Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities - Employment Assistance Services

Information sessions

We will hold information sessions to give an overview of this application process. You can take part online or by teleconference.

• April 30, 2024 at 1:00 pm, EDT (French)
• April 30, 2024 at 11:00 am, EDT (English)
• June 4, 2024 at 1:00 pm, EDT (French)
• June 4, 2024 at 11:00 am, EDT (English)

If you are interested, send an email to NC-FHCLOSM-EFOLMC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca.

In your email, specify your preferred language (English or French) and if you need accommodations. We will send you the instructions on how to attend.

Should you wish to receive a copy of the Information session presentation, please send an email to: NC-FHCLOSM-EFOLMC-GD@HRSDC-RHDCC.GC.CA

Help and contact information

FAQs

Please find below a list of the frequently asked questions and answers, categorized by theme, to support Official Language Minority Community (OLMC) organizations as they prepare their application for funding.

In recognition that the field of employment assistance services (EAS) continues to evolve, and in the spirit of the “by and for” approach, all examples outlined below, and provided in the Program Funding Page and in the Information Session presentation are non-exhaustive.

Please note, all project activities, supports, and expenditures must always be oriented towards supporting clients in completing an EAS and in accessing a job. Applicants are encouraged to be innovative and creative, and to propose activities that fall within the realm of EAS as described in the Program Funding Page.

All proposals will be thoroughly reviewed before a funding decision is made. Therefore, if a proposal is selected for funding, and it is determined that some elements are ineligible, the Department will work with the applicant to adjust those prior to signing a funding agreement.

Partnerships

How can I find other organizations to partner with?

One of the Program's priorities is to maximize partnerships between relevant Official Language Minority Community (OLMC) organizations to build capacity, create economies of scale, and maximize service coverage.

In the interest of facilitating this partnership development, please see below a list of umbrella OLMC organizations across Canada, which may be able to provide you with a list of other OLMC organizations with which you could partner. Please note, all of these organizations will also need to apply to the CFP in order to secure a funding agreement directly under the EF-OLMC - EAS Stream.

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Horizon TNL

Prince Edward Island

• RDÉE Île-du-Prince-Édouard Inc.

Nova Scotia

• Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ)

New Brunswick

• Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick inc. (CÉNB)

Quebec

• Community Economic Development & Employability Corporation (CEDEC)
• Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)
• Regional Development Network (RDN)

Ontario

• Société Économique de l'Ontario (SÉO)

Manitoba

• Conseil de développement économique des municipalités bilingues du Manitoba (CDEM)

Saskatchewan

• Conseil économique et coopératif de la Saskatchewan (CÉCS)

Alberta

• Parallèle Alberta

British Columbia

• Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique (SDÉCB)

Yukon

• Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY)

Northwest Territories

• Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (CDÉTNO)

Nunavut

• Carrefour Nunavut

National Organizations

• Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA)
• Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité (RDÉE Canada)
• Community Economic Development & Employability Corporation (CEDEC)
• Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)
• Regional Development Network (RDN)

What experience does an organization require to apply for and deliver a project on its own? When are partners required and how can I demonstrate my partner has the required experience?

The Program encourages partnering with other OLMC organizations to meet the experience criteria, build capacity, create economies of scale, and maximize service coverage.

If an applicant wants to deliver a project independently (i.e. without partners), they must demonstrate that they meet the experience requirements of 2 years of experience within the last 5 years in:

1. Delivering EAS;
2. Integrating your organization's services into the broader skills and employment service delivery system of the province or territory in which you operate;
3. Reporting on project results; and,
4. Collecting client data through an intersectional lens.

Should they not have that experience, working with partners is required. To demonstrate that a partner has the required experience, please follow the instructions in Prepare to Apply - Question 64.

Eligibility and Funding

Can I get additional funding for my project after March 31, 2029?

EF-OLMC projects cannot be funded for more than 60 months in length. Typically, start dates for projects from a new intake process would align with the end date of the current Call for Proposals period.

As each project is a time-limited contribution agreement, it should not be assumed that organizations funded by this Call for Proposals will receive funding through another intake process in 2029.

What is an OLMC organization?

For the purposes of this Call for Proposals, an OLMC organization is one whose mission and/or mandate is dedicated primarily to supporting individuals living in OLMCs nationally, provincially, regionally, or locally, including educational or vocational institutions.

It is your responsibility as the applicant to demonstrate how your organization primarily supports individuals living in OLMCs.

What individuals can be served? Are temporary residents or international students eligible?

