Horizontal initiatives

1. Youth Employment Strategy

Name of horizontal initiative: Youth Employment Strategy

Name of Lead Department: Employment and Social Development Canada

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

Non-federal and non-governmental partner: Not applicable

Lead departmental program: Skills and Employment

Start date of the horizontal initiative: April 1, 2003

End date of the horizontal initiative: Ongoing

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Ongoing

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars): $4,318.1M^{Footnote 1}

• This total represents planned spending under the YES from 2005-06 to 2015-16. Included in this amount is spending from YES departments and agencies that are no longer part of the YES horizontal initiative (for example: Canada Food Inspection Agency)

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars): $3,874.6M^{Footnote 2}

• This total represents actual spending under the YES from 2005-06 to 2015-16. Included in this amount is spending from YES departments and agencies that are no longer a part of the YES horizontal initiative (for example: Canada Food Inspection Agency)

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners (dollars): Not applicable

Description of the horizontal initiative (including funding agreement): The Youth Employment Strategy helps youth aged 15 to 30 get the career information and gain the skills, work experience and abilities they need to find and maintain employment. The Youth Employment Strategy is an ESDC-led horizontal initiative involving 10 other federal departments and agencies that assist youth in making a successful transition into today’s changing labour market. The Youth Employment Strategy has three program streams—Skills Link, Career Focus and Summer Work Experience, which includes Canada Summer Jobs. This program is delivered nationally, regionally and locally via funding instruments such as contribution agreements and direct delivery methods.

This program uses funding from the following transfer payment: Youth Employment Strategy.

Shared outcomes: The shared outcomes of partners for the common key results are:

• number of youth served
• number of youth employed / self-employed; and
• number of youth returning to school

Governance structures: The YES has a Performance Measurement Strategy in place that represents a commitment among the 11 participating federal departments to undertake an ongoing collection of common performance measurement data to ensure effective overall performance measurement of the program.

Oversight of the YES horizontal initiative is provided through a collaborative committee structure. ESDC is responsible for facilitating coordination and funding among YES participating departments and agencies funding YES activities. As lead of this horizontal initiative, ESDC chairs and is responsible for the coordination and management of the YES Interdepartmental Operations Committee and the YES Evaluation Sub-Committee.

Performance highlights: To expand employment opportunities for young Canadians, Budget 2016 proposed to invest an additional $165.4 million in the YES in 2016–17.

As a result of this funding, a number of measures were implemented in the last year to increase the number of good quality jobs for younger workers. These measures are helping young Canadians to gain work experience so they can gain a foothold in today’s labour market.

Specifically, additional investments in 2016-17 are supporting four initiatives.

1. The creation of approximately 2,440 new green jobs for youth, to help young Canadians gain valuable work experience, learn about our natural environment and contribute to economic growth in environmental sectors
• As a horizontal initiative, through eight participating departments, the YES exceeded targets by creating 2,767 green jobs in 2016-17
2. Approximately 5,000 additional youth to access the Skills Link program which helps young Canadians—including amongst others, Indigenous and disabled youth —make a more successful transition to the workforce
• At least 4,613 additional clients were served through Skills Link. As a horizontal initiative, this was implemented through ESDC, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). While ESDC knows that there was a significant increase in the number of clients served, final results from INAC were not available at the time of this report
3. Additional job opportunities for young Canadians in the heritage sector which are helping youth build advanced skills in career-related work in the heritage and arts-oriented trades and professions; and supported the lead up to Canada’s 150th anniversary
• The Department of Canadian Heritage created an additional 150 jobs through the YES Career Focus program stream
4. In addition to the Budget 2016 commitments, on February 12, 2016, the Government announced that it would invest $339 million over three years, starting in 2016–17, to create up to 35,000 additional jobs in each of the three years under the Canada Summer Jobs program (CSJ)
   • The 2016 program cycle did not start until after the November 2015 federal election, resulting in a later than usual program launch, delayed funding approvals and notification to employers. CSJ 2016 was nonetheless a success with 65,883 jobs created for the summer of 2016.

