2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report - ESDC

Goal 1: Reduce poverty in Canada in all its forms

FSDS Context:

ESDC works to lift Canadians out of poverty by ensuring basic needs are met and to protect Canadians from falling into poverty by supporting income security and resilience.

Looking ahead, the department will continue its work to reduce poverty by implementing Opportunity for All: Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy. This includes working with partners to address key gaps in poverty measurement in Canada as well as measuring progress towards the strategy's poverty reduction targets. Between 2023 and 2025, ESDC will collaborate with Statistics Canada to refine and update Canada's official poverty line to gain a greater understanding of the disposable income required to achieve a modest, basic standard of living in communities across the country. The department will also continue its work with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to better understand and address poverty among Indigenous populations in Canada.

Owing to its programs and services, ESDC continues to make important investments that make life more affordable for Canadians. ESDC's improved access to its Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits will ensure a minimum income for seniors as Canada's population ages. The department will also continue its work to improve services for groups disproportionately affected by poverty, via initiatives such as the new Canada Disability Benefit, which will reduce poverty and support the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities experience poverty at twice the rate of working-age persons without disabilities.

Through investments in innovative programs such as the Social Finance Fund, the department is also working to enhance the capacity of social purpose organizations across the country, including charities, not-for-profit organizations, co-operatives, and for-profit social enterprises, who play a fundamental role in tackling persistent challenges like access to affordable housing, food insecurity, and poverty.

Target theme: Poverty reduction

Target: by 2030, reduce the poverty rate by 50% from its 2015 level (Minister of Families, Children and Social Development)

Implementation strategy:

Improve the measurement of poverty

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue to lead the implementation of Opportunity for All-Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy on behalf of the Government of Canada.

• Initiative: Opportunity for All-Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Canada's poverty rate, as measured by Canada's Official Poverty Line. This indicator is available from the Canadian Income Survey and is published annually.
• Starting point: The 2015 poverty rate was 14.5%
• Target: The strategy sets targets for poverty reduction that align with SDG1: a 20% reduction in poverty by 2020, and a 50% reduction in poverty by 2030, relative to 2015 levels.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

Opportunity for All-Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy introduced the Dimensions of Poverty Hub, a dashboard of 12 indicators available online for Canadians to track progress on deep income poverty as well as aspects of poverty other than income, including indicators of material deprivation, lack of opportunity and resilience.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF Ambition/Target:
    • 1.1 Ambition - Reduce poverty in Canada in all its forms
    • Target - by 2030, a 50% reduction in the rate of poverty, compared to the 2015 level.
  • CIF indicator: poverty rate, as measured by Canada's official poverty line
  • Global indicator framework (GIF) target 1.2: by 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

Results achieved:

• Indicator result (1): Canada's poverty rate was 9.9% in 2022
  • Notes: This result represents a 32% decrease in the overall poverty rate compared to 2015 (14.5%), which is the baseline year for Canada's legislated poverty reduction targets. Data from the Canadian Income Survey is usually released with a 1.5-year lag. This data, released in April 2024, represents the latest data available for the 2022 reference year.

Implementation strategy:

Improve the measurement of poverty

Departmental action:

In partnership with Statistics Canada, ESDC will lead the policy direction of the third comprehensive review of the Market Basket Measure (MBM), Canada's Official Poverty Line. Statistics Canada is responsible for launching and conducting the comprehensive review as well as for the statistical methodology of the MBM, and ESDC is responsible for setting the scope of the review and for the policy direction of the MBM. The MBM reflects the combined costs of a basket of goods and services that individuals and families require to meet their basic needs and achieve a modest standard of living.

In addition, Statistics Canada is expected to finalize Nunavut's official MBM methodology by the end of 2023, fulfilling a key commitment made by Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy to develop Canada's Official Poverty Line in all territories.

• Initiative: Third Comprehensive Review of the Market Basket Measure (MBM)

Performance indicator:

• Indicator (1):
  • A new 2023-base Market Basket Measure (MBM) is created.
• Starting Point:
  • 2018-base MBM.
• Target:
  • New 2023-base MBM is expected to be finalized by December 31, 2025.
• Indicator (2):
  • The creation of an official MBM methodology for Nunavut.
• Starting point:
  • There is currently no official poverty measure for Nunavut.
• Target:
  • The official MBM methodology for Nunavut is expected to be finalized by December 31, 2023.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Market Basket Measure (MBM) was adopted as Canada's Official Poverty Line in 2018 following the release of Opportunity for All - Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy. The third comprehensive review of the MBM will contribute to the key objectives of the Poverty Reduction Strategy by ensuring that Canada's official poverty line continues to reflect a modest, basic standard of living over time, using the latest available standards and data. Through planned engagement sessions, the review will also ensure that updates to Canada's official poverty measure are informed by feedback from a wide range of experts and stakeholders.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target: by 2030, a 50% reduction in the rate of poverty, compared to the 2015 level.
  • CIF indicator: percentage of Canadians below Canada's official poverty line.
  • GIF target 1.2: by 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

Results Achieved:

• Indicator result (1): A new 2023-base MBM is in development and on track to be delivered in 2025.
  • Notes: The Third Comprehensive Review of the MBM was launched in June 2023. Activities completed as part of the engagement phase of the review included the development, testing and implementation of a public online survey (June-September 2023), the collection of initial proposals from experts (July 2023), public information sessions (November-December 2023) as well as expert workshops (February 2024).
• Indicator result (2): The official MBM methodology for Nunavut was completed in November 2023.
  • Notes: The MBM methodology for Nunavut was finalized by Statistics Canada with the closing of the methodology's review period. The MBM is now available for all three territories.

Implementation strategy:

Make investments to reduce poverty

Departmental action:

Through the Social Finance Fund (SFF), ESDC will facilitate investments into a range of diverse social purpose organizations, that are led by or serving diverse equity deserving groups. $50 million of the Social Finance Fund was allocated to the Indigenous Growth Fund (IGF), which provides access to capital for Indigenous Financial Institutions and Indigenous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) independently manages and administers the IGF.

• Program: Social Finance Fund - Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy (SI/SF).

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Percentage of Social Finance Fund (SFF) investments that contribute to the entrepreneurship and economic well-being of equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous peoples and Indigenous communities.
• Starting point: New program (2023)
• Target: At least 35% of SFF funding (excluding the IGF)* will be allocated to investments that target advancing social equity by March 31, 2039 (end of program).

*Note: The IGF is independently managed by NACCA, which has its own set of targets.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Social Finance Fund (SFF) will support investment to reduce poverty by providing funds to social finance intermediaries and social purpose organizations focused on diverse initiatives that support social and environmental goals. The program is particularly focused on supporting investment into organizations led by and serving underrepresented groups and diverse equity deserving communities as part of its social equity and inclusion lens. The SFF contributes to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy by leveraging new financing opportunities to invest in the SDGs and supporting SDG 1.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target: By 2030, a 50% reduction in the rate of poverty, compared to the 2015 level.
  • CIF indicator: Percentage of Canadians below Canada's official poverty line.
  • GIF target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: This is a new program. Results are not yet available.
  • Notes: Data for this performance indicator is expected to be available in 2025 to 2026.

Implementation strategy:

Make investments to reduce poverty

Departmental action:

ESDC will make investments to help support the long-term financial security of Persons with disabilities through the Canada Disability Savings Program (CDSP). The CDSP includes the Registered Disability Savings Plan. To help savings grow, ESDC provides federal disability savings incentives (the Canada Disability Savings Bond and the Canada Disability Savings Grant).

• Program: Canada Disability Savings Program (CDSP)

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Percentage of Canadians approved for the Disability Tax Credit who have a Registered Disability Savings Plan.
• Starting point: 35% in December 2021 (2021 to 2022 results not yet available)
  • Target: 35% by December 2023
• Indicator: Percentage of Registered Disability Savings Plan beneficiaries that have been issued a grant and/or a bond.
• Starting point: 78% in December 2021
  • Target: 77% by December 2023

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Canada Disability Savings Program supports the reduction of poverty in Canada by providing savings incentives such as the Canada Disability Savings Bond and the Canada Disability Savings Grant to persons with disabilities. The grant and bond respond to long-standing and ongoing needs identified by persons with disabilities, their families, and organizations supporting them to reduce barriers to saving for the future.

The CDSP contributes to advancing SDG 1: No Poverty as well as SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF Ambition/Target 1.1: "Reduce poverty in Canada in all its forms."

Results achieved:

• Indicator result (1): 34.9% as of December 2023.
  • Notes: The result represents the percentage of Canadians approved for the Disability Tax Credit, aged 0-49, who have a Registered Disability Savings Plan.
• Indicator result (2): 75% as of December 2023.
  • Notes: The result represents the percentage of registered Disability Savings Plan beneficiaries (aged 0-49) that have been issued a grant and/or a bond in 2023.

Implementation strategy:

Work with partners to reduce poverty

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue to support data sharing, knowledge creation and engagement with Canadians by facilitating the work of the National Advisory Council on Poverty, enshrined into law.

• Initiative: National Advisory Council on Poverty -Opportunity for All: Canada's first Poverty Reduction Strategy

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: An annual report on Canada's progress towards its poverty reduction goals with advice with advice and recommendations for poverty reduction is presented to Parliament annually.
• Starting point: 3 reports tabled since the establishment of the National Advisory Council on Poverty (2020, 2021, 2022).
• Target: 3 additional reports tabled by March 31, 2026.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The National Advisory Council on Poverty brings together persons with lived experience, leaders, experts, academics, and practitioners that work in the field of poverty reduction. The advice and recommendations of the Advisory Council contribute to the goal and poverty reduction target by maintaining a dialogue with Canadians on poverty and helping the Government of Canada stay accountable to Canadians for lowering poverty.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • GIF Target:
    • SDG Global Indicator Framework target 1.b. Create sound policy frameworks at the national, regional, and international levels, based on pro-poor and gender-sensitive development strategies, to support accelerated investment in poverty eradication actions.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: Blueprint for Transformation: The 2023 Report of the National Advisory Council on Poverty was tabled in Parliament on October 26, 2023.
  • Notes: To inform its fourth (2023) report, the Council undertook both in-person and virtual engagement with individuals and organizations from across Canada. In Winter 2023, the Council hosted nine virtual small-group sessions with organizations working in the poverty space.

