Response to parliamentary committees and external audits - Departmental results report for 2024 to 2025 - Employment and Social Development Canada

Summary

Over the course of 4 meetings, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Committee heard from employers, youth and other stakeholders about their experience with the Canada Summers Jobs (CSJ) program. It also met with the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth as along with senior officials from Women and Gender Equality Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and Statistics Canada.

Through oral and written testimony, employers shared how CSJ program benefits their organizations, the youth they hire and their communities. The committee also heard about ways the program could be improved. In this report, the committee shares its findings about the impact and purpose of the CSJ program; funding for the program (including timelines for confirming funding with employers); program design and flexibility; administration; and ways to better support youth. It also makes recommendations to the Government of Canada, aimed at making the program more responsive to the needs of the youth and employers it serves.

Read the full HUMA report 16.

ESDC's response and corrective actions

The government is committed to making the CSJ program more responsive to the needs of youth and employers. The government response addresses the 7 recommendations and groups them into 3 thematic categories: (1) CSJ program and process delivery improvements to increase client satisfaction; (2) Reviewing program flexibilities for employers and the role of local priorities identified by Members of Parliament; and (3) Increasing and improving communication with employers, youth and Canadians.

Read the full response to HUMA report 16.

Summary

Given grave concerns raised by multiple reports of persons with disabilities facing inequitable and unacceptable treatment while traveling with Air Canada, Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada appeared before the committee on February 5, 2024.

During Mr. Rousseau's public testimony, the committee heard about the work Air Canada is undertaking to meet its regulatory obligations relating to serving persons with disabilities. While the airline is implementing certain initiatives under its own accessibility plan, Mr. Rousseau recognized there have been issues with providing services to customers with disabilities in a consistent manner.

Given the evidence heard and, as some committee members remain uncertain about the effectiveness of the Accessible Canada Act, the committee recommended that ESDC review this legislation as well as the Accessible Canada Regulations. The review should be done to ensure regulatory requirements are enforced and met to support the needs of persons with disabilities, and prevent the serious negative experiences travelers with disabilities have experienced.

Read the full HUMA report 18.

ESDC's response and corrective actions

The government remains committed to addressing the issues raised in the report and agrees in principle with the spirit of the recommendation. The Government remains fully committed to the objective of the Accessible Canada Act, which is to realize a Canada without barriers by January 1, 2040, and is actively working to improve accessibility of air travel in Canada.

Read the full response to HUMA report 18.

Summary

Over the course of 5 meetings, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities heard from government officials, academics, labour representatives and businesses about the impacts that AI technologies are having and will continue to have on the labour force.

The committee learned about the potential impacts AI technologies could have on workers, businesses and workplaces. Witnesses also discussed the need for a better mechanism for the government to hear from experts on emerging AI issues as well as for more data collection. Based on the testimony received, the committee provides recommendations to the Government of Canada relating to: strengthening the ways in which workers' rights are protected; better supporting the ethical adoption of AI on the part of businesses and employers; and undertaking better monitoring and data collection to examine the current and future impacts of AI technologies on the labour force.

Read the full HUMA 19 report.

ESDC's response and corrective actions

ESDC collaborated with several federal departments and agencies, including Canada Revenue Agency, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Department of Justice Canada, Statistics Canada, Shared Services Canada and Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat to respond to the report. Highlights of the response include:

• the Government of Canada is committed to protecting diverse workers' rights. Federal legislation exists to provide protection for these workers' rights, including the Employment Equity Act, the Pay Equity Act and the Canada Labour Code. The Government intends to look into these statutes to assess their relevance for protecting diverse workers' rights in the context of current and future implementation of AI technologies

• the Government has been working for the last several years to develop a suite of legal and policy supports for Canadian institutions and businesses to help them with AI adoption. These initiatives are intended to promote the use of AI in an ethical and responsible manner

• ESDC is already supporting workforce development related to AI through its diverse suite of skills and employment programming and initiatives and new funding from Budget 2024 includes a monumental increase in targeted AI support of $2.4 billion, which includes $50 million over four years, starting in 2025-2026, to support workers who may be impacted by AI, such as creative industries

Read the full response to HUMA report 19.

Summary

Over the course of 3 meetings, the committee heard from organizations that recruit volunteers, or that promote and advance volunteerism, about ways that the federal government can encourage intergenerational volunteerism between youth and seniors.