Shared outcome of federal partners: 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 indicators:

• Number of clients served who have started one or more interventions within the current fiscal year
• Number of clients employed or self-employed
• Number of clients returned to school

Targets:

• ESDC Targets:
• 42,710 - number of clients served
• 4,952 - number of clients employed/self-employed
• 1,405 - number of clients returned to school
• YES Horizontal targets (for all 11 participating departments and agencies, including ESDC)
• 50,067 - number of clients served
• 5,533 - number of clients employed/self-employed^{Footnote 3}
• 1,511- number of clients returned to school^{Footnote 3}

Data source and frequency of monitoring and reporting: The YES Interdepartmental Data Collection System (DCS) is the system that serves as a repository for youth participant data collected by the government departments and agencies participating in the YES. Once all the participant information forms are inputted in the DCS, partner departments and agencies are able to conduct searches and produce reports based on their respective inputted information which includes extracting data for reporting purposes at the end of the fiscal year. ESDC is responsible for maintaining the DCS for use by the other government departments and agencies across all streams of the YES.

Results

Comments on variances: The majority of the variance is attributable to additional investments made in 2016-17 for the YES, including an increase in funding for Skills Link, the Canada Summer Jobs, green jobs, and heritage opportunities. This additional funding was not included in the planned spending estimate for the 2016-17 Report on Plans and Priorities. As well, there was some variance between total authorities and actual spending amounts due to delays in implementing new initiatives.

Canadian Heritage also contributes an additional $5.0M annually through its Young Canada Works program to fund student employment positions in small and medium-sized museums.

ISED expenditures reflect the financial position of its programs as of March 31st, 2017.

National Research Council Canada includes expenditures for new projects in 2016-17, as well as projects that began in previous years and continued in 2016-17. Clients served covers the number of participants for the fiscal year 2016-17; however, only participants whose internships ended during the fiscal year 2016-17 were included in the number of individuals who were employed.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) received a transfer of $13,000 from ESDC as part of the YES mid-year review.

As part of the YES mid-year review, $300,000 was transferred from ESDC to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Does not include results for INAC as they are not available at the time of publication.

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: 2020

Results to be achieved by non-federal partners: Not applicable

Contact information:

• Monika Bertrand, Director General
  Employment Programs and Partnerships
  Skills and Employment Branch
• Telephone: 819-654-3345
• monika.bertrand@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
• Place du Portage, Phase IV
  140 Promenade du Portage
  Gatineau, Québec

2. Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Name of horizontal initiative: Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Name of Lead Department: Employment and Social Development Canada

Federal partner organization: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Non-federal and non-governmental partner: Not applicable

Lead departmental program: Skills and Employment

Start date of the horizontal initiative: June 13, 2007

End date of the horizontal initiative: Ongoing

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Ongoing

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars): $632.9M^{Footnote 5}

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars): $645.6M^{Footnote 5}

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners (dollars): Not applicable (Note that employers pay for Labour Market Impact Assessments)

Description of the horizontal initiative (including funding agreement): The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) assists employers in filling their labour requirements when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are not available The Program is jointly administered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Service Canada conducts labour market impact assessments for employers applying to hire temporary foreign workers to determine the likely effect these workers would have on the Canadian job market. This program assesses the impact by looking at available labour market information for the region and the occupation, the employers’ recruitment and advertisement efforts, wages and working conditions, labour shortages and the transfer of skills and knowledge to Canadians. Service Canada answers TFWP queries through Employer Contact Centres, the Internet and at in-person points of service. ESDC works closely with IRCC, and the provinces and territories to monitor and share information that has an impact on the integrity of the TFWP, and the International Mobility Program (IMP) which is led by IRCC. These programs are legislated through the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. Service Canada conducts inspections for the TFWP, and, on behalf of IRCC, for the IMP. In Quebec, the TFWP is administered in partnership with the Province.