The Council has concluded its most recent engagement process and is currently drafting its fifth report, which will be tabled in Parliament in Fall 2024.

Implementation strategy:

Additional implementation strategy in support of goal 1

Departmental action:

ESDC will provide income security to Canadians in their senior years by ensuring that Canadians aged 65 or over who meet the residence and legal status requirements have access to a basic Old Age Security (OAS) Pension and provide additional assistance to low-income OAS pensioners through the income-tested Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).

• Initiative: Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Percentage of seniors receiving the Old Age Security Pension in relation to the estimated total number of eligible seniors.
  • Starting point: Actual results: 96.8% (2019)*.
  • Target: 97% by March 2022.
    • Note: There is a 3-year time lag in the availability of data.

*The actual result can be impacted by the fact that seniors can delay the receipt of their Old Age Security pension up to age 70, in exchange for a higher pension.

• Indicator (GIS): Percentage of seniors receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement in relation to the estimated total number of eligible seniors.
  • Starting point: Actual results 92.2% (2019)
  • Target: 90% by March 2022
    • Note: There is a 3-year time lag in the availability of data.

• Indicator (Poverty): Percentage of seniors living in poverty
  • Starting point: N/A (ongoing) Actual results: 3.1% (2020).
  • Target: At most 6.1% by December 2030.
    • Note: This indicator is based on Canada's Official Poverty Line. Data is collected by Statistics Canada through the annual Canadian Income Survey.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

ESDC's statutory Old Age Security (OAS) program plays a significant role in providing income security to Canadians in their senior years. The OAS pension and the income-tested Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), ensure that the overall income of seniors does not fall below a specified threshold, providing seniors with a minimum income guarantee.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target:
    • Canadian indicator framework ambition of 1.1: "End poverty in all its forms everywhere" and the target for this ambition: "50% reduction in the poverty rate for 2015 by 2030."
  • GIF target:
    • Global indicator framework target 1.2: "by 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions."
    • Global indicator framework target 1.3: "Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable."

The program also advances SDG 5:

• "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls."

As well as SDG 8:

• "Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all".

Results achieved:

• Indicator result (OAS): 96.7% as of March 2020.
  • Notes: There is a 3-year time lag in the availability of data for this OAS pension indicator, which applies specifically to seniors at age 65. The indicator result can be impacted by the fact that seniors can delay the receipt of their Old Age Security pension up to age 70.
• Indicator result (GIS): 91.9% as of March 2020
  • Notes: There is a 3-year time lag in the availability of data for this indicator.
• Indicator result (Poverty): 6.0% as of 2022
  • Notes: This indicator is based on Canada's Official Poverty Line. Data is collected by Statistics Canada through the annual Canadian Income Survey.

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Goal 4: Promote knowledge and skills for sustainable development

FSDS context:

ESDC's commitments in support of FSDS Goal 4 focus on making early learning and child care more affordable across the country and helping Canadians access the education, skills and training needed to participate in a changing labour market.

In 2021 to 2022, the department reached Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) agreements with every province and territory on behalf of Canada. These agreements have already led to reductions in average fees for regulated child care across the country. Looking ahead, the department will continue its work with provinces and territories to increase access to high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and child care and meet the federal target to reduce regulated child care fees towards an average of $10-a-day by March 2026. Guided by the co-developed Indigenous ELCC Framework, the department will also continue to collaborate with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation governments and organizations to support distinctions-based Indigenous-led Early Learning and Child Care (IELCC) programs.

Ensuring young people have the financial supports they need to complete their studies and successfully transition from school to the workforce will also continue to be an important focus for ESDC in support of FSDS Goal 4. The permanent elimination of interest for Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans, effective April 1^st, 2023, will support this ambition.

Target theme: Child care

Target: By March 31, 2026, regulated child care fees will be reduced to $10 a day, on average, everywhere outside of Quebec (Minister of Children, Families and Social Development)

Implementation strategy:

Work with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners to build a Canada-wide, community-based system of quality child care

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue to work with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to build and maintain a Canada-wide early learning and child care system, ensuring that all families have access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care.

• Program: Canada-wide early learning and child care system

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of provinces and territories with $10-a-day average regulated child care costs.
• Starting point: 2 provinces/territories as of July 2021.
• Target: 10 provinces and 3 territories by March 31, 2026.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Canada-wide early learning and child care system will help ensure access to high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive child care is widely available in Canada. Canada-wide early learning and child care supports parents, particularly mothers, to enter or re-enter the workforce, pursue education, open a new business. It also promotes quality early education and learning for young children, preparing them for school. This program directly supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) through target 4.2.

With the exception of Quebec, these agreements include commitments from provinces and territories to fund and develop a plan to ensure that vulnerable communities, including vulnerable children within Indigenous communities, have equitable access to regulated child care spaces. Some jurisdictions also made the additional commitment to develop a collaborative plan with relevant Indigenous organizations and governing bodies to ensure Indigenous children will have access to affordable, quality and culturally appropriate early learning and child care.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target: 4.1 Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives
  • GIF target: 4.2 by 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: 8 provinces and territories are delivering regulated child care for an average fee of $10-a-day as of April 2024.
  • Notes: Both Yukon and Quebec had achieved $10-a-day or less child care prior to the implementation of the Canada-wide Agreements. By the end of 2022, all provinces and territories had achieved fee reductions of at least 50 per cent. The above indicator result reflects the ongoing work toward delivering $10-a-day regulated child care in all provinces and territories by 2026.

Implementation strategy:

Work with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous partners to build a Canada-wide, community-based system of quality child care

Departmental action:

ESDC will enable horizontal coordination of federal investments in Indigenous early learning and child care through flexible, Indigenous-led approaches in support of the Government of Canada's co-developed Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework which reflects the unique cultures and needs of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children across Canada.

• Program: Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of National Partnership Tables established
• Starting point: 2 as of March 2021 to 2022
• Target: At least 3 established by March 2024

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Transformation Initiative supports greater Indigenous governance, capacity and self-determination in the early learning and child care (ELCC) sector. Through the initiative's National Partnership Tables, federal investments in Indigenous early learning and child care are coordinated in alignment with the IELCC framework and best practices in early learning and child care are shared. This initiative directly supports progress toward Canada's 2030 Agenda under SDG 4, ensuring Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 4.1: Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives;
  • GIF target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: 3 national partnership tables, in addition to several regional and bilateral relationships, have been established as of March 2024.
  • Notes: The Assembly of First Nations convenes the National Expert Working Group on First Nations ELCC; the Inuit Tapiriit Canada Kanatami guides the Inuit National Partnership Table; and the Métis National Council leads the Métis National Partnership Table to advance Métis ELCC goals and priorities. These joint efforts, along with various regional and bilateral partnerships, underscore the Government of Canada's commitments to deliver inclusive early learning and child care initiatives across diverse communities.

Target theme: Training and skills in sustainable development

Target: By December 2025, Canada's pool of science talent grows by 175,000 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry)

Implementation strategy:

Support youth skill development in environmental sectors

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue to support the creation of work placement opportunities for post-secondary students in all academic disciplines, including STEM, by supporting employers who offer work experiences to post-secondary education students across Canada.

• Program: The Student Work Placement Program- Innovative Work Integrated Learning Initiative

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of Work Integrated Learning opportunities created for post-secondary students
• Starting point: 50,000 opportunities in 2021 to 2022
• Target: 40,000 opportunities by March 2024

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Student Work Placement Program supports a variety of work-integrated learning opportunities for post-secondary students including a number of opportunities in STEM. These opportunities help students to develop the "work ready" skills sought by Canadian employers. The Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative of the Program offers opportunities for students to build on work ready skills by accessing new and emerging types of opportunities including hackathons and micro-internships.

In support of the 2030 Agenda Global Indicator Framework, the Student Work Placement Program helps post-secondary education students develop "work ready" skills to make a successful transition into the labour market.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • GIF target: 4.4 by 2030 substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: In 2023 to 2024, the Program supported the creation of 57,467 Work Integrated Learning Opportunities for post-secondary students.
  • Notes: In 2023 to 2024, the SWP Program surpassed its annual target of 20,000 work placements and 20,000 Innovative work-integrated learning opportunities, by supporting the creation of a total 57,467 work placement opportunities.

Goal 5: Champion gender equality

FSDS context:

ESDC recognizes the importance gender equality plays in the Canadian economy and is actively looking to reduce systemic barriers that exist for women, girls and gender-diverse people in the labour market. To do so, ESDC will continue to modernize the Employment Equity Act to promote equality and diversity and help identify and eliminate barriers to employment opportunities in federally regulated workplaces. The department will also advance new pay transparency measures that will shine a light on pay gaps experienced by women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.

At the same time, ESDC is investing in programs and initiatives that focus on creating new and improving existing opportunities for women in this sector of the economy. The first example is the Women's Employment Readiness Pilot Program, delivered under the Skills for Success program, which funds organizations to provide and test pre-employment and skills development supports for 4 groups of women: racialized women and/or Indigenous women; women with disabilities; women from the 2SLGBTQI+ community; and women with prolonged workforce detachment. The pilot also tests ways to improve employer inclusivity. The target for this program has been set at up to 5,000 participants over a 2-year period and will use the results to inform systemic changes to how skills and employment programming for women is delivered.

Secondly, the Women in Skilled Trades Initiative was created to focus on funding projects that recruit, retain, and help women apprentices succeed in trades predominately found in the construction and manufacturing sectors. ESDC will fund organizations such as women's groups, community colleges, unions, and employers for activities that will recruit women, create outreach tools, offer mentorship supports, and create a welcoming space where women can feel comfortable and safe in the training and work sites. With a target of supporting 10,900 women over the next 4 years, this initiative will reduce the difference in gender representation while increasing opportunities for women in, not only leadership roles, but also in the broader economy.

