United Nations 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals

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• UN Sustainable Development Goals SDGs: SDG 1: End poverty in all its form everywhere
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

UN Sustainable Development Goals SDGs: SDG 1: End poverty in all its form everywhere

2022 to 2023 planned initiatives: Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement and Allowances

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Old Age Security program contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition of “End Poverty in all its forms everywhere”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target “50% reduction in the poverty rate for 2015 by 2030”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 1.2: “By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 1.3: “Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable”

2022 to 2023 results: the Old Age Security (OAS) program continued to play a major role in reducing the incidence of low-income among seniors. The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and the Allowances are income-tested to ensure that the highest benefits are paid to those who have the lowest-incomes. The latest data from the Canadian Income Survey shows that since 2015, there has been a decrease in the poverty rate for seniors as measured by Canada's Official Poverty Line (the Market Basket Measure, 2018 base), from 7.1% in 2015 to 5.6% in 2021.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Canada Disability Savings Program (CDSP)

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Canada Disability Savings Program contributes to advancing Canadian Indicator Framework ambition of “End Poverty in all its forms everywhere.”

2022 to 2023 results: the Canada Disability Savings Program (CDSP) continued to support the long-term financial security of persons with disabilities. In 2022, 76% of program’s beneficiaries aged 0 to 49 years received the Canada Disability Savings Bond and/or the Canada Disability Savings Grant. Since the program was introduced in December 2008 and until December 2022, the Government of Canada paid $3.97 billion in Grants and $1.67 billion in Bonds.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework target 1.3: “Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.”

2022 to 2023 results: in 2021 to 2022, the CPP provided $52.9 billion of benefits to an average of 6.4 million beneficiaries per month. Beneficiaries include pensioners, people with disabilities and their children, surviving spouses or common law partners, and children of deceased contributors. The average retirement pension in 2021 to 2022 was $614 per month while the average monthly CPP disability pension was $976 per month and the average CPP survivor’s pension was $344 per month. In 2022, children of eligible disabled or deceased CPP contributors received a flat-rate monthly benefit of $264.53.

Note: the latest CPP results data available is for the fiscal year 2021 to 2022. All amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Opportunity for All – Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: Opportunity for All – Canada’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition of “Reduce poverty in Canada in all its forms”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 1.1: “50% reduction in the poverty rate for 2015, by 2030”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 1.2: “By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definition”

2022 to 2023 results: results from the 2021 Canadian Income Survey, the most recent data available, show that the overall poverty rate in Canada, as measured by Canada’s Official Poverty Line, was 7.4% in 2021. The 2021 rate represents a 49% decrease in the overall poverty rate compared to 2015 (14.5%), the baseline year for Canada’s legislated poverty reduction targets. There were close to 2.3 million fewer people living in poverty in 2021 compared to 2015, including 653,000 fewer children and 11,000 fewer seniors. Official poverty statistics for 2022 and 2023 will be available in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities contributes to advancing Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 1.1: “Reduce poverty in Canada in all its forms.”

2022 to 2023 results: the program has supported 4,047 persons with disabilities, of which 2,416 became employed or self-employed.  These results do not include clients served in Quebec.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program and Skills and Partnerships Fund

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program and the Skills and Partnerships Fund contribute to advancing Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 1.1: “Reduce poverty in Canada in all its forms.”

2022 to 2023 results: through the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program, 54,694 Indigenous people, including 48,442 new clients, were provided with employment-related training and supports. Through the Skills and Partnership Fund 208 Indigenous people, including 48,442 new clients, were provided with employment-related training and supports.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: New Horizons for Seniors Program

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the New Horizons for Seniors Program contributes to advancing Canadian Indicator Framework ambition of “Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives” and associated indicator: “Percentage of Canadians who perceived their overall health and social well-being as very good to excellent.”

2022 to 2023 results: the New Horizons for Seniors Program continues to increase social participation and inclusion of seniors through the funding of 3,254 Community-Based projects and engagement of over 900,000 seniors both as volunteers and beneficiaries. Approximately 83% of all funded projects indicated that their project increased social participation and inclusion of seniors.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Social Development Partnerships Program

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: Partnerships Program contributes to advancing Canadian Indicator Framework ambition of “Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives” and associated indicator: “Percentage of Canadians who perceived their overall health and social well-being as very good to excellent.”

