,373,000

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 20,472,364

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 475
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 725

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 70% of total youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 86%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 0%^{Footnote 13}
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 0%xi

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target:
• visible minority youth: 15%
• youth with a disability: 1%
• Indigenous youth: 1%
• youth living in rural and remote areas: 3%
• youth living in official language minority communities: 2%
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result:
• visible minority youth:27%
• youth with a disability: 3.30%
• Indigenous youth: 3.90% 
• youth living in rural and remote areas: 3.60%
• youth living in official language minority communities: 2.90%

Federal organization: Natural Resources Canada

Link to the department’s program inventory: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 39,197,846

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 9,797,846

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 12,600,766

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 320
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 594

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 70% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 74.38%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 5% of youth served
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 12.13%

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target:
• 60% of interns belong to at least one of the following employment equity categories:
• women
• indigenous
• youth with a disability
• visible minority youth
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result:
• women: 46.80%
• Indigenous: 33.50%
• youth with a disability: 8.25%
• visible minority youth: 25.76%

Federal organization: Parks Canada

Link to the department’s program inventory: Young Canada Works

Horizontal initiative activity: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program

Total federal allocation since the last renewal (dollars): 32,780,000

2022 to 2023 planned spending (dollars): 8,900,000

2022 to 2023 actual spending (dollars): 9,565,365

2022 to 2023 expected results: youth have access to programs that allow them to acquire the skills, learning experiences, and opportunities they need to find and maintain employment or return to school.

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: number of youth served

• target: 615
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 645

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth employed/self-employed

• target: 0% ^{Footnote 14}
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 0% xii

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth returned to school

• target: 0% ^{Footnote 15}
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result: 0% xiii

2022 to 2023 performance indicator: percentage of youth served who are facing barriers to employment

• target:
• 45% of youth belong to at least one of the following employment equity categories:
• Indigenous youth
• youth with a disability
• visible minority youth
• date to achieve target: march 31, 2023
• actual result:
• Indigenous youth: 15.20% 
• youth with a disability: 12.60%
• visible minority youth: 18.60%

Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative

General information

Name of horizontal initiative: Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative

Lead department: Employment and Social Development Canada

Federal partner organizations: Indigenous Services Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs

Start date of the horizontal initiative:  September 2018

End date of horizontal initiative: ongoing

Description of horizontal initiative: The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) Transformation Initiative supports the implementation of the co-developed Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework. This framework supports Indigenous-led decision-making. It also reflects the unique cultures and priorities of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children across Canada, both on and off reserve. The IELCC Transformation Initiative allows for investments in a wide range of programs and services including daycare and Head Start programming. This will enhance early childhood development and school readiness for children regardless of where they live.

Employment and Social Development Canada is the federal lead department guiding this horizontal initiative. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs (CIRNA) are key federal partners. They are also signatories to the terms and conditions of the IELCC Transformation Initiative.

Governance structure: The oversight of this horizontal initiative is provided through a collaborative structure. To support the management and reporting efforts undertaken by federal partners, the initiative includes:

• an Assistant Deputy Minister Interdepartmental Steering Committee
• a Director General Interdepartmental Committee
• a Federal Working Group on Reporting

The Assistant Deputy Minister Interdepartmental Steering Committee is chaired by the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic and Service Policy Branch, in Employment and Social Development Canada. It is composed of Assistant Deputy Ministers from Employment and Social Development Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs. The Assistant Deputy Minister Interdepartmental Steering Committee is responsible for the broad management of the Initiative.

The Director General Interdepartmental Committee is comprised of DGs and working-level officials from partner organizations. It oversees the implementation of the initiative.

The implementation of the IELCC Initiative is guided by partnership tables with First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation at national and regional levels. The tables work in collaboration with federal partners to facilitate Indigenous-led planning, priority setting, and decision-making. The interests of urban and northern Indigenous communities will continue to be represented in collaboration with the National Aboriginal Head Start Council, through legacy PHAC programming.

Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date) (in dollars): 5,172,473,211 (2018 and 2019 to 2027 and 2028) with 746,809,995 ongoing^{Footnote 16}

Total federal planned spending to date (in dollars): 2,072,803,856^{Footnote 17}

Total federal actual spending to date (in dollars):  1,638,991,232^{Footnote 18}

Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative: The Horizontal Initiative was made permanent and ongoing in the Fall Economic Statement 2020

Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal and source of funding (in dollars): $145,000,000 over 5 years (fiscal year 2021 to 2022 to fiscal year 2025 to 2026) and $15,000,000 ongoing from Fall Economic Statement 2020

Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (in dollars): $2,549,000,000 over 5 years (2021 and 2022 to 2025 and 2026) and $542,000,000 ongoing from Budget 2021

Total planned spending since the last renewal: not applicable

Total actual spending since the last renewal: not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: 2023 to 2024. The evaluation is to be advanced through collaboration with Indigenous partners 

Shared outcome of partner organization:

• increase Indigenous influence and control over Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care  programs and services
• support Indigenous early learning and child care priorities, including those in urban and northern communities
• strengthen foundational supports for Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care
• enhance horizontal coordination of federal programs and investments

Performance highlights: The department continued to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation partners in making advances on Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) priorities.

For example, the department funded over 400 proposals through repairs and renovations funding. These aimed to address immediate health and safety needs of existing Aboriginal Head Start and Day Care sites.

Departmental support to advance the goals of the ELCC Framework also contributed to advancing many priorities of Indigenous communities. Below are a few examples:  

• in Atlantic Canada, First Nations partners have tailored and adopted the Assessment for Quality Improvement (AQI), a tool that outlines expectations, service standards and guidelines for child care providers and operators as well as other standards tools. These include learning modules that support operators and educators in providing quality care and adopting best practices. These tools can be culturally adapted to meet the early learning and child care needs of First Nations children.
• Inuit partners continued to advance a vision for an ELCC system that provides opportunities to learn and speak Inuktut and benefit from Inuit programming. Inuit ELCC supports cultural revitalization that connects Inuit with their land, culture, language, and histories.
• Canada and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) advanced streamlining of IELCC funding to consolidate  IELCC recipient funding into a single agreement. This would decrease the administrative and reporting burden for child care providers. The ITK is currently seeking a 10-year consolidated funding agreement to further increase efficiencies and provide long-term funding certainty from multiple sources.
• the Métis Nation continued to advance priorities to create affordable, accessible, and culturally suitable learning environments for young Métis children. This included child care subsidies and the establishment of new Métis Child Care sites in British Columbia, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories. To encourage the Early Childhood Educator profession, Métis nations organized workshops and implemented recruitment and training initiatives.
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) was added to the Indigenous ELCC Transformation Initiative Terms and Conditions for Contributions. This will streamline the administration of federal Indigenous ELCC funding agreements. The addition of CIRNAC responded to the requests of some Indigenous partners to receive their Indigenous ELCC funding through Master Agreements with CIRNAC. This process provides a single-window approach to federal funding for those Indigenous partners.

Contact information:

Cheri Reddin, Director General

Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Secretariat

Strategic and Service Policy Branch

Employment and Social Development Canada

Cell: 613-617-1852

Cheri.reddin@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Performance information

Horizontal initiative overview^{Footnote 19}

Name of horizontal initiative:  Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative

Link to program inventory: Core Responsibility: Social Development.

Program: Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative

Total new funding allocated (in dollars):  5,172,473,211 over 10 years with $746,809,995 ongoing, subject to 3% escalator starting in 2027 to 2028

2022 to 2023 planned spending (in dollars)

• new: 587,907,667
• legacy: 134,870,006

2022 to 2023 actual spending (in dollars)

• new: 576,592,328
• legacy: 111,599,001

2022 to 2023 performance indicators: number of national partnership tables established

2022 to 2023 targets: 3 partnership tables

Date to achieve targets: march 2023

2022 to 2023 actual results: 3 National Partnership Tables are now established and active, representing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governance.

Distinctions based results frameworks that include performance indicators and targets  are to be co-developed with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation partners by March 2025

Horizontal initiative total spending by allocations^{Footnote 20}

Allocation: First Nations envelope

• Total new funding over 10 years (in dollars): 3,141,382,424
• 2022 to 2023 planned spending – total new and legacy ongoing (in dollars): 438,186,878
• 2022 to 2023 actual spending - total new, and legacy and ongoing (in dollars):  478,258,287^{Footnote 21}
• 2022 to 2023 expected results: Indigenous partners have greater influence over Indigenous early learning and child care programming
• 2022 to 2023 performance indicators: number of national partnership tables established
• 2022 to 2023 targets: 3 national partnership tables
• 2022 to 2023 actual results:
• 3 National Partnership Tables are now established and active, representing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governance.
• Distinctions based results frameworks that include performance indicators are to be co-developed with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation partners by March 2025.