Target theme: Take action on gender equality

Target: By 2026, at least 37% of the environmental and clean technology sector are women (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry)

Implementation strategy:

Reduce systemic barriers to gender equality

Departmental action:

ESDC will support federally regulated private-sector employers in achieving progress towards creating equitable workplaces

• Program: Workplace Equity Program

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: percentage of Legislated Employment Equity Program employers whose representation equals or surpasses Canadian labour market availability for 2+ designated groups or who demonstrated progress towards representation since the previous reporting period.
• Starting point: 2021 to 2022 actual results: 74%
• Target: At least 65% by September 2023

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

Through the Employment Equity Act which governs the Federal Contractors Program and the Legislated Employment Equity Program, the Workplace Equity Program supports the gender equality goal by promoting employment equity outcomes for federally regulated private-sector employers These 2 federal programs seek to encourage the establishment of working conditions that are free from barriers and remove conditions of disadvantage experienced by members of four designated groups under the Act - women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 5.2: "Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making"
  • GIF target 5.a: "Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance, and natural resources."
  • 5.5 "Ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life".

Results achieved:

• Indicator results: 76.6% of Legislated Employment Equity Program employers met the target for 2023

Implementation strategy:

Reduce systemic barriers to gender equality

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue to work with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to build and maintain a Canada-wide early learning and child care system, ensuring that all families have access to high-quality, affordable, flexible, and inclusive early learning and child care

• Program: Canada-wide early learning and child care system

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of provinces and territories with $10-a-day average regulated child care costs
• Starting point: 2 provinces/territories as of July 2021
• Target: 10 provinces and 3 territories by March 31, 2026

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

Access to child care is a significant support for women and girls to participate in political, economic, and public life fully and effectively. Research shows that child care availability and affordability strongly impact mothers' ability to enter or remain in the labour market or school, if they wish. Furthermore, the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreements provide the flexibility for provinces and territories to support early childhood educators, the majority of whom are women. In turn, this supports the growth of a Canada-wide early learning and child care system and promotes the overall higher valuing of care work.

The Canada-wide early learning and child care system supports progress toward SDG 5, through GIF targets 5.4 and 5.5.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 5.2.1: gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making
  • CIF ambition/target 5.3.1: Canadians share responsibilities within households and families.
  • GIF target 5.4: recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.
  • GIF target 5.5: Ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: 8 provinces and territories are delivering regulated child care for an average fee of $10-a-day as of April 2024.

• Notes: Both Yukon and Quebec had achieved $10-a-day or less child care prior to the implementation of the Canada-wide Agreements. By the end of 2022, all provinces and territories had achieved fee reductions of at least 50 per cent. The above indicator result reflects the ongoing work toward delivering $10-a-day regulated child care in all provinces and territories by 2026.

Implementation strategy:

Invest in women's skills, employment, and leadership

Departmental action:

ESDC will provide and test pre-employment and skills development supports for women facing multiple barriers, test models to improve employer inclusivity, and use the results to inform systemic changes to how skills and employment programming is delivered.

• Program: The Women's Employment Readiness Pilot Program

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of women served in the reporting year.
• Starting point: New time-limited program (Projects running 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024).
• Target: 5,000 participants by the end of the pilot, March 31, 2024.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Women's Employment Readiness (WER) Pilot Program funds organizations to provide and test pre-employment and skills development supports for four groups of women: racialized women and/or Indigenous women; women with disabilities; women from the 2SLGBTQI+ community; and women with prolonged workforce detachment. The pilot also tests ways to improve employer inclusivity. Results will inform systemic changes to skills and employment programming for women. In this way, the WER Pilot Program supports the SDG to champion gender equality.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 5.3 ambition: "Canadians share responsibilities within households and families"
    • Target: "Equal sharing of parenting roles and family responsibilities".
  • CIF indicator 5.3.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work.
  • GIF target 5.1: "End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere".

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: Results not available at the time of publication and will be provided at the next progress report.
  • Notes: The Women's Employment Readiness (WER) Pilot Program ended March 31, 2024. Results will be made public in a "What We Heard" report expected Fall 2024.

Implementation strategy:

Additional implementation strategy in support of goal 5

Departmental action:

ESDC will support the recruitment, retention, and success of women apprentices in 39 eligible Red Seal trades found predominately in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

• Program: Women in the Skilled Trades (WST) Initiative under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of individuals in funded projects that participate in skills training activities.
• Starting point: 10,500 individuals by March 31, 2027
• Target: 10,500 individuals by March 31, 2027

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Women in the Skilled Trades focuses on funding projects that recruit, retain, and help women apprentices succeed in the 39 eligible Red Seals trades found predominately in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

The Women in Skilled Trades Initiative delivered under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy contributes to the FSDS goal 5 of increasing Canadian women's representation in leadership roles and participation in the broader economy.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 5.2: Greater representation of women in leadership roles
  • CIF indicator 5.2.1: proportion of leadership roles held by women
  • GIF target 5.5: ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic, and public life.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: Results not available at the time of publication and will be provided at the next progress report.

Goal 8: Encourage inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Canada

FSDS context:

In support of FSDS Goal 8, ESDC is taking steps to ensure that a fully representative Canadian workforce gets the skills, training and opportunities necessary to transition to net-zero and help Canadians thrive in a changing global economy. Owing to various programs, ESDC is focused on collaboration with employers as well as directly with Canadians to promote skills development and economic diversification in Canada's environmental and clean technology sector.

For example, ESDC's Apprenticeship Service helps apprentices get the hands-on experience they need for a career in the skilled trades. As part of the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, the initiative encourages small and medium-sized employers by offering a financial incentive for each first-year apprentice hired in 1 of 39 eligible Red Seals trades found predominately in the construction and manufacturing sectors. They can get an additional incentive when the apprentice hired is from an equity-deserving group - specifically, women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, racialized communities, and newcomers. The department has also scaled up programs like the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) that provides wraparound supports and job placements for young people facing employment barriers such as Indigenous, racialized youth, youth with disabilities, recent youth immigrants and youth in rural or remote areas.

Similarly, the Opportunities Fund (OF) for Persons with Disabilities will support the implementation of Canada's Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities. The OF program intends to increase labour market participation for Persons with Disabilities by providing participants with employment supports to help them find and keep jobs. The program will also help participants advance in their careers and help employers create inclusive, accessible and welcoming workplaces for persons with disabilities. Training will also be provided to those with or without disabilities who are in occupations that support persons with disabilities such as sign language interpreters. With a target of 3,355 participants by March 2024, the Opportunities Fund contributes to advancing the 2030 Agenda through its work to support increasing access to the labour market and improving the economic inclusion and quality of life for persons with disabilities.

ESDC's Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP) helps key sectors of the economy implement solutions to address their current and emerging workforce needs. SWSP supports projects that focus on a range of industry-driven activities such as training and reskilling workers, helping employers retain and attract a skilled and diverse workforce, and labour market information and tools to help sectors address needs. This year, the program intends to connect up to 30,000 Canadians with the training they need to access good jobs. The program will help address workforce needs across many sectors including, but not limited to: agri-food and agriculture, construction, health, information and communications technologies, manufacturing, natural resources and environment, tourism, and transportation. 

ESDC will also test a community-based approach via its Community Workforce Development Program. This program will advance regional and national priorities through local leadership in areas such as decarbonization, technology adoption and blue economy. With an initial target of 25 communities, the program encourages diversity and inclusion with 75% of project participants from one or more under-represented groups in the labour market. Evidence gathered will inform programs and whole-of-government priorities. This includes, for example, de-carbonization and supporting a "just transition" for workers so that they are prepared to work in transforming sectors like energy.

In addition, the Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities will aim to enhance the development and vitality of official language minority communities (OLMCs). These communities consist of Francophones who reside outside of Quebec or English-speaking residents of Quebec. The Program funds 14 not-for-profit OLMC organizations to engage in economic and human resources development activities for their community. The agreements will last for a five year period and were signed in March 2023.

Implementation strategies supporting the goal

This section is for implementation strategies that support the goal ‘Encourage inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Canada' but not a specific FSDS target.

Implementation strategy:

Increase labour market participation of Persons with Disabilities

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue to support activities designed to provide skills training and employment support to help persons with disabilities find and retain good jobs and advance in their careers and provide support to employers to make workplaces accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities.

• Program: Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities Program (OF)

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of participants employed or self-employed or returned to school after participating in the program.
• Starting point: 2,846 (latest results for2022 to 2023). Data from Quebec is not available.
• Target: At least 3,355 by March 2024

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

Under the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities Program, programming assists persons with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and maintain good jobs and advance in their careers. It supports a wide range of services, including job search supports, pre-employability services, wage subsidies, and work placements, through third-party service providers in partnership with organizations in the community. 

The OF contributes to advancing the 2030 Agenda through its work to support increasing access to the labour market, improving the economic inclusion and quality of life for persons with disabilities.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target: Canadians have access to quality jobs
  • CIF indicator 8.1.1: Unemployment rate 
  • GIF target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities. 

Results achieved:

• Indicator results: Results were not available at the time of publication as requirements have changed, and funded organizations are in a transition year to implement and collect results from 2023 to 2024. Results for that year will be provided at the next progress report. However, in 2022 to 2023, the program supported 4,632 individuals with disabilities, of which 2,706 became employed or self-employed, and 457 returned to school to further enhance their skills following participation in the program.

Implementation strategy:

Take a sector-by-sector approach to investing in workforce support

Departmental action:

ESDC will support key sectors of the economy implement solutions to current and emerging workforce needs through the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP).

• Program: Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP)

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of participants who access or participate in training and transition initiatives.
• Starting point: Fiscal year 2023 to 2024 will be the baseline year as SWSP is currently implementing a new data collection process and awaiting a decision on ongoing program funding beyond March 31, 2024.
• Target: 30,000 individual participants by the end of 2023 to 2024.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP) helps key sectors of the economy implement solutions to address their current and emerging workforce needs. The Program supports projects that focus on a range of industry-driven activities such as training and reskilling workers, helping employers retain and attract a skilled and diverse workforce, including those from equity-deserving groups, and developing workforce solutions, labour market information and tools to address sector-specific labour market needs.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target: Canadians contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth.
  • CIF indicator 8.6.1: Canadians contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth.