Shared outcomes:

• Canadians/permanent residents have the first opportunity to fill available jobs
• Employers have timely access to foreign workers when a genuine need exists
• The rights and protections of foreign workers are respected

These outcomes ultimately ensure that employers’ acute, short-term labour needs are met when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are not available.

Governance structures: The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is legislated through the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations and is jointly administered by ESDC and IRCC. ESDC reviews applications from employers who wish to hire temporary foreign workers and issues an assessment on the likely impact these workers would have on the Canadian labour market. Meanwhile IRCC reviews applications from temporary foreign workers, and issues visas and authorizes work permits.

Each department is responsible for the design and management of those elements of the program under its minister's responsibility.

Performance highlights: In 2016-2017, the Department made progress towards its commitment to ensure that employers have timely access to temporary foreign workers when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are not available to meet employers labour and skills needs:

• Maintaining the cap on the proportion of low-wage temporary foreign workers that can be employed at a given worksite at 20 percent for employers who accessed the Program prior to June 20, 2014, and at 10 percent for new users of the Program
• Extending the exemption on the cap for seasonal industries seeking TFWs for up to 180 days during the 2017 calendar year until December 31, 2017; and
• Requiring low-wage TFW Program employers, where appropriate, to undertake targeted recruitment of under-represented groups, including Indigenous people, youth, persons with disabilities, and newcomers in the workforce

As well, in 2016-2017, the Government announced that it would:

• End the four-year cumulative duration rule for TFWs in Canada, effective immediately, in order to prevent unnecessary hardship and instability for both workers and employers (IRCC-lead)
• Support the review of the current pathway to permanent residence for all temporary foreign workers (IRCC-lead); and
• Launch the two-year Global Talent stream pilot, as part of the Government’s new Global Skills Strategy, to foster Canada’s innovation and growth by facilitating access to global talent

Shared outcome of federal partners: Not applicable^{Footnote 6}

Performance information

Comments on variances: The ESDC variance is mainly due to fewer on-site inspections then planned and lower than expected application volumes.

The IRCC variance is mostly due delays associated to legal and privacy issues related to DESDA and the sharing of information between departments, delays in IT developments due to ESDC freeze on changes to its system, attrition and delays in staffing as well as support inspections overseas and legal services that did not materialize. Included in the lapse is a frozen amount of $3.8M that IRCC did not require for reasons outlined above.

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: 2020

Results to be achieved by non-federal partners: Not applicable

Contact Information:

• Philippe Massé, Director General
  Temporary Foreign Worker Directorate
  Skills and Employment Branch
• Telephone: 819-654-3771
• philippe.massé@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
• Place du Portage, Phase IV
  140 Promenade du Portage
  Gatineau, Québec

3. National Child Benefit Initiative^{Footnote 7}

Name of horizontal initiative: National Child Benefit Initiative

Name of lead departments: Employment and Social Development Canada

Federal partner organization: Canada Revenue Agency; Indigenous and Northern Affaires Canada; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Non-federal and non-governmental partner: Not applicable

Lead departmental program: Income Security

Start date of the horizontal initiative: 1998

End date of the horizontal initiative: The new Canada Child Benefit took effect in July 2016. The new benefit replaces the existing system of child benefits (including the National Child Benefit supplement which is the federal component of the National Child Benefit Initiative).

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Ongoing

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars): Not applicable^{Footnote 7}

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars): Not applicable^{Footnote 7}

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners (dollars): Not applicable

Description of the horizontal initiative (including funding agreement): The National Child Benefit (NCB) initiative, a partnership among federal, provincial and territorial governments, with a First Nations component, was designed: to help prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty, promote attachment to the labour market by ensuring families are always better off as a result of working, and reduce program overlap and duplication. The NCB initiative provided income support and other benefits and services to low-income families with children. The Government of Canada’s contribution to the NCB initiative was the National Child Benefit (NCB) supplement. The NCB Supplement was an additional benefit paid to low-income families with children through the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), and complemented other federal supports for families with children. The NCB Supplement was enabled by the Income Tax Act and is delivered by the Canada Revenue Agency.