Allocation: Inuit envelope

• Total new funding over 10 years (in dollars):  283,017,005
• 2022 to 2023 planned spending – total new and legacy ongoing  (in dollars): 35,694,649
• 2022 to 2023 actual spending - total new, and legacy and ongoing (in dollars):  42,168,183^{Footnote 22}
• 2022 to 2023 expected results: Indigenous partners have greater influence over Indigenous early learning and child care programming
• 2022 to 2023 performance indicators: number of national partnership tables established
• 2022 to 2023 targets: 3 national partnership tables
• 2022 to 2023 actual results:
• 3 National Partnership Tables are now established and active, representing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governance.
• Distinctions based results frameworks that include performance indicators are to be co-developed with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation partners by March 2025

Allocation: Métis envelope

• Total new funding over 10 years (in dollars): 1,055,617,311
• 2022 to 2023 planned spending – total new and legacy ongoing  (in dollars): 99,843,052
• 2022 to 2023 actual spending - total new, and legacy and ongoing (in dollars):  99,966,826
• 2022 to 2023 expected results: Indigenous partners have greater influence over Indigenous early learning and child care programming
• 2022 to 2023 performance indicators: number of national partnership tables established
• 2022 to 2023 targets: 3 national partnership tables
• 2022 to 2023 actual results:
• 3 National Partnership Tables are now established and active, representing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governance.
• Distinctions based results frameworks that include performance indicators are to be co-developed with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation partners by March 2025

Allocation: quality improvement projects

• Total new funding over 10 years (in dollars) : 94,000,000
• 2022 to 2023 planned spending – total new and legacy ongoing  (in dollars): 6,000,000
• 2022 to 2023 actual spending - total new, and legacy and ongoing (in dollars):  5,485,054
• 2022 to 2023 expected results: strengthened foundational supports for Indigenous early learning and child care.
• 2022 to 2023 performance indicators: to be co-developed with Indigenous partners
• 2022 to 2023 targets: to be co-developed with Indigenous partners
• 2022 to 2023 actual results: a total of 19 Quality Improvement Projects received funding to support Indigenous-led best practices and advance foundational elements of Indigenous early learning and child care.

Allocation: pan-Indigenous programming

• Total new funding over 10 years (in dollars): 142,652,460
• 2022 to 2023 planned spending – total new and legacy ongoing  (in dollars): 45,538,998
• 2022 to 2023 actual spending - total new, and legacy and ongoing (in dollars): 50,773,845
• 2022 to 2023 expected results: Indigenous children and families have greater access to ELCC programs and services that are holistic, accessible, inclusive, and flexible, and culturally- appropriate
• 2022 to 2023 performance indicators: to be determined in collaboration with Indigenous partners
• 2022 to 2023 targets: to be determined in collaboration with Indigenous partners
• 2022 to 2023 actual results: performance indicators and targets to be co-developed with Indigenous partners by March 2025.

Total

• Total new funding over 10 years (in dollars): 4,716,669,200
• 2022 to 2023 planned spending – total new and legacy ongoing  (in dollars): 625,263,577
• 2022 to 2023 actual spending - total new, and legacy and ongoing (in dollars): 676,652,195

Horizontal initiative total spending by department^{Footnote 23}

Department: Employment and Social Development Canada

2022 to 2023 total federal planned spending (in dollars):

• new:  253,730,460
• legacy: 55,818,454

2022 to 2023 total actual spending (in dollars):

• new:  181,327,633
• legacy: 52,616,536

Department: Indigenous Services Canada

2022 to 2023 total federal planned spending (in dollars):

• new: 306,760,216
• legacy:  46,497,698

2022 to 2023 total actual spending (in dollars):

• new: 283,122,093
• legacy: 26,161,099

Department: Public Health Agency of Canada

2022 to 2023 total federal planned spending (in dollars):

• new: 27,417,001
• legacy: 32,553,854

2022 to 2023 total actual spending (in dollars):

• new: 23,325,306
• legacy: 29,705,302

Department: Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs

2022 to 2023 total federal planned spending (in dollars):

• new: 0
• legacy: 0

2022 to 2023 total actual spending (in dollars):

• new: 88,817,296
• legacy: 3,116,064

Total for all departments

2022 to 2023 total federal planned spending (in dollars):

• new:  587,907,677
• legacy: 134,870,006

2022 to 2023 total actual spending (in dollars):

• new: 576,592,328
• legacy: 111,599,001