Through oral and written testimony, witnesses told the committee about the benefits of intergenerational volunteering experiences. They also shared information on the barriers facing prospective volunteers, as well as organizations that provide these experiences. In this report, the committee summarizes key testimony it received and makes recommendations to the federal government on how it can better facilitate intergenerational volunteering in Canada, including through the development of a national volunteer action strategy, data, investment in intergenerational volunteering through new or existing programming, support for volunteers and awareness.

Read the full HUMA report 25.

ESDC's response and corrective actions

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of building awareness of impactful intergenerational volunteering initiatives, and the government programs that support these types of activities. It will continue to seek opportunities to amplify the impact of intergenerational volunteering, promoting success stories and best practices.

Read the full response to HUMA report 25.

Summary

The president of the National Union of Public and General Employees sent a letter to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU), advocating for the inclusion of Forest/Wildland Firefighters under the Public Safety Occupation (PSO) of the federal Income Tax Regulations (ITR), and thereby accord them equality with other Firefighters with respect to pensionable earnings and pension accrual. After receiving this letter, the committee adopted a motion that forest and wildland firefighters should be included under the "Firefighters" category in the National Occupational Classification, that the Chair present the report to the House and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Read the full SECU report 12.

ESDC's response and corrective actions

The Government of Canada recognizes the heroic work done by Forest/Wildland Firefighters however explains that the NOC, in fact, has no bearing on the definition of PSOs or the administration of benefits under the ITR.

Read the full response to SECU report 12.

Summary

In November 2022, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (the

committee) set out to study Canada's temporary and migrant labour force. During this study, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and related concerns were often the focus of witness testimony. However, the complex entanglement of Canada's immigration and labour systems broadened the study to address more than the one single program. As it continued, members of the committee and witnesses examined the very essence of immigrant labour infrastructure in Canada. The committee resoundingly heard that there are significant disadvantages to closed permits, for workers and employers, and is, therefore, recommending that they be phased out. However, acknowledging that these permits play an important role in balancing the Canadian economy, ensuring compliance and responsibility, and providing a stable workforce, the committee is recommending that the Government of Canada investigate how sector-and/or-region-specific work permits may be implemented.

Read the full SOCI report 21.

ESDC's response and corrective actions

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of the migrant labour force in Canada and takes very seriously its responsibility to protect the health and safety of temporary foreign workers. To

this end, the Government of Canada will consider the recommendations made in the report and will work with stakeholders, including temporary foreign workers and organizations that support them, to ensure that our programs' regulations and policies help alleviate, not exacerbate, worker vulnerabilities.

Read the full response to SOCI report 21.

Summary

The focus of the audit was to determine whether the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), with the support of Shared Services Canada, ESDC, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and in consultation with other departments, was effectively planning a national approach to digital identity that would provide Canadians with digital validation of their identity to seamlessly and securely access government and other services. The Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) provided 2 recommendations to ESDC.

Read the full OAG report 9.

ESDC's response and corrective actions

ESDC agreed with the recommendations and will implement a Digital Credentials Program under the Canadian Digital Service mandate, collaborating with TBS and SSC to analyze costs and explore funding models. The government response was presented to the House of Commons on December 2, 2024.

Read the recommendations and responses from OAG report 9.

Summary

The focus of the audit was to determine whether ESDC effectively led the federal government in ensuring that programs were in place to address seniors' needs and whether Statistics Canada provided information to support ESDC's ability to do so. The OAG provided 3 recommendations to ESDC.

Read the full OAG report 11.

ESDC's response and corrective actions

ESDC agreed with the recommendations and will improve support for the Minister of Seniors, develop tools for program analysis and collaboration, and enhance information quality under the New Horizons program. The government response was presented to the House of Commons on December 2, 2024.

Read the recommendations and responses from OAG report 11.

Summary

The focus of the audit was to determine whether ESDC provided wage subsidies to eligible employers under the Canada Summer Jobs program that resulted in youth gaining work experience, including those facing barriers. The OAG provided 7 recommendations to ESDC.

Read the full OAG report 12.

ESDC's response and corrective actions

ESDC agreed with the recommendations and will explore reporting on long-term outcomes, integrate youth data, enhance outreach, streamline program delivery, and collect data on skills and job creation.

The Government Response was presented on the House of Commons on December 2, 2024.

Read the recommendations and responses from OAG report 12.