2022 to 2023 results:

• children & Families component: out of the 2 projects which reported results during this period, one reported providing financial education services to approximately 6,400 indigenous community members, and the other reported providing training to approximately 35,000 individuals through 14 unique Community of Practices with objectives to end poverty and deepen communities in cities
• disability component: none available

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Enabling Accessibility Fund

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets:

• the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) program contributes to advancing Canadian Indicator Framework ambition of “Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives” and associated indicator: “Percentage of Canadians who are satisfied or very satisfied with their life”
• the Enabling Accessibility Fund also contributes to advancing other sustainable development goals, including:
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 10.1: “Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”
• UN Global Indicator Framework 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities”

2022 to 2023 results: the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) increased access to public spaces and workplaces, programs and services, which in turn provided more occasions for persons with disabilities to participate in community activities or access employment opportunities. This also contributed to:

• SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
• EAF funded projects include projects that improved the accessibility and safety of workplaces in which job opportunities were created and maintained for persons with disabilities
• SDG10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
• By increasing the number of accessible facilities and workplaces, the program helped level the playing field by providing more opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate at the same level as others in Canadian society
• SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
• The program allocated a portion of funding to prioritize projects that improved the accessibility of childcare centers and shelters for those experiencing violence

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Canada Student Financial Assistance (CFSA) Program and Canada Apprentice Loan

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Canada Student Financial Assistance (CFSA) Program and the Canada Apprentice Loan contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition: “Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 4.3: “By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the Canada Student Financial Assistance (CSFA) Program continued to provide increased financial support to learners by temporarily doubling Canada Student Grants (CSG), extending the adult learner top-up to the full-time CSG, and extending the temporary waiver of interest on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loan. This enhancement has benefited more than 1.3 million Canadians repaying their student and apprentice loans. In addition, the CSFA Program permanently expanded disability supports to students with persistent or prolonged disabilities. These measures improved access to post-secondary education for students, including students from low- and middle-income families, students with disabilities, and students with dependents
• the CSFA Program also enhanced the Repayment Assistance Plan to make repayment more affordable. This ensures that no single borrower is required to start repaying their loan until they earn at least $40,000 per year. This threshold is adjusted upward based on family size to ensure that no one needs to make a student loan payment they cannot afford, regardless of their family size. In addition, all thresholds are indexed annually to inflation, and the monthly affordable payment reduced from 20% to 10% of a borrower’s household income

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Supports for Student Learning Program

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: Supports for Student Learning Program contribute to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework Ambition: “Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 4.5: “By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the Supports for Student Learning Program (SSLP) funds projects delivered by youth-serving organizations. This helps to bridge gaps in educational attainment, build competencies, and create academic opportunities for Canadian learners. This includes a focus on students that may face greater barriers and are at higher risk of educational disengagement. For example, SSLP projects distributed over 8,900 bursaries and scholarships to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students in fiscal year 2022 to 2023 to help increase access to post-secondary education for Indigenous students. This figure includes approximately 1,300 First Nations, Inuit and Métis students that identified as having a disability
• Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) contributes directly and/or indirectly to several sustainable development goals, including SDG 4 (Quality education), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth) and SDG 10 (Reduce inequalities). The financial and non-financial support provided to students to study and work abroad enhances their post-secondary education and allows them to develop the soft skills and global competencies needed to transition into the labour market. In particular, the objective is for 50% of funding to be dedicated to underrepresented students (students from low-income households, Indigenous students, and students with disabilities)
• the Outbound Student Mobility Pilot (OSMP), also branded as Global Skills Opportunity (GSO), aims to increase participation in study and work abroad opportunities for Canadian college and undergraduate university students. Between April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, approximately 2,812 students had participated in the program, which includes 77% of participants identifying as an underrepresented student. In the 2022 to 2023 fiscal year, 68% of participants identified as a low-income student, 17% identified as a student with a disability, and 13% identified as an Indigenous student

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Canada Service Corps

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Canada Service Corps Program contributes to advancing SDG 4 by promoting lifelong learning opportunities for participants during the course of their service opportunity.

2022 to 2023 results: the Canada Service Corps (CSC) program supported the delivery of more than 9,000 service opportunities in fiscal year 2022 to 2023. These opportunities supported youth in their lifelong learning journeys, particularly those from Indigenous and under-served populations. The service opportunities have allowed youth to contribute meaningfully to their communities while developing valuable skills and experiences.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care initiatives contribute to advancing:

• Canadian Indicators Framework Ambition: “Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 4.2: “By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the department will continue to work with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners to build and maintain a Canada-wide early learning and child care system This will ensure that all families have access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care. It also promotes quality early education and learning for young children, preparing them for school
• key targets of Canada-wide early learning and child care system include achieving an average cost of $10-a-day for regulated child care for children under age 6 and creating approximately 250,000 new affordable, regulated child care spaces across Canada by March 2026
• as of March 31, 2023, 4 of Canada’s provinces and territories (Quebec, Yukon, Nunavut, and Newfoundland and Labrador) were delivering regulated child care for an average of $10-a-day, or less, and 2 others (Saskatchewan and Manitoba) had announced plans to lower fees to $10-a-day effective April 1 and 2, 2023, respectively. In addition, 51,617 new child care spaces had been announced by provinces and territories under the auspices of the Canada-wide early learning and child care system, as of March 31, 2023
• in 2022 to 2023, the department continued to support First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation partners in making advances on Early Learning and Child Care priorities. This year the department and its federal partners funded over 400 proposals for repairs and renovations to existing Indigenous early learning and child care centres. These projects were funded via the $264 million over 4 years, starting in 2022-23, and $24 million, ongoing, for repairs and renovations originally announced in Budget 2021. This funding helped ensure a safe, healthy and accessible environment for children and staff

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities contributes to advancing UN 2030 Global Indicator Framework SDG 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.”

2022 to 2023 results: the program has supported 4,047 persons with disabilities gain relevant skills for employment.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Skills for Success Program

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: Skills for Success contributes to advancing the UN Global Indicator Framework target 4.6: “By 2030, ensure that all youth and substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.”

2022 to 2023 results: The Skills for Success program helped adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy by providing training to 33,088 participants.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Workforce Development Agreements (WDAs) and Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs)

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Workforce Development Agreements and the Labour Market Development Agreements contribute to advancing: 

• UN Global Indicator Framework target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 4.5: “By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 4.6: “By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy”

2022 to 2023 results: this program provides funding to individuals and employers via the labour market transfers to provinces and territories. These bilateral transfers include the Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs) and the Workforce Development Agreements (WDAs). Together these provide $3.5 billion each year for individuals and employers to receive:

• training
• upskilling
• employment supports
• career counselling, and
• job search assistance

Every year, Canadians receive more than a million training and employment supports through this federal funding. Specifically, in 2021 to 2022, more than 292,000 skills training services were provided. From this total:

• 79,000 skills development training were provided to youth aged between 15 and 24 years old.
• 126,000 skills development training were provided to women.
• 30,000 skills development training were provided to Indigenous people.
• 47,000 skills development training were provided to persons with disabilities.

There is a 1-year lag in data. As such, results for 2022 to 2023 will be available to be published in 2023 to 2024 Departmental Results Report.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Employment Equity Act

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets:

• Employment Equity Act contributes to advancing:
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 5.a: “undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws”
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition: 5.2 “Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life”
• Pay Gap Reporting contributes to advancing:
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 5.2: “Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 5.c: “Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels”

2022 to 2023 results: in 2022 to 2023, the Employment Equity Act Review Task Force completed their consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including employers and unions, community organizations, public, private and non-profit sectors as well as advocacy groups and networks. Overall, the Task Force held 109 meetings with a total of 337 attendees representing 176 organizations. The Task Force also received over 400 written submissions covering the full scope of the review, and an additional 350 expressions of views shared via electronic correspondence. The Task Force finalized its recommendations and submitted its final draft report to the Minister of Labour in April 2023. The department is translating the report and conducting preliminary analysis.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.”

2022 to 2023 results: the program issued 3,204 Apprenticeship Incentive Grants for Women to encourage women to enter and stay in the Red Seal trades that have low female representation.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework Target 5.c: “Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all woman and girls at all levels.”

2022 to 2023 results: the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program promoted gender equity and empowerment by providing training and other supports to 27,342 Indigenous women, including 24,217 new clients, which represented 50% of program participation overall.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Employment Insurance parental and caregiving benefits

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Employment Insurance parental and caregiving benefits contribute to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 5.3 “Canadians share responsibilities within households and families”
• Canadian Indicator Framework target 5.3.1: “Equal sharing of parenting roles and family responsibilities”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 5.4: “Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate”

2022 to 2023 results:

• in fiscal year 2021 to 2022, the total number of new Employment Insurance parental benefit claims established was 241,900. Women represented 71.7% of these claims compared to 28.3% for men, which represents a 4.8% increase in the share of parental claims established by men from the previous fiscal year
• this higher proportion can be attributed to the additional weeks of benefits available to parents of a child born or adopted on or after March 17, 2019, who share parental benefits. Claims from adoptive parents continued to account for less than 1.0% (about 1,400) of all parental claims in 2021 to 2022
• this measure was put in place to encourage gender equity at home by encouraging fathers to participate more actively in the care of a newborn or new child
• results for 2022 to 2023 are not yet available due to a 1-year lag in data

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Supplement and Allowances

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Old Age Security program contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework target 5.6a: “undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws.”

2022 to 2023 results: while the beneficiaries of the Old Age Security (OAS) pension are gender-balanced (54% women and 46% men), more women (58%) than men (42%) benefit from the GIS, and predominantly more women (85%) than men (15%) benefit from the Allowances. In addition, more women (56%) than men (44%) are pensioners aged 75 and over and are receiving a higher pension amount as a result of the permanent increase to the OAS pension for seniors aged 75 and over, which started in July 2022.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Early Learning and Child Care

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system contributes to advancing:

• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 5.4: “Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life”
• Canadian Indicator Framework Ambition/Target 5.2.1: “Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making”
• Canadian Indicator Framework Ambition/Target 5.3.1: “Canadians share responsibilities within households and families”

2022 to 2023 results:

• access to child care supports women and girls to fully and effectively participate in political, economic, and public life. Research shows that child care availability and affordability strongly impact mothers’ ability to enter or remain in the labour market or school, if they wish
• furthermore, the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreements provide the flexibility for provinces and territories to support early childhood educators, the majority of whom are women. In turn, this supports the growth of a Canada-wide early learning and child care system and promotes the overall higher valuing of care work

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Accessible Canada Act

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Accessible Canada Act contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the Accessible Canada Directorate kickstarted National AccessAbility Week celebrations in 2022 and 2023 with the annual Canadian Congress on Disability Inclusion (CCDI). CCDI includes a virtual career fair for persons with disabilities, which features some of Canada’s most diverse and inclusive employers and employment support organizations
• the Accessible Canada Act (the act) requires federally regulated entities to identify, remove and prevent barriers to accessibility in 7 priority areas including employment. The Accessible Canada Regulations came into force on December 21, 2021, followed closely by guidance on preparing accessibility plans
• in 2022, the department published further guidance on consulting persons with disabilities, descriptions of feedback processes, simple, clear, and concise language, and alternate formats. Additional guidance on progress reports was published in March 2023
• as part of their accessibility plans, organizations must report back on their policies, programs, practices, and services to improve accessibility in the priority areas referred to in the act, one of which is employment. In doing so, organizations develop a culture of inclusiveness, and support the labour market integration and community involvement of persons with disabilities

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Guaranteed Income Supplement

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Guaranteed Income Supplement contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.5 “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) Earnings Exemption allows GIS and Allowance recipients who wish to remain active in the labour market to exempt a portion of their earnings from the calculation of their benefits, thereby providing an incentive for these beneficiaries to remain in, or re-enter, the labour force
• among all 2.4 million GIS and Allowance beneficiaries in March 2023, 16% (394,600) experienced an increase in their benefits due to the GIS earnings exemption. The average annual increase in benefits was $1,719.00
• more men (53%, 207,600) than women (47%, 187,000) benefit from the GIS earnings exemption. In addition, annual benefit increases were slightly higher for men ($1,739) than for women ($1,696)

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.”

2022 to 2023 results: through the Social Innovation and Social Finance (SI/SF) Strategy, the Investment Readiness Program (IRP) supported 450 social purpose organizations (SPOs) to build their capacity to access social finance in 2022 to 2023. The IRP encourages SPOs, including charities, non-profits, cooperatives, and mission-focused for-profits to develop the skills needed to access alternative sources of financing that can be used to innovate and grow social impact.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Provide 10 days of paid sick leave for federally regulated workers

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: this initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 8.5: “Canadians contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”

2022 to 2023 results: since December 31, 2022, employees in federally regulated industries have started accumulating days of paid medical leave up to a maximum of 10 days per year. This empowers the nearly 1 million affected employees to prioritize their health and improve their working conditions by providing them with a no cost or limited cost alternative leave to use when they are sick.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Negotiation and implementation of labour provisions of free trade agreements

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: this initiative contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the department actively negotiated labour provisions in free trade talks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Indonesia, India, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom
• to further the implementation of free trade agreements, the department helped developing partner countries support compliance with international labour standards. For example, in the context of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the department continued to fund capacity-building projects, including a new project in Malaysia. This project seeks to enhance national and sectoral actions to adopt in law and implement international labour standards, with focus on tackling child and forced labour, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Forced Labour in Global Supply initiatives intends