This program has been eliminated and replaced by the Canada Child Benefit (CCB). Responsibility for the CCB has been transferred to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Shared outcomes: The National Child Benefit (NCB) initiative had three goals:

• help prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty
• promote attachment to the labour market by ensuring that families would always be better off as a result of working; and
• reduce overlap and duplication by harmonizing program objectives and benefits and simplifying administration

Federal spending: The Government of Canada contributed to the F-P/T NCB initiative through a supplement to its Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) called the NCB Supplement. In addition to the base benefit of the CCTB, which was targeted to both low- and middle-income families, the NCB Supplement provided extra income support to low-income families with children. Federal spending on the CCTB, including the NCB Supplement, was tracked by the Canada Revenue Agency, which was responsible for its administration and delivery. As the CCTB was a tax benefit, Finance Canada was responsible for policy related to the CCTB and the preparation of spending forecasts.

Indicators and impacts: The F-P/T National Child Benefit Progress Report: 2008 includes an analysis of both direct outcome indicators, which measure only those changes that are directly attributed to the NCB initiative, and societal level indicators, which measure areas such as low income and labour force attachment.

With respect to direct outcome indicators, the report shows that the number of children prevented from living in low income (based on the after-tax low income cut-off) as a direct result of the NCB initiative was 132,900. Therefore, the NCB was responsible for a 2.0 percentage point decrease in the rate of children living below the after-tax low income cut-off.

In addition, in October 2013, F-P/T governments released a second comprehensive evaluation of the first four years of the NCB initiative (1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01 and 2001–02). It builds on the methodology of the first evaluation, reported in 2005, using two different methods of statistical analysis. The results provide clear evidence that the NCB initiative met its goal with respect to child poverty, reducing both the incidence of low income and the extent of income shortfalls for lone-parent families. The NCB initiative was also found to promote attachment to the labour market for lone-parent families.

For a complete discussion of indicators, please see Chapters 4 and 5 of the F-P/T National Child Benefit Progress Report: 2008 available on the NCB website at www.nationalchildbenefit.ca. For a discussion of evaluation results, please see the Summative Evaluation of the National Child Benefit which is available on Employment and Social Development Canada’s website at: http://www.edsc.gc.ca/eng/publications/evaluations/social_development/2013/sp_1052_10_13_eng.pdf

Performance highlights:

• Results to be achieved by non-federal and non-governmental partners: Not applicable
• Governance structures: The F-P/T NCB initiative Governance and Accountability Framework outlines the key characteristics of the F-P/T partnership: cooperation, openness, flexibility, evolution and accountability. As a cooperative effort among governments, the NCB initiative combined the strengths of a national program with the flexibility of provincial and territorial initiatives designed to meet the specific needs and conditions within each jurisdiction
• The federal role: Under the NCB initiative, the Government of Canada provided additional income support to low-income families with children via the NCB Supplement component of the CCTB. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) delivers these benefits to families.
  
  The CCTB (including the NCB Supplement) is a tax benefit and is administered by the CRA. Indigenous l and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada have roles in reinvestments and investments
• The provincial and territorial role: Under the F-P/T NCB initiative, provinces, territories and First Nations provided benefits and services that further the goals of the initiative. The initiative was designed so that provinces, territories and First Nations had the flexibility to develop and deliver programs and services that best met the needs and priorities of their communities. As part of this flexibility, provinces and territories had the option to adjust social assistance or child benefit payments by the full or partial amount of the NCB Supplement. This approach has resulted in families on social assistance being no worse off in terms of their level of benefits, while providing additional funds for new or enhanced provincial and territorial programs benefitting low-income families with children
• First Nations role: First Nations delivered the reinvestment on reserve, receiving funding from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) for self-prioritized activities in line with the stated objectives of the NCB. INAC administered the on-reserve counterpart to reinvestment programming administered by provinces and territories off reserve. INAC’s National Child Benefit Reinvestment (NCBR) follows the reference provincial/territorial approach to adjusting social assistance, reinvesting the savings by providing funding to First Nations for community-based projects. Developed in collaboration with First Nations, there are five activity areas for the NBCR on-reserve: childcare; child nutrition; support for parents; home-to-work transition; and cultural enrichment

