Results at a glance

From Employment and Social Development Canada

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

What funds were used

In fiscal year 2016 to 2017, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) expenditures on programs and services totalled $122.8 billion, of which:

  • $116.5 billion (95%) directly benefited Canadians through Employment Insurance (EI), the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security and other statutory transfer payment programs.
  • Departmental expenditures were $1.9 billion in voted grants and contributions and $2.2 billion for employment benefits and support measures.
  • $991.9 million in Canada Education Savings Grants and Canada Learning Bonds was paid into Registered Education Savings Plans to help Canadians save early for a child’s post-secondary education.

Who was involved

As the fourth-largest department in the Government of Canada, our employees touched the lives of Canadians across the entire country. In fiscal year 2016 to 2017, of the total 21,825 FTEs (full-time equivalents – see Appendix: Definitions):

  • 17,982 FTEs (82%) were involved in the delivery of direct benefits to Canadians
    such as EI, the CPP, OAS, other statutory transfer payment programs and grants
    and contributions across Canada.
  • 3,843 FTEs (18%) supported the delivery of departmental programs and services.

ESDC assisted millions of Canadians in fiscal year 2016 to 2017

  • 93.5 million visits to the ESDC website.
  • Close to 1.8 million calls answered by 1 800 O-Canada agents.
  • 9.2 million in-person visits to Service Canada offices.
  • 4.8 million passports issued.
  • 3 million applications processed for EI (initial and renewal); 689,764 applications processed for CPP; 800,941 applications processed for OAS.
  • 27 million payments issued for EI (initial and renewal); 66.3 million payments issued for CPP; 70.5 million payments issued for OAS.
  • $3.56 billion was withdrawn from Registered Education Savings Plans, supporting post-secondary education for approximately 419,611 beneficiaries by December 31, 2016.
  • 562,000 full-time post-secondary students (aged 15-29) received federal student financial assistance, which includes students who received a Canada Student Loan, a Canada Student Grant and/or those who benefited from an interest-free status on their loan while attending school.
  • 97% of labour disputes where parties were assisted by ESDC officers were settled without work stoppages.  
  • 90% of contribution payments are processed within 28 calendar days of receiving a completed claim package for approved contribution projects.
Budgetary Financial Resources (dollars)
Fiscal year
2016 to 2017
Main EstimatesFootnote 1
Fiscal year
2016 to 2017
Planned Spending
Fiscal year
2016 to 2017
Total Authorities
Available for Use
Fiscal year
2016 to 2017
Actual Spending
(authorities used)Footnote 1
Difference
(actual minus planned)
61,637,881,808 128,078,551,139 122,979,274,637 122,754,820,080 (5,323,731,059)
Human Resources (Full-Time Equivalents [FTEs]Footnote 2)
Fiscal year
2016 to 2017
Planned
Fiscal year
2016 to 2017
Actual
Fiscal year
2016 to 2017
Difference
(actual minus planned)
20,881 21,825 944

For more information on the Department’s plans, priorities and results achieved, see the “Results: What we achieved” section of this report.

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