Results achieved:

• Indicator results: Program results for 2023 to 2024 will be available in Fall 2024. As such, Results will be provided in the next progress report.

• Notes: SWSP reports from project recipients will include target numbers and will be received by early Fall 2024. After which performance baselines will be identified once all project results reports are received and validated by program officials.

Implementation strategy:

Test community-based approaches to national and regional priorities

Departmental action:

ESDC will support local economic development and growth that advances national and regional priority areas like decarbonization through testing community-based approaches to workforce planning and skills training.

• Program: Community Workforce Development Program

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of participating communities responding to national or regional priorities
• Starting point: New Program - Announced in Budget 2021 with projects anticipated to start spring/summer 2023
• Target: 25 communities by March 31, 2024

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Community Workforce Development Program advances regional and national priorities through local leadership in areas such as decarbonisation, technology adoption and blue economy. It encourages diversity and inclusion with 75% of project participants from 1 or more under-represented groups in the labour market.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:  
  • CIF ambition/target:
    • 8.1: Canadians have access to quality jobs.
    • 8.6 Ambition: Canadians contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth.
    • Target:  Achieve an 8% growth in jobs in the clean technology products sector by March 31, 2024.  
  • CIF indicator:
    • 8.1.1: Unemployment rate.
    • 8.6.1: Jobs in the clean technology products sector.
  • GIF target:
    • 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.
    • 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.

Results achieved:

• Indicator results: Approximately 100 participating communities in 2023 to 2024
  • Notes: The achieved indicator result surpassed the target of 25 communities.

Implementation strategy:

Test community-based approaches to national and regional priorities

Departmental action:

ESDC will enhance the development and vitality of official language minority communities (OLMCs). Through its Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities (EF-OLMC) program funds OLMC organizations to increase their capacity and services for community economic development (CED), human resources development (HRD) and promoting partnerships

• Program: Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities (EF-OLMC)

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Amount invested, including in-kind, by non-EF-OLMC program funded partners (not-for-profit groups, private sector organizations other federal departments and levels of government) for every dollar invested by the EF-OLMC program funded organizations.
• Starting point: Baseline year: 2018, based on the Action Plan for official languages 2018 to 2023.
• Target: Invest at a ratio of 2 to 1 by March 2024

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The EF-OLMC program is one of ESDC's main programs that support meeting the Department's legal obligations under the Official Languages Act (OLA) to enhance the vitality of OLMCs. In line with the spirit of the OLA, the EF-OLMC program is centered on the ‘'by and for'' approach, supporting OLMC organizations to identify and respond to the needs of their communities. New 5-year agreements with the program's 14 OLMC organizations (funding recipients) were signed in spring 2023. 

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 8.5: Canadians contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth.
  • CIF indicator 8.5.1: Gross domestic product per capita 

Results achieved:

• Indicator results: The program exceeded its target as it achieved an investment ratio of 2.38 by March 31, 2024.

Implementation strategy:

Additional implementation strategy in support of Goal 8

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue to help young people (aged 15 to 30 years) make a successful transition into the labour market, including jobs and skills training programs with a focus on innovation, Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM), as well as green jobs and the environment.

• Program: The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS).

YESS includes 2 programs:

• The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program (YESSP), which is an ESDC-led horizontal initiative involving 11 other federal departments, agencies, and crown corporations; and
• The Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ).

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of youth served
• Starting point: Number of youth served:  97,359 (2019 to 2020)
• Target: 75,240 by March 2024.Target breakdowns per program:
  • YESSP: Target to serve 5,240 youth
  • CSJ: 70,000 opportunities

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

In support of Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy, the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy helps young people (aged 15 to 30 years), particularly those who are facing barriers to employment, get the information and gain the skills, work experience and abilities they need to make a successful transition into the labour market.  

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF Ambition/Target 8.1: Canadians have access to quality jobs.
• CIF indicator:
  • 8.1.1: Unemployment rate.
  • 8.3.1: proportion of youth not in education, employment, or training.
• GIF target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education, or training.  

Results achieved:

• Indicator results: 93,330 youth served by March 2024
  • Notes: In 2023 to 2024, CSJ served 74,527 youth and ESDC YESSP served 18,803, surpassing the annual established targets of 70,000 and 5,240 respectively.

Implementation strategy:

Additional implementation strategy in support of Goal 8

Departmental action:

ESDC will encourage economic growth by supporting small and medium-sized employers to create first-year apprenticeship positions in trades found predominantly in the construction and manufacturing sectors, with a focus on improving the participation of equity-deserving groups.

• Program: Apprenticeship Service (AS) initiative under the CAS

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of employers who access supports to hire apprentice
• Starting point: New Program, started in 2021 to 2022.  
• Target: Between 25,000 and 55,000 employers over the duration of the program until the end of 2023 to 2024 when the Apprenticeship Service sunsets.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Apprenticeship Service helps apprentices get the hands-on experience they need for a career in the skilled trades. Under the Apprenticeship Service, small and medium-sized employers can get a financial incentive for each first-year apprentice hired in 1 of 39 eligible Red Seals trades found predominately in the construction and manufacturing sectors. They can get an additional incentive when the apprentice hired is from an equity-deserving group (specifically, women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, racialized communities, and newcomers). In addition, the Apprenticeship Service provides other supports to employers that will make it easier for them to hire first-year apprentices, such as help on navigating the apprenticeship system and welcoming workplace training.

The initiative contributes to Goal 8 of the FSDS by encouraging small and medium-sized employers to hire first-year apprentices in Red Seal trades.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF Ambition/Target: Canadians have access to quality jobs.
  • CIF indicator 8.1.1: Unemployment rate.
  • GIF target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.

Results achieved:

• Indicator results: In 2022 to 2023*, 1,950 employers accessed supports to hire apprentices, including those from equity-deserving groups.
  • *2022 to 2023 results reflect the most recent results available. Results for 2023 to 2024 will be available by the next progress report.

Note: The Apprenticeship Service has sunsetted and is now a component of the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy.

Goal 9: Foster innovation and green infrastructure in Canada

Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and take action on inequality

FSDS Context:

ESDC recognizes the importance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP), and actively supports the advancement of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples through ongoing efforts in the development, design and implementation of its programs and services, as well as the department's internal operations.

Co-developed with a network of Indigenous partners across Canada, the department's Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program intends to serve and support skills development, training, and employment by way of a distinctions-based approach to better meet the needs of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban/Non-affiliated Indigenous people. By March 31, 2024, the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program intends to serve at least 40,000 new Indigenous participants and support at least 16,500 Indigenous people find employment. Looking ahead, ESDC will continue to work with Indigenous partners to test new approaches to investment coordination, priority setting and project and partnership development under the Skills and Partnership Fund. This Fund will also support sustainable employment and help ensure projects funded to provide skills training continue to meet the needs of Indigenous communities and employers.

The department will also work to reduce inequality by focusing its efforts on removing barriers faced by persons with disabilities, through its implementation of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). Persons with disabilities represent a diverse and significant portion of the Canadian population. Almost 1 in 3 Indigenous people have a disability-a much higher rate than that of the general population. ESDC will use GBA plus analysis to inform an intersectional approach to serve populations experiencing disability. To support the approach, the department is engaging with National Indigenous Organizations and holders of Modern Treaty and Self-Government Agreements to ensure the specific concerns of Indigenous populations are addressed in a culturally appropriate manner and meet all necessary modern treaty obligations and commitments.

And finally, ESDC will also work to reduce inequality through new funding models. Initiatives like the Black-led Philanthropic Endowment Fund demonstrate the department is creating long-term sustainable funding and self-sustaining resources for Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving organizations in Canada. The fund is led by Black communities in Canada and will support projects that seek to combat anti-Black racism and increase social and economic outcomes for Black communities.

Target theme: Advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

Target: Between 2023 and 2026, and every year on an ongoing basis, develop and table annual progress reports on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada).

Implementation strategy:

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Departmental action:

ESDC will provide Indigenous cultural competency training and/or training on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. All employees need to complete at least 1 Indigenous Awareness and Reconciliation learning activity which can be, for example, a course offered through the Canada School of Public Service (PSPC) or participating in an Indigenous Employees' Circle, or an Indigenous Learning Event hosted by the ESDC College

• Initiative: ESDC Essential Training Curriculum for Employees

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: percentage of staff who have completed Indigenous cultural competency training (internal or external).
• Starting point: Actual of staff trained for 2022 to 2023: 81%.
• Target: Achieve and maintain 100%, annually.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

As part of the ESDC Essential Training Curriculum for Employees, all indeterminate and term employees across ESDC, Service Canada and the Labour Program must complete Indigenous Awareness and Reconciliation learning activities. This is an ongoing, annual commitment.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • GIF target 10.3: ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: In 2023 to 2024, 79% of ESDC employees have completed the Indigenous Awareness Reconciliation activity.

Implementation strategy:

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue to support the skills development and employment of Indigenous Peoples through Indigenous labour market programs.

• Program: Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program (ISET)

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of Indigenous participants who obtain employment following service interventions.
• Starting point: 16,339 (average of 2018 and 2019 to 2020 and 2021) *.
  • *Includes last year of predecessor program, Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS)
• Target: At least 16,500 Annually.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Indigenous and Skills Training Program helps reduce the skills and employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples by providing Indigenous peoples with opportunities to develop and improve their skills and attain employment. The Program funds and supports a network of Indigenous agreement holders (service delivery providers) across Canada that design and deliver a full suite of skills development and employment training and supports targeting all Indigenous people. Co-developed with Indigenous partners, the Program is founded in a distinctions-based approach to better meet the needs of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban/Non-affiliated Indigenous peoples. 

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 10.1: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced.
  • CIF indicator:  Gini Coefficient.
  • GIF target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result:
  • In 2023 to 2024, through the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program, 19,401 Indigenous participants obtained employment following training and other supports provided through the program. The program served 47,898 new participants.

Implementation strategy:

Support economic development and entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue to support economic development and entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities through partnerships between Indigenous communities/organizations and employers to support training to employment of Indigenous peoples.

• Program: Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF)

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of Indigenous participants who obtain employment following interventions under the SPF.
• Starting point: Performance Measurement Framework is currently being updated for a new round of investments. Starting Point is not yet available.
• Target: Performance Measurement Framework is currently being updated for a new round of investments. Target is not yet available.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Skills and Partnership Fund contributes to the FSDS goal 10 and Canada's 2030 Agenda as the SPF is a project-based fund that supports partnerships between Indigenous organizations and industry employers to provide skills training for Indigenous peoples linked to economic opportunities at the local, regional and national level. Funding recipients deliver supports and services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to help them develop the necessary skills and training to secure jobs which advances reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and takes action on inequality.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 10.1: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced

Results achieved:

• Indicator results: In 2023 to 2024, the Skills and Partnership Fund helped 495 Indigenous participants find jobs after completing the program.

Implementation strategy:

Support economic development and entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities

Departmental action:

In response to the Mandatory Procedures for Contracts Awarded to Indigenous Businesses, ESDC will continue to implement its Indigenous Procurement Strategy. This strategy helps business groups across the department support the requirement to allocate a target percentage of their assigned budgets to Indigenous spending.

• Initiative: ESDC Indigenous Procurement Strategy

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Total percentage of contracts with Indigenous businesses.
• Starting point: 4% (forecasted) in 2022 to 2023.
• Target: 5% by March 31, 2024.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

Through the implementation of its Indigenous Procurement Strategy, ESDC is supporting the Indigenous business community. To ensure the success of the strategy, the department is updating procurement documents and web pages, providing training and information sessions to procurement personnel as well as liaising with other government departments (ISC, TBS, PSPC). In 2023 to 2024, the department will also be reaching out to the Indigenous business community by issuing a Request for Information (RFI) looking at increasing communications and/or opportunities for strategy implementation.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • GIF target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
  • 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: In 2023 to 2024, 6.9% of the total value of all contracts was awarded to Indigenous businesses.

• Notes: ESDC published a Request for Information (RFI) on February 22, 2024, via the Government Electronic Tendering System (CanadaBuys). The RFI closing date is set for August 30, 2024. This initiative demonstrates ESDC's ongoing efforts to engage with Indigenous businesses and promote economic opportunities.

Implementation strategy:

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Persons Act

Departmental action:

ESDC will support advancing accessibility on First Nations reserves. While the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) applies to First Nations band councils, they are currently not required to comply with the Act by virtue of an exemption in the Accessible Canada Regulations that were published in December 2021. The Government of Canada is currently working with First Nations to identify options for a tailored approach to implementation of the ACA on reserve in line with the commitment included in the 2023 United Nations Declaration for the Rights of Indigenous Persons Act (UNDA) Action Plan. The Action Plan calls on the Government of Canada to ensure that the implementation of the ACA with respect to First Nations band councils is culturally appropriate and that First Nations are supported in building capacity and expertise to advance accessibility at the community level.

• Program: Accessible Canada Initiative

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Indicators to support measuring progress in advancing accessibility on First Nations reserves will be developed once the tailored approach has been developed.
• Starting point: New program
• Target: New program

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National strategy and SDGS:

The development and implementation of a tailored approach to implementation of the ACA on reserve directly supports FSDS Goal 10: Advancing Indigenous Reconciliation and Take Action on Inequality through the identification and removal of barriers to accessibility in First Nations communities on reserve.

It also contributes to SDG Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • GIF target 10.2: "By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status."
  • 10.3: "Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcomes, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard."

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: Performance indicators have not yet been developed because the tailored approach is still at an early stage.

• Notes: ESDC funded accessibility research and engagement activities led by the Assembly of First Nations, Indigenous Disability Canada (formerly BCANDS), and Native Women's Association of Canada from 2019 to 2023. This work resulted in multiple reports that demonstrated high accessibility needs on reserve and a preference for community-led approaches to advancing accessibility. The accessibility knowledge and data captured from these preliminary reports will guide future engagement with First Nations on a culturally appropriate legislative or regulatory solution to the application of the ACA on reserve.

Implementation strategy:

Support accessibility and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue to remove employment barriers faced by persons with disabilities by supporting the public service commitment to hire 5,000 persons with disabilities by 2025 outlined in the Government of Canada Disability Action Plan released in October 2022.

• Program: Disability Inclusion Action Plan and 3-year ESDC Accessibility Plan.

Performance indicator:

• Indicator:
  • Hiring of persons with disabilities: Number of new ESDC employees who self-identify as a person with disabilities as of April 1, 2022.
  • Starting point: 424 as of April 2022.
  • Target: 1,187 employees with disabilities by 2025
• Indicator: Percentage of annual promotion rates of ESDC employees with disabilities as of April 1, 2022
  • Starting point: 4.1% set by TBS in December 2020.
  • Target: 6.0% by 2025 set by TBS in December 2020.
• Indicator: Percentage of employees with disabilities who state that accessibility or accommodation issues cause stress at work to a large or very large extent.
  • Starting point: 20% set by TBS in December 2020.
  • Target: 10% by 2025 set by TBS in December 2020 *.

*Source: ESDC Letter on Implementation of the Call to Action on Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

In support of the Government of Canada's Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) (DIAP) ESDC has developed its own departmental commitments through its ESDC 3-year accessibility plan. ESDC is also completing its Employment Systems Review by Fall 2023 to update its Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan by collaborating with the 7 ESDC diversity networks, one of which is the Employees with Disabilities Network. Source: ESDC Letter on Implementation of the Call to Action on Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion.

To measure progress, ESDC contributes to the Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada by supporting promotional opportunities and workplace well being of employees with disabilities. Source: Measuring progress: Accessibility Strategy for the Public Service of Canada - Canada.ca

As one of the largest employers in Canada, to strengthen diversity and inclusion and to address systemic barriers and biases faced by equity-seeking groups in the public service including persons with disabilities, ESDC is implementing new legislative and regulatory amendments of the Public Service Employment Act, effective in July 2023. Our selection process for employment opportunities will look at assessment methods and tools to minimize biases and barriers towards hiring persons with disabilities.

Dedicated training sessions on Mitigating Biases and Barriers in Appointment Processes at ESDC provide opportunities to recognize barriers and biases when selecting candidates.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • GIF target:
    • 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
    • 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result (Hiring of persons with disabilities): 1,430 employees who self-identify as a person with disabilities were hired as of March 31, 2024.
  • Notes: ESDC exceeded its 2025 target of hiring 1,187 employees with disabilities by over 20%.
• Indicator result (Promotion of persons with disabilities): 7.9% promotion rate of employees with disabilities as of March 31, 2024.
  • Notes: ESDC has exceeded the target of 6.0% established by TBS for 2025.

• Indicator result (Retention of persons with disabilities): In 2022 to 2023, the Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) revealed that 15% of employees stated that accessibility or accommodation issues cause stress at work to a large or very large extent.

Notes: There is no specific indicator result available for ESDC.

Implementation strategy:

Support accessibility and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities

Departmental action:

ESDC will support accessible and inclusive communities by improving access to alternate format reading materials for persons with print disabilities.

• Programs:
  • Social Development Partnerships Program-Disability (SDPP-D)
  • Disability Inclusion Action Plan (Pillar 3: Accessible and Inclusive Communities)

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of alternate formats documents produced.
• Starting point: Continued improvement of availability and access to alternate format print materials.
• Target: Launch new Equitable Access to Reading Program in 2024. Improved access to alternate format reading materials for persons with print disabilities through innovative partnerships.

ESDC and Statistics Canada conducted a Survey on Accessible Print Materials to help understand the needs and challenges of persons who require printed reading materials in alternate formats. ESDC-led engagement with stakeholder organizations and persons with print disabilities.

Funding provided to the Centre for Equitable Library Access (CELA) and National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) in 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 to support the production of alternate format readings materials.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

Through its implementation of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (Pillar 3 Accessible and Inclusive Communities) addresses physical, communication, and attitudinal barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from fully participating in communities and the economy. Actions under this pillar include funding the production of alternate format reading materials in 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 through the Social Development Partnerships Program-Disability.

In addition, the Government has committed to creating a new Equitable Access to Reading Program that will launch in 2024 to boost the production of accessible format reading materials through innovative partnerships. ESDC is undertaking research and engaging with persons with print disabilities to inform the design of the new program.

How action contributes to goals, strategy, and/or SDGs:

• The Disability Inclusion Action Plan Pillar 3 contributes to advancing SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF Ambition/target ambition 10.1: "Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced."
  • GIF target 10.2: "By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status."

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: In 2023 to 2024, the number of documents in alternate formats produced by NNELS was 5,515, and CELA produced 1,379,311 in alternate formats.

Notes: This result includes Embossed Braille numbers from CELA (893,799) based on pages, not titles as indicated in the agreement.

NNELS = National Network for Equitable Library.

CELA = Centre of Equitable Library Access.

On April 1, 2024, ESDC launched the Equitable Access to Reading Program (EARP), exemplifying ESDC's proactive measures to address the significant challenges faced by Canadians with print disabilities.

Implementation strategy:

Support accessibility and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Departmental action:

ESDC will fund projects that support Canadian communities and workplaces to be more accessible for persons with disabilities.

• Program: Funding projects that support Canadian communities and workplaces to be more accessible for persons with disabilities.

There are 3 program components in the EAF:

• The youth innovation component encourages youth to find accessibility barriers in their communities. They work with local organizations to improve accessibility and safety in community spaces and workplaces. Grant funding can be up to $10,000 per project.
• The small projects component provides grant funding for small scale construction and communication technology projects that improve accessibility in communities or workplaces. Grants can be up to $100,000 per project.
• The mid-sized projects component gives funding for larger construction projects. These projects must offer a holistic suite of programs and services that support the inclusion of persons with disabilities in their communities and the labour market. Contributions can be up to $3 million per project.

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of completed projects (community spaces and workplaces that are more accessible due to Enabling Accessibility Fund funding).
• Starting point: 1,060 projects funded in fiscal year 2022 to 2023 (Note: this baseline is significantly higher than the target due to additional funding received through Budget 2021 for fiscal year 2022 to 2023).
• Target: 322 community spaces and workplaces by March 31, 2024.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Enabling Accessibility Fund project funding supports Goal 9 by fostering innovation in accessible infrastructure and reducing accessibility barriers, ensuring Canadian community infrastructure such as workplaces and community organizations become more accessible for persons with disabilities.

EAF funding contributes to: 

• SDG 3: ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 
• SDG 8: decent work and economic growth 
• SDG 9: develop infrastructure with a focus on equitable access for all
• SDG 10: reduce inequality

Relevant targets or ambitions:

• CIF ambition/target 3.5: "Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives" and associated indicator "percentage of Canadians who are satisfied or very satisfied with their life."
• CIF ambition 10.1: "Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced."
• GIF target:
  • 8.5: "By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value."
  • 10.2: "By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status."
  • 10.3: "ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard."
  • 11.7: "by 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities."

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: In 2023 to 2024, ESDC funded 437 projects supporting the development of community spaces and workplace accessibility.
  • Notes: These investments were made through the Enabling Accessibility Fund.

Implementation strategy:

Support entrepreneurship and community development in Black communities

Departmental action:

ESDC will support the Social Finance Fund which will facilitate investments into a range of diverse social purpose organizations (SPOs), that are led by or serving diverse equity deserving groups. The Social Finance Fund program is part of the Social Innovation and Social Finance (SI/SF) Strategy.

• Program: Social Finance Fund-Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy (SI/SF)

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Percentage of SFF investments into social purpose organizations that target advancing social equity.
• Starting point: New program (2023).
• Target: 35% of investments target advancing social equity by March 31, 2039 (end of program).

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Social Finance Fund (SFF) program will support investment to reach and support organizations that are led by or serve equity deserving groups, including Black peoples. The program will provide flow-through flexible financing towards social purpose organizations (such as, charities, non-profits, social enterprises, cooperatives) that have a dedicated social or environmental mission. The SFF is particularly focused on ensuring investment reaches social finance intermediaries (such as, credit union, private equity), and social purpose organizations that are led by equity-deserving groups, which includes Black peoples and support to Black communities. The program contributes to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy through its social equity focus that will emphasize investment into businesses and organizations that are led by and serve equity deserving groups.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 10: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced.
  • CIF indicator:  Median household after-tax income
  • GIF target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: This is a new program, and results are not yet available.
  • Notes: Data for this performance indicator is expected to be available starting in 2025 to 2026.

Implementation strategy:

Implement the 50-30 challenge

Departmental action:

ESDC will support the Social Finance Fund (SFF) which will implement the 50-30 Challenge.

The SFF facilitates investments into a range of diverse SPOs through initial disbursements to wholesalers (investment managers) who in turn will invest into social finance intermediaries (such as, credit union, private equity). The SFF will focus on SPOs that are led by or serving diverse equity deserving groups. The Social Finance Fund program is part of the Social Innovation and Social Finance (SI/SF) Strategy.

• Program: Social Finance Fund-Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: percentage of women and/or gender diverse people and equity deserving groups in staffing at the senior management levels as well as in the board of directors, investment committee, advisory committee, and any future or subsequently formed or introduced governance body for the wholesaler(s) per fiscal year starting in 2025.

• Starting point: New program (2023)
• Target: 50% of women and/or gender diverse people (in other words, gender parity) in staffing at the senior management level as well as in composition of the board of directors, investment committee, advisory committee, and any other governance committees for the wholesaler (assessed for each individual body). 30% equity deserving groups (in other words, significant representation) in staffing at the senior management level as well as in the composition of the board of directors, investment committee, advisory committee, and any other governance committees for the wholesaler (assessed for each individual body).

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Social Finance Fund (SFF) will provide repayable funds to a small number of investment managers known as wholesalers. As part of their funding agreement, wholesalers shall ensure that the composition of the board of directors, the advisory committee, the investment committee, and any future or subsequently formed or introduced governance body as well as staffing at the senior management level to meet what the SFF has named the 50-30 Requirement. The incorporation of the 50-30 Requirement into the Social Finance Fund is modelled off ISED's 50-30 Challenge and extends the definition by including all governance bodies of the recipient. This initiative within the SFF is a component of its social equity lens and supports SDGs #5 (gender equality) and #10 (reduced inequalities).

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced.
  • CIF indicator:  Median household after-tax income
  • GIF target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion or all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic or other status.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: This is a new program, and results are not yet available.
  • Notes: Data for this performance indicator is expected to be available starting in 2025 to 2026.

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition and transition to zero-emission vehicles

FSDS context:

ESDC recognizes the need to transition to a circular economy with net-zero carbon emissions to fight climate change and is working to incorporate Goal 12 strategies through a variety of programs. For example, the department has engaged with partners to reduce electronic landfill waste. ESDC's Computers to Schools program offers its unclassified digital devices to schools. Not only does this program extend the useful life of computer assets and parts, but remaining components are sent to provincially licensed recycling facilities instead of landfills.

ESDC has also shown a commitment to responsible consumption by transitioning to zero-emission vehicles. The department is actively collecting and analyzing vehicle usage data to help identify where replacing older vehicles with zero-emission light duty vehicles would make the most impact. The department's transition towards net-zero emissions is made possible as a result of the strengthening of its green procurement criteria. By procuring only Energy Star or EPEAT certified devices, the department is encouraging major suppliers to improve while reducing its country-wide footprint at the same time.

Target theme: Federal leadership on responsible consumption

Target: by 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 75% by weight of non-hazardous operational waste (All Ministers).

Implementation strategy:

Maximize diversion of waste from landfill

Departmental action:

ESDC will offer digital departmental electronic equipment to Computers for Schools Plus (CFS+) Program

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: ESDC will offer all unclassified digital devices to Computers for Schools Plus (CFS+) Program prior to e-waste.
• Starting point: 97% of digital devices offered to Computers for Schools Plus (CFS+) Program prior to e-waste.
• Target: Annually offer 100% of all unclassified digital devices to Computers for Schools Plus (CFS+) program prior to e-waste.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

Computers for Schools Plus benefits the environment by ensuring that computer systems are refurbished and recycled, and by extending the useful life of computer assets. Non-working systems are disassembled, and functional parts are used to repair other systems. Remaining components are sent to provincially licensed recycling facilities.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: In 2023 to 2024, 97% of ESDC's digital devices were offered to the Computers for Schools Plus (CFS+) Program prior to e-waste.
  • Notes: All the equipment targeted for surplus is sent to Computer for Schools (CFS); however, when devices get damaged in transit, ESDC discards these devices as they do not meet CFS' requirements.

Implementation strategy:

Transform the federal light-duty fleet

Departmental action:

ESDC will optimize Fleet management by replacing older vehicles with zero emission light duty vehicles when possible and by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced. ESDC is reporting this information to Treasury Board Secretariat on an annual basis

• Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

• Indicator:
  • Fuel consumption: Percentage (%) decrease in litres of fuel consumed per year from the baseline Year 2016 to 2017.
  • GHG emissions: percentage (%) decrease in GHG emissions from fleet from fiscal year 2005 to 2006 to current reporting fiscal year = [1-Y/X] %. 
  • Eco driving training: Percentage (%) of fleet drivers will have completed NRCAN's online ecoDriving course within 1 year of becoming a fleet driver.
  • Telematics purchased: Percentage (%) increase in number of telematics purchased from baseline year 2020. 
• Starting point:
  • Fuel consumption: Fuel consumption baseline Year 2016 to 2017 142,010 litres.
  • GHG emissions: emissions baseline 2005 to 2006 1.414 ktCO2e. 
  • Eco driving training: Eco driving course - new program. 
  • Telematics purchased: Baseline 2 units purchased in 2020 to 2021.

• Target:
  • Fuel consumption: 90% decrease in fuel consumption for the fleet compared to the baseline year.
  • GHG emissions: 95% reduction change in GHG emissions from fleet from fiscal year 2005 to 2006
  • Eco Driving training: 100% of fleet drivers will have completed NRCAN's online Eco Driving course within 1 year of becoming a fleet driver.
  • Implementation of telematics: 5% increase in number of telematics purchased from baseline year 2020.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

Most of ESDC's fleet is used by the Service Canada Outreach programs. Community Outreach Liaison Service remove barriers and ensure substantive equality for all vulnerable Canadians. The Outreach program provides vulnerable populations with access to government services and benefits. Staff travel to over 604 in-person points of service across the country, some in extremely remote communities.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 12.1.1: Zero-emission vehicles represent 10% of new light duty vehicle sales by 2025, 30% by 2030 and 100% by 2040.
  • CIF indicator 12.1.1: Proportion of new light-duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles:
  • GIF target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result (Fuel consumption): 46% decrease in fuel consumption compared to 2016 to 2017 baseline year as of March 31, 2024.
  • Notes: The department decreased its fuel consumption from 142,010 litres in fiscal year 2016 to 2017 to 82,706 litres in fiscal year 2023 to 2024.
• Indicator result (GHG emissions): 86% decrease in fleet GHG emissions compared to baseline year 2005 to 2006 as March 31, 2024.
  • Notes: The department decreased its fleets' GHG emissions from 1.414 ktCO2e in fiscal year 2005 to 2006, down to 0.192 ktC02e in fiscal year 2023 to 2024.
• Indicator result (Eco Driving training): 100% of fleet drivers have completed NRCAN's online Eco Driving course as of March 31, 2024.
• Indicator result (Telematics purchased): 1,750% increase in the number of telematics purchased compared to 2020 baseline year as of March 31, 2024.
  • Notes: In 2023 to 2024, ESDC increased their telematic purchases from 2 in fiscal year 2020 to 2021 to 35 telematics.

Implementation strategy:

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Departmental action:

ESDC will develop green procurement criteria for the purchase of goods and services that addresses environmental considerations such as greenhouse gas emissions reduction, plastics waste reduction and/or broader environmental benefits. This includes developing a Green procurement Strategy as well as tools and training for ESDC employees.

• Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

• Indicator:
  • Contracts with environmental considerations: Percentage (%) increase in total contracts with environmental considerations.
  • Contracts with Greening declaration from vendors: Percentage (%) increase of procurement contracts for service/goods with greening declaration from vendors.
  • Completion of Green Procurement training: Percentage (%) of Procurement Specialists and Materiel Managers who have completed the Green Procurement Training course. 
• Starting points:
  • Contracts with environmental considerations: 48% of total contracts with environmental considerations.
  • Contracts with Greening declaration from vendors: 68% of contracts with greening declaration from vendors.
  • Completion of Green Procurement training: 100% of Procurement Specialists and Material Managers have completed the Green Procurement Training course. 
• Targets:
  • Contracts with environmental considerations: 5 % increase change in total contracts with environmental considerations year over year
  • Contracts with Greening declaration from vendors: 50% of procurement contracts for service/goods with greening declaration from vendors every year.
  • Completion of Green Procurement training: 100% of Procurement Specialists and Material Managers have completed the Green Procurement Training course within one year of becoming a Procurement Specialist or Material Manager. 

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

ESDC will continue to mature its approach to green procurement through the development of procurement tools and training as well as the development and implementation of a Green procurement Strategy. This includes the integration of environmental considerations in new common-use procurement instruments (reviewed yearly) as well as inclusion in procurements valued over $2 million.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • GIF target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result (Contracts with Environmental considerations): In 2023 to 2024, there has been a 4.41% percent increase in total contracts with environmental considerations compared to the previous fiscal year.
  • Notes: In 2023 to 2024, the department managed a total of 1,879 contracts. 71% of the contracts incorporated environmental considerations: 14% for goods, and 57% for services. This represented a 4.41% percentage increase in total contracts with environmental considerations compared to the previous fiscal year.
• Indicator result (Contracts with Greening declaration from vendors): In 2023 to 2024, there has been a 6.3% percent increase in procurement contracts with greening declarations compared to the previous fiscal year.
  • Notes: In 2023 to 2024, 80% of procurement contracts for service/goods had greening declaration from vendors.
• Indicator result (Completion of Green Procurement training): 100% of Procurement Specialist, Materiel Managers, have completed the Green Procurement Training course as of March 31, 2024.
  • Notes: This training was completed within one year of becoming a Procurement Specialist or Material Manager.

A green procurement checklist was implemented for all NAP projects to inform on green procurement of goods.

Used list of "preferred green Vendors/Suppliers" for use across 148 regional projects.

Implementation strategy:

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Departmental action:

ESDC will select and operate IT and office equipment in a manner that reduces energy consumption and material usage.

• Program: ESDC Internal Services

Performance indicator:

• Indicator:
  • Ratio of mobile to desktop devices
  • Ensure procurement focusses on vendors and products, such as mobile or print devices that are Energy Star or Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) certified.
• Starting point:
  • 89.54% of devices are mobile as of April 13, 2023
  • Already at 100% for procurement
• Target:
  • Increase the current ratio of mobile to desktop devices to 95% by 2026.
  • Maintain 100% procurement of goods or services from vendors that have their product Energy Star or Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) certified.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

Increasing the use of mobile devices (laptops/ tablets) facilitates reducing overall energy consumption within the department.

Adopting clean technology and environmental considerations into purchasing decisions is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they and their supply chains provide. By choosing electronic products that are Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) certified consumers and organizations can help reduce their environmental impact by selecting products that are more energy-efficient, have a reduced use of hazardous materials, and are designed for easy recycling.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result (1): 9:1 mobile to desktop ratio as of March 31, 2024.
• Notes: 91.8% of ESDC employees are equipped with mobile devices as of May 1, 2024. 91.8% of ESDC employees represents 37,557 out of 40,907 equipped with mobile devices.
• Indicator result (2): 100% of ESDC IT procurement complied with green and Energy Star certification standards as of March 31, 2024.

Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts

FSDS context:

ESDC acknowledges the urgency with which climate change needs to be addressed. We will work with Public Services and Procurement Canada to modernize via net-zero carbon buildings, adopt greener and more sustainable operations and reduce the risks posed by climate change to federal assets, services and operations. One such action has been by piloting a tree planting initiative for a real property project in British Columbia which will off-set up to 25,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

Similarly, ESDC has identified the oncoming wave of electric vehicles and has been including the installation of EV (Electric Vehicles) chargers where possible during National Accommodation projects in order to move its conventional fleet emissions towards a net-zero. As the Federal Government's fourth largest employer, the department is also encouraging employees to use low-carbon forms of transportation for commuting as well as facilitating hybrid work arrangements to reduce daily travel.

Under the Emergency Management and Assistance program, ESDC is mitigating climate change impacts on the Department's services and benefits delivered to Canadians. This means that the department has been incorporating climate change factors into its departmental risk and business assessments, training, and planning. And while the department has successfully lowered its overall Greenhouse Gas emissions by 79% from 2005 levels, it will continue to explore new initiatives to further lead the way to reducing the impact of climate change in government operations.

Target theme: Target theme: Federal leadership on responsible consumption

Target: By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 75% by weight of non-hazardous operational waste (All Ministers).

Implementation strategy:

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations.

Departmental action:

To further reduce its GHG emission and its overall environmental footprint, ESDC will explore new initiatives that cover fleet management practices, green procurement procedures, and information management and technology.

These initiatives include:

• (a) improving building infrastructure sustainability options through the implementation of tenant service projects, such as but not limited to:
  • Including refillable water fountains to encourage less single-use plastic
  • Installing EV chargers in the base building requirements at Service Delivery Spaces and for Fleet vehicle parking to encourage more sustainable modes of transportation.
  • Including biophilia elements, such as green/live walls, within the scope of modernization projects
  • Including automatic lighting, within the scope of projects, in alignment with IDS standards
  • Ensuring recycling programs are implemented in all ESDC occupied buildings by engaging the landlord/service provider in each location.
  • Ensuring recycling programs are implemented in all ESDC occupied buildings by engaging the landlord/service provider in each location.
• (b) partnering with Natural Resources Canada, Can, Trees Canada and Trees Ontario for national tree planting program to offset the carbon from modernized workplace projects
• (c) increasing training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments, and developing adaptation actions to public service employees. Facilitate sharing of best practices and lessons learned.
• Program: Internal services

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Percentage reduction of ESDC's overall GHG emissions compared to 2005 levels
• Starting point: 79% reduction of GHG emissions compared to 2005 levels
• Target: 80% reduction of GHG emissions by 2050 compared to 2005 levels

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

ESDC activities in support of Greening Government strategy that contribute to the overall reduction of the department's greenhouse gas emissions and reduce its overall environmental footprint support the federal government goal and the net-zero carbon operations target.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target:
    • 13.1 Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
    • 13.2 Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: N/A. Result not available.
  • Notes: ESDC is in the process of developing tools to measure the percentage-based reduction in GHG levels within the scope of its business activities. Data is still being compiled to support a year-over-year measurement. In 2023 to 2024, ESDC engaged in a series of initiatives to reduce its overall environmental footprint, including implementing Green Standards repurposing furniture, and panels from 11 decommissioned sites to 61 refit projects and replacing water fountains with water bottle filling stations. ESDC rolled out the national implementation of the green procurement checklist to confirm baseline of green procurement, helped implement training, procure through high proportion post-consumer materials, certified eco-labels and target green vendors. Further development of this tool is underway.

Implementation strategy:

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations.

Departmental action:

ESDC will maintain/reduce the print devices ratio to employees set by Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS).

• Initiative: ESDC Internal services

Performance indicator:

• Indicator:
  • Maintain/reduce user-to-print device ratios.
  • Maintain/reduce printers per floor for physical locations.
  • Number of print devices with mandatory Secure Print is installed.
• Starting point:
  • Current user-to-print device is 19:1.
  • Many physical locations have as many as 10 printing devices on a single floor.
  • No devices have mandatory Secure Print.
• Target:
  • Reduce user-to-print device ratios to fall within the 25:1 to 30:1 range by 2026. 
  • Reduce printer footprint to three printers per floor for physical locations by 2026.
  • Implement mandatory Secure Print on 90% of all printing devices by 2026.

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

Reducing printing devices and paper consumed by printing supports the goal to take action on climate change and its impacts by reducing paper waste, saving energy, and reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, reducing maintenance and replacement of digital devices used such as printers and copiers.

In addition, implementing mandatory Secure Print on all printing devices will reduce unclaimed printouts, promote paperless habits, and reduce printing devices footprint.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • GIF target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result (1): 20:1 user-to-print device achieved as of March 31, 2024.
• Indicator result (2): Average of 4 printing devices per single floor achieved as of March 31, 2024.
• Indicator result (3): Mandatory Secure Print was implemented on all printers as of March 31, 2024, excluding exemptions for client service personnel in Service Canada Centres and Passport Offices.
• Notes: In addition to the above reductions, ESDC significantly reduced paper waste, cutting black and white print volumes by about 53% (from 119 million to 55 million copies) and colour print volumes by approximately 85% (from 21 million to 3 million copies) compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Implementation strategy:

Modernize through net-zero carbon buildings

Departmental action:

ESDC will work closely with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to modernize its work spaces in an effort to reduce the footprint of its buildings, operations and maintenance.

• Program/Initiative: ESDC Real Property in collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).
  • Note: ESDC does not own its Real Property but works closely with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) in the management and operations of its buildings.

Performance indicator:

• Indicator: Number of modernized work points in ESDC general office space
• Starting point: 2,821 Modernized work points as of January 2023
• Target: 6000 modernized work points by March 31, 2024

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

ESDC's large physical footprint is an opportunity for the department to adopt greener and more sustainable operations. The department works closely with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to ensure work spaces are modernized, incorporate climate-resilient design and green procurement as well as ensuring they are flexible, accessible, and inclusive.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • GIF target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Results achieved:

• Indicator result: 5,129 work points modernized as of March 31, 2024.
  • Notes: This result represents approximately 14% of the Department's office space, which aligns with Budget 2024's announcement on Office Reduction Portfolio Plan. The remaining footprint is being evaluated. Our Interior Design Standards were updated and published to incorporate sustainable designs elements such as motion sensor lighting, repurposed furniture, and refill water stations.

Implementation strategy:

Reduce risks posed by climate change impacts to federal assets, services, and operations

Departmental action:

ESDC will continue incorporating climate change factors into departmental risk assessments, business planning and simulation exercise activities to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the Department's services and benefits delivered to Canadians

• Program: ESDC Emergency Management and Assistance to federally coordinated response

Performance indicator:

• Indicator:
  • Increase percentage of climate change factors integrated into departmental exercises.
  • Increase percentage of climate change factors integrated into other Branch and regional Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and Emergency Management (EM) exercises.
• Starting points:
  • 25% of departmental exercises consider climate change factors.
  • 25% of other Branch and regional BCPs and EM exercises consider climate change factors.
• Targets:
  • Climate change-related factors are incorporated in 75% of departmental exercises by fiscal year 2023 to 2024.
  • Climate change-related factors are incorporated into 75% of other Branch and regional BCPs and EM exercises by fiscal year 2024 to 2025.

Note: Some exercises will not consider climate change factors which is why we are aiming for a target of 75%

How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS:

The Emergency Management and Business Continuity Program strengthens the Department's ability to mitigate the risks of localized climate change events affecting service delivery. The Emergency Management system facilitates coordinated planning, implementation, testing and monitoring of business recovery, information technology service recovery and crisis/incident response to emergency events, including climate-change related events.

• Relevant targets or ambitions:
  • CIF ambition/target 13.3: Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change.
  • CIF indicator: Percentage of departmental business impact assessments and business continuity plans in place for all critical services.
  • GIF target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

Results achieved:

• Indicator result (1): N/A. Indicator data will be available in 2024 to 2025.
  • Notes: In 2023 to 2024, ESDC Emergency Management and Assistance began the planning phase of a Departmental-level tabletop (TTX) exercise to simulate major impacts to the department, including disruption of critical services from external events driven by environmental factors. Evolving external risks such as climate change are also being incorporated into scenarios. The exercise will take place in 2024 to 2025.
• Indicator result (2): N/A. Indicator data will be available in 2024 to 2025.
  • Notes: In 2023 to 2024, ESDC began developing tools to monitor and report on departmental business continuity and building-level emergency exercises, incorporating climate-change factors into these assessments for 2024 to 2025. ESDC procured a software application to centralize business continuity, IT continuity, and emergency management information. This tool will enhance coordination, decision-making, and monitoring of departmental testing, exercises, and climate-change assessments, minimizing impacts on ESDC services.

Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

ESDC's strategic environmental assessment process

ESDC will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. A SEA for a policy, plan or program proposal includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on relevant FSDS goals and targets.

Public statements on the results of ESDC's assessments are made public when an initiative has undergone a detailed SEA. The purpose of the public statement is to demonstrate that the environmental effects, including the impacts on achieving the FSDS goals and targets, of the approved policy, plan or program have been considered during proposal development and decision making.

ESDC did not have any proposals requiring a detailed SEA in 2023 to 2024.

Expanding our social equity lens through new tools and training

In 2023 to 2024, ESDC began preparations for adopting the new SEEA Cabinet Directive, which came officially into force on April 1, 2024. In consultation with ECCC, ESDC is developing guidance for the new assessment tool, the Climate, Nature, and Economic Lens, which will replace the existing SEA process. This new tool will enhance the integration of the expected environmental and economic impacts of proposals, by ensuring policies and program initiatives minimize harms and maximize benefits for the environment and the Canadian economy.

In addition to its SEEA process, ESDC is committed to assessing the impact of its policies, plans and project proposals on diverse groups of individuals. In addition to the Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA +) assessment of proposals, ESDC's GBA+ Centre of Excellence has recently expanded its assessment tools to include a new Black-Centric Lens (BCL). Launched in February 2023, the BCL recognizes the unique barriers faced by many Black people in Canada and supports the department in building greater relationships with Black communities while improving our services.

As well as new GBA+ analysis tools, ESDC continues to build knowledge and awareness across the department in advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. In addition to the Indigenous Awareness and Reconciliation learning requirements that form part of ESDC's Essential Training Criteria for all employees, ESDC College is developing an Indigenous Learning Strategy in collaboration with external Indigenous stakeholders.

Increasing our service impact through stakeholder engagement

The programs and services the department delivers are essential in the lives of Canadians. The department is committed to increasing its understanding of service barriers that prevent marginalized and underserved Canadians from receiving the benefits to which they are entitled. Improving access to services and benefits for all eligible Canadians will continue to be a priority in advancing our contributions to FSDS and SDG goals and targets, particularly our leadership in advancing FSDS Goal 1: Reduce Poverty in Canada in all its forms. As a result of its Reaching All Canadians initiative, the department is working with the Canada Revenue Agency and Statistics Canada to gain insights into hard-to-reach populations in support of increasing benefit uptake for eligible Canadians.

The department is also working to implement the Accessibility Plan for Client Service. This plan proposes 17 measures to be put in place between 2023 and 2025. The measures are aimed at improving the accessibility of service delivery channels (in-person, online, phone) for persons with disabilities. As part of the Accessibility Plan for Client Service, the department will develop a process to include persons with disabilities in the design or redesign of programs and services. This plan will help to reduce or remove barriers that could otherwise limit access to services.

Our Service Canada Regions Service Delivery actively supports the delivery of a wide array of essential services at hundreds of Service Canada Centres across the country. Service Canada's Indigenous Program Delivery will continue to conduct virtual engagements with Indigenous Peoples to remove barriers to service delivery and to help build capacity for programs such as the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training, Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care, and Skills and Partnership Fund. By using virtual platforms, engagements reduce the carbon footprint while providing effective forums for consultations and collaborations.

In 2023 to 2024, the department's community outreach was strengthened through an increase in service referrals and the launch of Service Canada's Community Outreach and Liaison Service webpage. The department continued to expand its Reaching all Canadians initiatives, including outreach initiatives through the Canada Educational Savings Program (CESP) to increase access to the Canada Learning Bond (CLB) for children and youth from low-income households. In the fall of 2023, in collaboration with the Canada Revenue Agency, the CESP supported outreach events in Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick resulting in increased sign-ups for the CLB. In the coming years, the department will continue to advance outreach and partnership initiatives to increase CLB uptake and support access to post-secondary education.

Indigenous Program Delivery continued to support and respond to the emerging needs of communities. During the wildfire season, Indigenous Skills and Employment Training and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care service delivery partners applied program flexibilities to quickly address community needs, such as supporting wildfire suppression and water treatment plant training. Indigenous Program Delivery is committed to working with partners to ensure continued engagement around the social, environmental, and economic needs of communities and the program flexibilities required to address those needs.

Continuous improvement through a results and delivery approach

As the largest government service delivery department, ESDC is committed to improving client service experience and outcomes, supported by increasingly seamless digital services. Looking ahead, the department will continue to deliver on IT upgrade projects that modernize systems that support programs and services such as Pensions, Employment Insurance, Passport, and Grants and Contributions. The department's multi-year Benefits Delivery Modernization Programme is designed to deliver the future state client experience for the Old Age Security (OAS), Employment Insurance (EI), and Canada Pension Plan (CPP). This will be achieved by way of modernizing technology platform streamlining benefit processing, providing new digital services, and enhancing service management capabilities. These initiatives provide Canadians with a more accessible and sustainable client experience via digital channels and reduce the need for travel to Service Canada Centres.

In addition, through its Data Strategy, the department will continue the development of the data analytical infrastructure tools and supports needed to store, manage, share, and use data securely. ESDC has launched and is continuing to update a departmental Data Literacy Program to improve competencies that support evidence-based decision making and the shift to a data-enabled and data-driven culture. The department will also continue to collaborate internally and with other government departments and agencies to publicly share more data to fill key data gaps. These efforts will improve the department's understanding of clients, including at-risk Canadians, as well as the impacts of programs and services. Over the past year, this included work to ensure that tools, such as Artificial Intelligence, are informed by data that are fit for purpose and used ethically and responsibly.

ESDC is also focused on creating a more diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace, and taking steps to improve the day-to-day experience of departmental employees. ESDC's Employment System Review was completed in 2023 to 2024. Recommendations and findings will be used to inform the next iteration of the department's Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, to be launched in 2025. Significant progress was made in diversifying our workforce with our current Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. Furthermore, ESDC enhanced skills training and employment supports for persons with disabilities through the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and consultations by the Employment Equity Act Review Task Force.

In 2023 to 2024, the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat joined the Income Security and Social Development Branch at ESDC. This enabled the Department to take a whole-of-government approach to combatting systemic racism, in outward-facing federal policies, programs and services. This included critical international work, such as securing a commitment from Brazil to work towards a Canada-Brazil Partnership on Racial Equity and Inclusion as well as helping to facilitate a $2.78 million contribution agreement for a Canadian not-for profit to establish the Canadian Civil Society Network for Equity and Racial Justice, as part of ongoing support for the North American Partnership for Equity and Racial Justice.

Engagement with Black, Asian, Muslim, Jewish, Arab, Palestinian, and Indigenous leaders across the country helped to inform the overall federal approach to combatting different forms of systemic racism. Lastly, ESDC has been assisting the Department of Canadian Heritage in finalizing the new federal anti-racism strategy, to be launched during the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year. The new strategy will enable ESDC to further advance commitments to improve the lives of all people in Canada, particularly those facing racism and related forms of discrimination.

As a result of these sustainable development initiatives, ESDC will be better equipped to fulfill its commitments to enhance the social and economic well-being of Canadians.