Shared outcome of federal partners: Not applicable

Performance indicators: Not applicable

Targets: Not applicable

Data source and frequency of monitoring and reporting: Not applicable

Results: Not applicable

Performance information

Comments on variances:

• While Employment and Social Development Canada is responsible for policy development with respect to the National Child Benefit initiative, the Canada Child Tax Benefit (including the National Child Benefit Supplement) is a tax measure and is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. In addition, Indigenous and Northern Affaires Canada and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada have roles in reinvestments and investments
• On December 7, 2015, the Government announced that it will introduce proposals to create a new Canada Child Benefit in Budget 2016, with payments of the new benefit beginning in July 2016. This new benefit would replace the existing system of child benefits (including the National Child Benefit supplement)

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: No evaluation planned, Program has sunset.

Results Achieved by Non-Federal Partners: Not applicable.

Contact Information:

• Doug Murphy, Director General
  Social Policy Directorate
  Strategic and Service Policy Branch
• Telephone: 613-654-3685
• doug.murphy@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
• Place du Portage, Phase IV
  140 Promenade du Portage
  Gatineau, Québec

4. Early Childhood Development

Name of horizontal initiative: Early Childhood Development

Name of lead departments: Employment and Social Development Canada

Federal partner organization: Department of Finance Canada

Non-federal and non-governmental partner: Not applicable

Lead departmental program: Social Development

Start date of the horizontal initiative: September 2000 with funding beginning April 2001

End date of the horizontal initiative: Ongoing

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Ongoing

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars): Not applicable

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars): Not applicable

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners (dollars): Not available

Description of the horizontal initiative (including funding agreement): In September 2000, federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for social services agreed to improve and expand early childhood development supports for young children (prenatal to age six) and for their parents.

In March 2003, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for Social Services agreed on a framework for improving access to affordable, quality, provincially and territorially regulated early learning and child care programs and services. The objective of this initiative, which complements the September 2000 Early Childhood Development initiative, is to further promote early childhood development and support the participation of parents in employment or training by improving access to affordable, quality early learning and child care programs and services.

The Government of Canada is transferring $1.3 billion in 2016–17 to provinces and territories in support of post-secondary education, social assistance and social services, and early childhood development and early learning and child care through the Canada Social Transfer. As funds are transferred to the provinces and territories via the Canada Social Transfer, provinces and territories are responsible for planning and prioritizing how the funds are invested.

Shared outcomes: The objectives of the early childhood development initiative are to:

• promote early childhood development so that, to their fullest potential, children will be physically and emotionally healthy, safe and secure, ready to learn and socially engaged and responsible; and
• help children reach their potential and to help families support their children within strong communities

Governance structures: First ministers recognized that provinces and territories have the primary responsibility for early childhood development programs and services.

Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for social services and ministers of health are responsible for commitments under the initiative.

Performance highlights: As funds are transferred to the provinces and territories via the Canada Social Transfer, provinces and territories are responsible for planning and prioritizing how the funds are invested.