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: this initiative contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.7: “Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the department continued to negotiate enforceable labour provisions in Canada’s free trade agreements, including obligations to address child and forced labour. This was accompanied by investment in technical capacity building to help recipient countries uphold these obligations. For example, ongoing financial support was provided to World Vision Canada for a project that seeks to strengthen the capacities of Mexican labour authorities, employers and agricultural workers to protect labour rights and address forced and child labour in the tomato, cucumber and eggplant sectors in the states of Sinaloa and Jalisco
• the department also regularly engaged stakeholders on possible measures to address labour exploitation, notably following the release of the “Labour exploitation in global supply chains: What we heard report” in March 2022
• in addition, the department continued to work with a range of other federal departments to support complementary initiatives to address exploitation in supply chains. This includes: advancing operationalization of the importation ban on goods produced with forced labour, ongoing participation in technical meetings to develop a standard on human rights due diligence and a range of domestic and international engagements to strengthen domestic and global action to increase supply chain transparency and responsible business conduct

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Employment Equity Act

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Employment Equity Act contributes to advancing:

• UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 8.1 and 8.3: “Canadians have access to quality jobs”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the department produced the “Employment Equity Act: Annual Report 2022”. The report shows progress made by federally regulated private sector employers in making workplaces more equitable and inclusive for the 4 designated groups – women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities. The report includes key highlights such as:

• persons with disabilities were about as likely as persons without disabilities to earn less than $50,000 (26.4% and 27.7% respectively among women; 17.7% and 17.6% respectively among men). However, they are slightly less likely to earn over $100,000 (14.1% and 15.3% respectively among women; 21.6% and 24.2% respectively among men). These same statistics show a significant gender gap between women with disabilities and men with disabilities

• in 2022 to 2023, the Employment Equity Act Review Task Force completed their consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including employers and unions, community organizations, public, private and non-profit sectors as well as advocacy groups and networks. The Task Force’s recommendations were submitted to the Minister of Labour in April 2023. The department will use the recommendations to develop options for modernizing the Employment Equity Act

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program through the Migrant Support Worker Program will contribute to advancing the UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.”

2022 to 2023 results:

• in October of 2022, the Migrant Worker Support Program was launched to help workers better understand and exercise their rights. The program has since funded 101 community-based migrant worker support organizations to deliver airport orientation and community-based services. Airport Orientation Services are offered in 3 airports across Canada: Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto. Recipients receiving funding for community-based services are in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. These organizations have negotiated agreements with approximately 95nearly 100 sub-agreement holders to deliver community-based services across Canada. Support delivered through the Migrant Worker Support Program is expected to affect temporary foreign workers of diverse demographics equitably and positively. Given that intersectional identity factors can exacerbate workplace vulnerabilities for foreign workers, this program is of particular benefit to workers identifying as women and/or members of racialized communities
• furthermore, along with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Department implemented a series of regulatory amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations that came into force on September 26, 2022. These regulatory amendments better protect temporary foreign workers and help prevent mistreatment and abuse during their stay in Canada. They include mandating that employers provide all temporary foreign workers with information about their rights in Canada, prohibiting reprisal by employers against workers, particularly for those who come forward with complaints, and requiring employers to provide reasonable access to health-care services

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”.

2022 to 2023 results: the program issued 3,204 Apprenticeship Incentive Grants for Women to encourage women to enter and stay in the Red Seal trades that have low female representation.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 8.1: “Canadians have access to quality jobs”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”

2022 to 2023 results: in 2022 to 2023, the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program helped 8,468 individuals from equity-deserving groups, or 58% of total individual participants, access or participate in the training they need to enter and/or progress in the workforce. All projects are required to incorporate diversity and inclusion principles in their design and demonstrate how they will increase the participation of equity-deserving groups in their sector or sectors. Various projects also provided, or funded the provision of, wrap-around supports, such as childcare and transportation, to help equity-deserving groups get the skills they need to find work in key sectors. Ten projects also focused on providing persons with disabilities workforce supports, solutions and tools across multiple in-demand sectors.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program and Skills and Partnerships Fund

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program and the Skills and Partnerships Fund contribute to advancing:

• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 8.1: “Canadians have access to quality jobs” 
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 8.6: “Canadians contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth”

2022 to 2023 results:

• through the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program, training and other supports were provided to 54,694 Indigenous people in total, including 29,851 Indigenous youth and 6,271 Indigenous persons with disabilities. This led to 20,167 jobs in 2022 to 2023
• through the Skills and Partnership Fund, training and other supports were provided to 208 Indigenous people in total, including 118 Indigenous youth

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Opportunities Fund contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework 8.2 ambition: “Canadians have access to quality jobs”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”

