Employment and Social Development Canada – ESDC 101 - 2021

Employment and Social Development Canada – ESDC 101

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) supports a strong Canadian economy where all Canadians have opportunities to participate and benefit.

Who we are

• The Department has three portfolios: ESDC, Labour Program and Service Canada.
• ESDC administers more than 30 grants and contributions programs^{Footnote 1}
• There are four flagship programs: Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement, Canada Pension Plan, Employment Insurance and Canada Student Loans.
• ESDC has more than 35,000 employees with 74% located outside of the National Capital Region.

ESDC Expenditures

• In the fiscal year 2019 to 2020, ESDC spent $144.4 billion^{Footnote 2}, representing 37% of total federal government expenditures. Of that amount, 93.6% ($135.2 billion)^{Footnote 3} were to provide direct benefits to Canadians, corresponding to 6.15% of Canada’s gross domestic product. A further 2.6% ($3.7 billion) was transferred to the provinces and territories^{Footnote 4} .
• ESDC’s operating budget represented 2.4% ($3.5 billion) of the overall department’s spending. In addition, another 1.4% ($2 billion) was provided to other government departments and organizations^{Footnote 5}.

Where you can find us

• Service Canada provides Canadians with a single point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits.
• Canadians are able to access our services across the country at 317 Service Canada Centres, 247 scheduled outreach sites, 15 service delivery partner sites and 25 passport service sites.

What we do

Employment and Social Development Canada develops economic and social policies and programs that support and improve the well-being of Canadians.

Our core responsibilities

• Social development: increase inclusion and opportunities for Canadians to participate in their communities
• Pensions and benefits: assist Canadians in maintaining income for retirement, and provide financial benefits to surviving spouses, people with disabilities and their families
• Learning, skills development and employment: help Canadians access post-secondary education, obtain the skills and training to participate in a changing labour market, and provide supports to those who are temporarily unemployed
• Working conditions and workplace relations: promote safe, healthy, fair and inclusive work conditions and cooperative workplace relations
• Information and service delivery: provide information to the public on the programs of the Government of Canada, and provide services for government departments and other partners

Key portfolio organizations

• Canada Employment Insurance Commission
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Social Security Tribunal of Canada
• Policy Horizons Canada
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
• Canada Industrial Relations Board
• Accessibility Standards Canada
• National Advisory Council on Poverty
• National Seniors Council

Employment and Social Development Canada delivers a wide range of programs and services that help Canadians move through life’s transitions, for example:

From early childhood to post-secondary education…

• Canada Child Benefit (led by Finance with support from ESDC)
• Early Learning and Child Care
• Social Insurance Number

…from school to work,

• Canada Student Financial Assistance Program
• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

…from one job to another,

• Job Bank
• Skills for Success

…from unemployment to employment,

• Employment Insurance
• Training programs

…from the workforce to retirement.

• Old Age Security / Guaranteed Income Supplement
• Canada Pension Plan

Helping Canadians with distinct needs

• Canadian Pension Plan - Disability
• Enabling Accessibility Fund
• Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative
• New Horizons for Seniors