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: Not applicable

Results achieved by non-federal and non-governmental partners: Not applicable

Contact Information:

• Doug Murphy, Director General
  Social Policy Directorate
  Strategic and Service Policy Branch
• Telephone: 613-654-3685
• doug.murphy@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
• Place du Portage, Phase IV
  140 Promenade du Portage
  Gatineau, Québec

5. Early Learning and Child Care

Name of horizontal initiative: Early Learning and Child Care

Name of lead departments: Employment and Social Development Canada

Federal partner organization: Department of Finance Canada, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Status of Women Canada

Non-federal and non-governmental partner: Not applicable

Lead departmental program: Social Development

Start date of the horizontal initiative: March 2003

End date of the horizontal initiative: Ongoing

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Ongoing

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars): Not applicable

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars): Not applicable

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners (dollars): Not applicable

Description of the horizontal initiative (including funding agreement): In 2016, the Prime Minister asked the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs to collaborate with Indigenous peoples, provinces, and territories in developing a National Early Learning and Child Care Framework as a first step towards delivering affordable, high-quality, flexible and fully inclusive child care. A separate Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework will be co-developed with Indigenous peoples to reflect the unique needs and priorities of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children and families.

The Government of Canada worked with provinces and territories on the development of a new Early Learning and Child Care Framework agreed to in June 2017. As announced in Budget 2016, $400 million has been committed to this initiative for 2017-2018. Because child care needs vary from family to family, and because provinces and territories have responded to those needs in different ways, the Framework and the associated funding will be flexible to meet the needs of Canadian families, wherever they live.

For Indigenous early learning and child care, the Government of Canada currently invests $136.1 million annually in three key programs: Aboriginal Head Start On-Reserve (AHSOR) administered by Health Canada, Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities (AHSUNC) administered by the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative (FNICCI) administered by Employment and Social Development Canada. An additional $29.4 million was provided in 2016-17 for urgent repairs and renovations of FNICCI and AHSOR facilities. These investments will also help to set the stage for improved Indigenous early learning and child care programming while the Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework is being co-developed with Indigenous peoples.

For Indigenous early learning and child care, Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada, are responsible for their respective programs.

For Indigenous early learning and child care, the performance of the AHSOR, AHSUNC and FNICCI programs are reported on by Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada, respectively.

Shared outcomes: The objectives of the early learning and child care initiative are to:

• promote early childhood development; and
• support the participation of parents in employment or training by improving access to affordable, quality early learning and child care programs and services

As a first step, the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Early Learning and Child Care have agreed to a Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework. The new Framework sets the foundation for governments to work towards a shared long-term vision where all children across Canada can experience the enriching environment of quality early learning and child care. The guiding principles of the Framework are to increase quality, accessibility, affordability, flexibility and inclusivity in early learning and child care.

As announced in Budgets 2016 and 2017, the Government of Canada is investing $7.5 billion over 11 years to support and create more high-quality, affordable child care across the country, a portion of which will be dedicated to Indigenous early learning and child care.

For Indigenous children and families, culturally-appropriate ELCC that takes into account the cultures, traditions, values and customs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities can be critical in creating a foundation for a child’s cultural identity and sense of worth. Together with Indigenous partners, the Government of Canada has been engaging with Indigenous peoples towards the co-development of an Indigenous ELCC Framework on a separate track from the Multilateral ELCC Framework. The Indigenous ELCC Framework, once developed, will reflect the unique needs and priorities of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, and will guide future federal investments and programming. For the forthcoming Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework, indicators will be developed in collaboration with Indigenous partners and are not yet defined.

Governance structures: The early learning and child care initiative recognizes that provinces and territories have the primary responsibility for early learning and child care programs and services. Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for social services are responsible for commitments under the initiative.

For Indigenous early learning and child care, Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada, are responsible for their respective programs.

Performance highlights: As funds are transferred to the provinces and territories via the Canada Social Transfer, provinces and territories are responsible for planning and prioritizing how the funds are invested.

For Indigenous early learning and child care, the performance of the AHSOR, AHSUNC and FNICCI programs are reported on by Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada, respectively.

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation: Not applicable

Results achieved by non-federal and non-governmental partners: Not applicable

Contact Information:

• Doug Murphy, Director General
  Social Policy Directorate
  Strategic and Service Policy Branch
• Telephone: 819-654-3685
• doug.murphy@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
• Place du Portage, Phase IV
  140 Promenade du Portage
  Gatineau, Québec