2022 to 2023 results: the program has supported 4,047 persons with disabilities, of which 2,416 became employed or self-employed, and 430 returned to school. These results do not include those from Quebec, which will be reported by December 2023.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Skills for Success program and Women’s Employment Readiness Pilot Program

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets:

• the Skills for Success program through targeted investments in the design and delivery of training and training resources contributes to advancing:
• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 8.1: “Canadians have access to quality jobs”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”
• the Women’s Employment Readiness Pilot Program also contributes to advancing these same targets

2022 to 2023 results: the Skills for Success program program helped Canadians achieve employment. Organizations providing training reported that 521 (2.5%) participants found a job after completing their training in 2022 to 2023. Most organizations with a significant number of participants were unable to provide data on these indicators due to their recent project commencement in 2022 to 2023 or did not complete training in 2022 to 2023.

As of midpoint reporting, the Women’s Employment Readiness Pilot Program provided 1,024 women with foundational and transferable skills training, of which 906 women took advantage of the wrap-around supports that were offered to all participants. As well, 58% of the pilot participants had either found employment after being previously unemployed, had obtained a better job or had received a promotion with better pay. The final results on foundational and transferable skills, and on employment outcomes for the pilot program’s participants will be available in a What We Heard report, to be published in fall 2024.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities contributes to advancing Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 8.5: “Canadians contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth.”

2022 to 2023 results:

• given the unique socio-economic context of each official language minority community, as well as their particular needs and challenges, funding recipients carry out a wide range of activities to support the development of their respective communities. They reflect the diversity of activities implemented across the country. The program annual report presents the results achieved in 2022 to 2023, as reported by the 14 Enabling Fund-Official Language Minority Communities funding recipients: 
• 147 communities served across Canada
• services offered to 77,370 individuals, businesses and organizations
• 3,812 mobilization activities implemented
• 3,959 products developed
• 4,675 partnerships established or maintained
• 32 million dollars raised, which represents approximately $3.21 raised for every dollar invested by the Enabling Fund

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Workforce Development Agreements (WDAs) and Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs)

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Workforce Development Agreements and the Labour Market Development Agreements contribute to advancing the UN Global Indicator Framework target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.”

2022 to 2023 results:

• funding is provided to individuals and employers via the labour market transfers to provinces and territories. These bilateral transfers include the Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs) and the Workforce Development Agreements (WDAs), which together provide approximately $3 billion each year for individuals and employers to receive:
• Training
• Upskilling
• Employment supports
• Career counselling
• Job search assistance
• every year, Canadians receive more than a million training and employment supports through this federal funding.
• in 2021 to 2022 more than 366,000 individuals were employed after their participation to training and support under the labour market transfers. From the total, 141,000 were women, 70,000 were aged between 15 and 24, and 66,000 were persons with disabilities. The average increased earnings over a 4-year period is $13,000 for participants who received skills development training under the LMDA.
• there is 1-year lag in data. As such, results for 2022 to 2023 will be available to be published in 2023 to 2024 Departmental Results Report

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: this strategy contributes to advancing Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 8.1: “Canadians have access to quality jobs.”

2022 to 2023 results: programs undertaken as part of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy provided quality work placements, employment, training and supports to 141,262 youth:

• Canada Summer Jobs: 115,003
• Youth Employment Skills Strategy program: 26,259

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Early Learning and Child Care

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care initiatives contribute to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework Indicator 8.1.1: “Unemployment rate and Labour force characteristics”
• Canadian Indicator Framework Indicator 8.2.1: “Proportion of employees earning less than 66% of the median hourly wage for permanent full-time employees”
• Global Indicator Framework Indicator 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value”
• Global Indicator Framework Indicator 8.5.1 “Average hourly earnings of employees, by sex, age, occupation and persons with disabilities”
• Global Indicator Framework Indicator 8.5.2 “Unemployment rate, by sex, age and persons with disabilities”
• Global Indicator Framework Indicator 8.6.1 “Proportion of youth (aged 15–24 years) not in education, employment or training”

2022 to 2023 results:

• five years through the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreements, provinces and territories have announced new investments in the early childhood workforce in areas such as hiring, retention, training, and wage increases
• in March 2023, the employment rate for women aged 25-54 in Canada was 82.0%. The employment rate for women with a child under 6 was at 76.2%, a 1.7% increase from a year prior. The Bank of Canada’s recent analysis suggests a rise in the labour market participation rate among women could be due in part to lower average fees for regulated child care under the Canada-wide early learning and child care system