Eligible individuals must be English-speakers in Quebec or French-speakers outside Quebec.

Eligible clients must also be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or persons who have been granted refugee status and are legally entitled to work in Canada.

Temporary residents and international students are not eligible for programming under this Call for Proposals.

Can more than one sector/department from the same organization independently apply for funding?

Yes, it is possible for the same OLMC organization with the same business number to submit more than one project if they are submitted by different sectors/departments within that OLMC organization. However, each project must offer different activities and/or serve different clients living in OLMCs to avoid duplication.

Please note the consideration potentially given to proposals that include collaborative relationships with other service providers only applies to proposals that have identified partners external to their organization.

Activities and Supports

What kind of training can I offer as part of my activities?

In-depth skills training is not an eligible activity under this funding stream. If a client requires in-depth skills training, they should be referred to a different service provider, unless your organization offers that activity through funding under a different program.

There are some examples of mini-courses or stand-alone workshops that could be eligible for funding. These can include, but are not limited to, how to write a CV, or how to prepare for an interview.

Mini-certifications could also be eligible if they help a client overcome their last hurdle/barrier to obtaining employment. These cannot be stand-alone activities; they need to fit within a broader service offering. For example, a case-manager determines that their client could be hired for a job once they complete a mini-certification.

Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative EAS activities and to demonstrate how they will help their clients find, obtain or maintain employment. The Department will assess each of these activities individually.

Can you provide more information regarding the "Other Employment Assistance Services" category?

Please see the examples in Project Activities under Who Can Apply. Some additional examples that could fit into the "Other Employment Assistance Services" category include, but are not limited to:

• job coaching (pre or post-employment)
• job simulation experience
• marketing clients to potential employers
• mentorship supports
• self-employment support (guidance on pursuing as a career)
• labour market information to support clients in finding local employment

Please note that all eligible proposed activities under this category will be considered for funding based on how well they support the organization in addressing the needs of their clients.

Can you provide more information regarding wrap-around supports?

The purpose of wrap-around supports is to remove barriers for an individual to access or successfully complete an intervention.

Examples of wrap-around supports include, but are not limited to:

• childcare
• transportation
• access to technology
• work clothing
• language support - must be time limited and enable the client to participate in EAS activities

For example, in a situation where a client does not have the means to access transportation to participate in EAS activities, providing coverage for public transportation costs would be an eligible wrap-around expense.

Provinces and Territories

Can you explain in more detail what you mean by "working closely" with provincial or territorial (PT) governments?

Under this EAS Stream, your organization is expected to work collaboratively with your PT to ensure the best possible labour market outcomes for your clients.

To achieve this, your organization will be required to:

• Work with your PT to integrate your organizations' services into their broader skills and employment delivery system to better support clients' needs;
• Develop and/or maintain knowledge of your PT service delivery system to refer clients and enable them to continue on their pathway to employment; and,
• Send and receive clients for training or supports through a formal or informal referral process depending on the process of your PT.

Can OLMC organizations that are currently receiving funding from their province or territory (PT) also apply for funding under this Call for Proposals?

As noted, one of the objectives of this Call for Proposals is to seek integration into the broader PT training and employment service delivery system, and the Program is in close communication with them to this end and to seek complementarity between service offerings.

Organizations in receipt of PT funding may seek funding through this Call for Proposals. If your organization is already receiving funding for EAS-related activities from a PT at the time of completing your proposal, it needs to be indicated in the financing questions (Q. 66-71), and in the Budget Detail Template.

To avoid duplication, it is important that OLMC organizations do not receive funding from more than one source to deliver the same activities to the same recipients.

Here are some examples of how OLMC organizations that deliver or wish to deliver EAS with other funding providers can ensure these guidelines are respected:

• Your proposed EF-OLMC project could expand existing services provided to clients beyond what you are currently offering.
• Your proposed EF-OLMC project could leverage funding from other sources to offer services to clients beyond the scope the EF-OLMC project.
• Should your organization wish to replace existing funding with an agreement through this Call for Proposals, you would need to re-negotiate the agreement you currently have with other funding source(s) so that you can reallocate those funds towards other activities beyond the scope of your EF-OLMC project.

General information

• Enquiries will be accepted between April 11, 2024 to June 18, 2024.
• Email: NC-FHCLOSM-EFOLMC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Accessibility and disability help

• If you need help or accommodations, please contact us by May 31, 2024.
• Email: NC-FHCLOSM-EFOLMC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca