Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities Program 

Program overview

The Enabling Fund for Official Language Minority Communities (EF-OLMC) Program's objective is to enhance the economic development and vitality of official language minority communities (OLMCs) across Canada.

OLMCs are groups of people whose first or chosen official language is not the majority language in their province or territory. In other words, French-speakers outside Quebec and English-speakers in Quebec.

The Program's objectives are achieved by funding organizations to:

• strengthen OLMCs' capacity in the areas of community economic development and human resource development
• promote partnerships, and
• deliver employment assistance services

How this program works

The EF-OLMC Program follows the "by and for" approach, which considers the needs and priorities of OLMCs in the design and delivery of initiatives. As a result, projects that receive funding under the Program are implemented by OLMC organizations for the benefit of individuals living in OLMCs, as well as their organizations and businesses.

The Program's funding is divided into 2 streams:

Stream 1 - Community Economic Development and Human Resources Development

Under stream 1, the EF-OLMC Program strengthens OLMCs' capacity in the areas of community economic development and human resources development, and promotes partnerships. Funding is provided to a network of 14 organizations across Canada.

The Community Economic Development and Human Resources Development stream includes 3 categories of activities.

• Community economic development

  Community economic development is defined as a local action to create economic opportunities that improve social conditions. This approach recognizes that economic, environmental, and social challenges are interdependent, complex, and ever-changing. Solutions are rooted in local knowledge and led by community members.

  Examples of activities include, but are not limited to:

  • creating local community economic development plans
  • organizing training workshops and conferences
  • supporting business creation
  • leading entrepreneurship camps for youth
  • developing reports, research, and websites
  • developing strategic or business plans
  • supporting tourism projects
• Human resources development

  Human resources development is defined as the integrated use of training, organization, and career development efforts to improve individual, group, and organizational effectiveness.

  Examples of activities include, but are not limited to:

  • organizing job fairs or networking events
  • mentoring and coaching
  • organizing business startup competitions
  • developing learning tools (manuals, guides, etc.)
  • assisting employers/business community in identifying and meeting skill needs
• Promoting partnerships

  Examples of activities include, but are not limited to:

  • promoting conferences, and networking events to leverage support and investments
  • facilitating information exchange opportunities
  • negotiating agreements to support sustainable community partnerships
  • creating, consolidating, and mobilizing partnerships and stakeholder alliances

Stream 2 - Employment Assistance Services

Under stream 2, the EF-OLMC Program funds OLMC organizations to provide tailored employment assistance services to individuals living in OLMCs so that they can find, obtain, or maintain employment. The Program also ensures that the services it funds are integrated into the broader provincial or territorial skills and employment delivery system to fully support clients' needs.

The Employment Assistance Services stream includes four categories of activities.

• Job search assistance

  Examples of activities include, but are not limited to:

  • assisting individuals or groups with job searches
  • supporting résumé writing
  • preparing clients for interviews
• Counselling and case management

  Examples of activities include, but are not limited to:

  • managing an individual's case file to track their progress in finding a job
  • developing supports that monitor individuals' progress in implementing their action plan
  • providing specialized assessments and professional diagnostic services that may affect a person's ability to participate in training or to occupy specific jobs
• Unassisted services

  Examples of activities include, but are not limited to:

  • providing access to career planning tools, labour market information, and employment opportunities that can be accessed independently by job seekers
  • supplying equipment to support an unassisted job search or career planning
• Other activities

  Examples of activities include, but are not limited to:

  • providing job retention activities and job placement assistance
  • providing mentorship, guidance and support to job seekers and entrepreneurs

Funding Streams

• Stream 1 - Community Economic Development and Human Resources Development
• Stream 2 - Employment Assistance Services

Further Information and Related Links

The EF-OLMC is one of ESDC's initiatives that contribute to fulfilling its obligations under Part VII of the Official Languages Act. It is also part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023 to 2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration.

Other Departmental programs that deliver OLMC-focused initiatives under the Action Plan include:

• The Skills for Success Program
• Federal Secretariat on Early Learning and Child Care
• Social Development Partnerships Program