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 10.1: “Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI) takes targeted measures to build capacity and foundational infrastructure in Black communities. In contribution to targets 10.1 and 10.2, the department has established a National Funders Network led by 4 leading Black-led organizations to support the capacity building of grassroots, Black-led community-based organizations. The National Funders Network has awarded $50 million to over 939 Black-led and Black-serving grassroots organizations across Canada. Through the capital assistance stream of the SBCCI, the department invested over $82 million, which has been awarded to more than 1,300 projects in Black communities across Canada to assist Black-led and Black-serving community organizations with renovations and equipment purchases
• in contribution to target 10.3, the SBCCI launched the External Reference Group to provide advice to the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities and to ESDC on SBCCI implementation, ensuring that Black voices are heard and that priorities identified by Black people and communities are addressed, either by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) or other federal departments or agencies. Also, the SBCCI will support the establishment of a National Institute for People of African Descent (the National Institute) 

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Black-Led Philanthropic Endowment Fund

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Black-Led Philanthropic Endowment Fund contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 10.1: “Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard”

2022 to 2023 results: the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund seeks to provide a sustainable source of funding for Black-led, Black focused, Black serving, non- profit organizations and registered charities in Canada. It will endow Foundation for Black Communities, which will be responsible for investing the endowment and using the investment income to provide funding to Black-led, Black-focused and Black-serving organizations across the country, including those serving Black individuals at the intersection of multiple forms of oppression.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy contributes to advancing Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 10.1: “Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced.”

2022 to 2023 results: through the Social Innovation and Social Finance (SI/SF) Strategy, the Investment Readiness Program (IRP) has worked towards increasing opportunities and decreasing barriers for social purpose organizations (SPOs) led by and serving equity-deserving groups. In 2022 to 2023, over 80% of the SPOs that received funding through the IRP were led by and/or serving equity deserving groups.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 10.1: “Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 10.1: “By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 10.4: “Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality”

2022 to 2023 results: the COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group provided advice to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion as well as Government of Canada officials. This advice was focused on promoting disability inclusion and targeting barriers to the full participation of persons with disabilities. It included advice on key actions under the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and other priority files for the Government of Canada.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons (CRPD) with Disabilities

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: Canada’s ongoing implementation of the CRPD contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework 10.2.1: “Proportion of population reporting discrimination or unfair treatment”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 10:4: “Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality”

2022 to 2023 results: Canada submitted its combined second and third report to the CRPD Committee in October 2022 and will appear before the Committee to answer questions about its implementation of the CRPD in the future (date to be determined pending scheduling by the Committee).

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 10.1: “Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”

2022 to 2023 results: the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) was designed to ensure that all youth, including those facing barriers, have an equal opportunity to find meaningful work. Programs undertaken as part of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy provide quality work placements, employment, training and supports to 141,262 youth, including 5,645 Indigenous youth, 15,889 visible minority youth, and 37,211 women.

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program and Skills and Partnership Fund

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: Indigenous Skills and Employment Training and the Skills and Partnership Fund contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 10.1: “Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”
• UN Global Indicator Framework 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard”

2022 to 2023 results:

• through the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program, training and other supports were provided to 54,694 Indigenous people in total, including 29,851 Indigenous youth and 6,271 Indigenous persons with disabilities. This led to 20,167 jobs in 2022 to 2023
• through the Skills and Partnership Fund, training and other supports were provided to 208 Indigenous people in total, including 118 Indigenous youth

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Workforce Development Agreements (WDAs) and Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs)

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Workforce Development Agreements and the Labour Market Development Agreements continues to advance Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 10.2: “Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced.”

2022 to 2023 results:

• funding is provided to individuals and employers via the labour market transfers to provinces and territories. These bilateral transfers include the Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs) and the Workforce Development Agreements (WDAs), which together provide approximately $3 billion each year for individuals and employers to receive:

• Training
• Upskilling
• Employment supports
• Career counselling
• Job search assistance

• every year, Canadians receive more than a million training and employment supports through this federal funding. In 2021 to 2022, there were more than 1 million training and employment supports provided to individuals across Canada. From this total, 530,000 persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and racialized Canadians received services.
• there is 1-year lag in data. Results for 2022 to 2023 will be available to be published in 2023 to 2024 Departmental Results Report

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 10.1: “Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status”

2022 to 2023 results: the Opportunities Fund program serves all eligible Canadians who self-identify as having a disability. In 2022 to 2023, the program has supported 4,047 persons with disabilities. The program aims to serve 6,000 individuals annually (24,000 over 4 years: fiscal year 2022 to 2023 to fiscal year 2025 to 2026).

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities contributes to advancing UN Global Indicator Framework target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.”

2022 to 2023 results: the Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities -OLMC serves francophones and anglophones in official language minority communities, as well as underrepresented groups within those communities. In 2022 to 2023, the following results were reported:

• 15,534 youth (age 30 and below)
• 1,265 older workers (age 55 and above)
• 13,284 women
• 6,601 visible minorities
• 14,815 immigrants
• 2,100 indigenous peoples
• 101 persons with disabilities
• 41 2SLGBTQIA+

Note: not every organization reported the number of participants within each underrepresented group, so actual numbers are higher, and other groups were served but not reported on.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Government of Canada’s Internet presence

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: this work contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 16.7: “Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 16.10: “Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements”
• UN Global Indicator Framework 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the department supported Canadians by providing easy, fast, and reliable access to information and services online that were put in place during the pandemic
• Service Canada communicated critical information to the public through the Canada.ca website provided 24/7 access to trusted, reliable and accessible information, online services and tools and information on benefits
• service Canada published wait-times in real time for the 1 800 O-Canada service, published Passport processing times and Passport in-person service wait times during the peak period earlier this year on Canada.ca
• in fiscal year 2022 to 2023, the Canada.ca website was visited 1,243,736,577 times
• To support Global Indicator Framework target 16.10, Service Canada used website visitors’ survey responses to improve the department’s online presence in 2022 to 2023. The goal is to make it easier for clients to complete their tasks online
• additionally, Canadians continued to have access to theme-based content, the use of a search function that allows users to find content from anywhere on the Government of Canada site and tools tailored to specific programs, such as Chatbots

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Government of Canada’s Telephone Access

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: this work contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 16.7: “Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions”
• UN Global Indicator Framework target 16.10: “Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements”
• UN Global Indicator Framework 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels”

2022 to 2023 results:

• the department continued to deliver the toll-free telephone service, 1 800 O-Canada, which provides the public with general information on all Government of Canada programs, services and initiatives. Through 1 800 O-Canada, the public continued to:
• get information about Government of Canada programs and services, including the rapidly changing pandemic communications as travel resumed
• receive answers about programs and services quickly and accurately
• be directed to the information or services they need in an accessible and convenient way
• in 2022 to 2023, the 1 800 O-Canada service answered 2.25 million calls, 80% of which were answered within 18 seconds

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy contributes to advancing:

• Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 17.1: “Canada fosters collaboration and partnerships to advance the SDGs”
• UN Global Indicator Framework Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships”

2022 to 2023 results: through the Social Innovation and Social Finance (SI/SF) Strategy:

• the Investment Readiness Program (IRP) has encouraged organizations to leverage partnerships. It has done this by promoting partnership convening meetings, conducting monthly check-in meetings with IRP funding recipients to strengthen relationships between the department and the SI/SF ecosystem, and ensuring that all funding agreements under the IRP had money allocated to relationship building
• the department has signed contribution agreements with 3 social finance wholesalers (in other words, professional investment fund managers) to make social finance investments and undertake market-building activities, including relationship-building and attracting private investors. This will help to strengthen Canada’s social finance market to generate impacts that advance Canada’s progress towards achieving the SDGs

2022 to 2023 planned initiative: Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Funding Program

Associated domestic targets or “ambitions” and/or global targets: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Funding Program contributes to advancing Canadian Indicator Framework ambition 17.1: “Canada fosters collaboration and partnerships to advance the SDGs.”

2022 to 2023 results:

• through the SDG Funding Program, the department continues to engage with Canadians to build awareness of the SDGs, foster new knowledge, create partnerships and networks and encourage action to drive progress on the SDGs and on Moving Forward Together Canada’s 2030 National Strategy
• in 2022 to 2023, the program supported 14 projects that helped to address knowledge and data gaps in relation to Canada’s 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. One project was the 2022 edition of Together|Ensemble, Canada’s national conference devoted to tracking progress on the SDGs. Hosted by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the University of Waterloo this annual conference represented an all-of-society approach to addressing Canada’s sustainable development challenges, bringing together the private sector, academia, government, and civil society. Together|Ensemble incorporated the foundational principles of the SDGs by being an event that is accessible, inclusive, multi-generational, equity-based and bilingual
• the SDG Funding Program also enabled Canada to strengthen its collaboration and partnership with 3 National Indigenous Organizations, namely the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Inuit Tapiirit Kanatami (ITK) and the Metis National Council (MNC). This contributed to advancing Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, one of the 5 core objectives of Moving Forward Together: Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy, ensuring that Indigenous voices, views and traditional knowledge are reflected in Canada’s work to advance the SDGs