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Name of Horizontal Initiative: Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS)
Name of lead department(s): Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Lead department program activity: Social Development
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: April 1, 2011
End date of the Horizontal Initiative: March 31, 2014
Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): $396.8M over three years
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement):
The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) promotes strategic partnerships and structures, including transitional and supportive housing solutions and supports, to assist homeless persons and those at risk of homelessness to move toward self-sufficiency. The HPS recognizes that a stable living arrangement is a basic requirement for improving health, parenting, education, and employment. As a result, communities are encouraged to develop longer-term solutions to address their homelessness-related needs.
The Homelessness Partnering Strategy:
The Homelessness Partnering Strategy has seven funding streams:
The first three funding streams focus on the needs of homeless and at-risk individuals at the local level, and provide funding to help them gain and maintain a stable living arrangement. These streams are delivered regionally through the Program Operations Branch:
The remaining four streams, delivered nationally through the Income Security and Social Development Branch (Homelessness Partnering Secretariat), provide the means to develop and explore innovative methods, as well as horizontal approaches, to address issues related to homelessness including: effective reporting; accountability; data development and collection; evidence-based knowledge development; the sharing of best practices; and making surplus federal real properties available to communities:
For more information, please visit the Homelessness Partnering Strategy website: Web site of HRSDC
Shared outcome(s): Income security, access to opportunities and well-being for individuals, families and communities.
Governance structure(s): The Homelessness Partnering Strategy community-based program is delivered via two models:
A formal Canada-Quebec Agreement defines how the program is delivered in Quebec.
Work will continue to strengthen bilateral arrangements with provinces and territories in order to better coordinate policy and program priorities and complement efforts to address the needs of individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Areas of engagement with provinces and territories will vary according to the interests of each jurisdiction and could include, for example: facilitating officials' membership on HPS Community Advisory Boards and Regional Advisory Boards; data collection and sharing; exchanging research and knowledge; and, consultations on program development.
The Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative (SFRPHI) makes surplus federal real properties available to community organizations, the not-for-profit sector, and other levels of government for projects to help prevent and reduce homelessness. The SFRPHI is a horizontal initiative under HPS, which HRSDC manages in partnership and in collaboration with Public Works and Government Services Canada as well as the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Planning Highlights: Planning highlights for 2012–2013 focus on implementing the renewed HPS to better prevent and reduce homelessness across Canada while introducing several enhancements for the 2011–2014 period.
Specific 2012–2013 planning highlights include:
Federal Partner: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Social Development | Homelessness Partnering Strategy - regionally Delivered Projects | $381.0M | $147.4M |
Federal Horizontal Pilot Projects (Examples of federal partners for this initiative include Health Canada, Justice Canada, Veteran Affairs, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) | $2.6M | $1.0M | |
Homelessness Knowledge Development | $2.6M | $1.0M | |
National Homelessness Information System | $1.6M | $0.6M | |
Total | $387.8M | $150M |
Expected Results:
Federal Partner: Public Works and Government Services Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative | $9.0M | $3.0M | |
Total | $9.0M | $3.0M |
Expected Results: Communities have enhanced capacity to provide facilities for use by individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date) | Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2012-2013 |
---|---|
$396.8M | $153.0M |
Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): Not Applicable
Contact information:
Barbara Lawless, Director General
Homelessness Partnering Secretariat
Income Security and Social Development Branch
Place du Portage, Phase IV
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Québec K1A 0J9
(819) 997-5464
barbara.lawless@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Name of Horizontal Initiative: Youth Employment Strategy (YES)
Name of lead department(s): Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Lead department program activity: Skills and Employment
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: April 1, 2003
End date of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing
Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Ongoing
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): Through the Youth Employment Strategy (YES), the Government of Canada is working to provide young Canadians with both valuable work experience and earnings to help transition to the labour market and support their further education. The Youth Employment Strategy supports Canadian youth as they move into the workforce. The Strategy plays a role in developing Canada's workforce by providing young Canadians with access to programs and services to help them gain the skills, knowledge, career information and work experience they need to find and maintain employment and make a successful transition into the labour force.
The Youth Employment Strategy is designed to respond to labour market challenges facing youth, aged 15 to 30. The Strategy has three program streams: Skills Link, Career Focus and Summer Work Experience, which includes the Canada Summer Jobs initiative. Skills Link provides youth-at-risk with opportunities to develop the skills they need to find work or return to school. Career Focus helps post-secondary graduates find work in their area of specialization. Summer Work Experience helps secondary and post-secondary students acquire career-related skills and financing for their education through summer jobs.
The Government of Canada's support for young Canadians is a shared responsibility and a partnership effort among many departments and organizations. Human Resources and Skills Development, along with 10 other federal government departments, work cooperatively with other levels of government, Aboriginal organizations, educational institutions, the private sector, and not-for-profit and voluntary sector organizations to deliver Youth Employment Strategy initiatives.
Shared outcome(s):
The shared outcomes of partners for the common key results are:
Governance structure(s): The Youth Employment Strategy has in place a horizontal Results-based Management and Accountability Framework that represents a commitment among the eleven participating federal departments to undertake ongoing collection of common performance management data to ensure effective overall performance management of the program.
Oversight of the Youth Employment Strategy horizontal initiative is provided through a collaborative committee structure. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is responsible for facilitating coordination among the departments and agencies funding Youth Employment Strategy activities. As lead of this horizontal initiative, HRSDC chairs and is responsible for the coordination and management of the Youth Employment Strategy Interdepartmental Operations Committee and the Youth Employment Strategy Evaluation Sub-Committee. HRSDC is ultimately accountable for attaining the expected results for the Youth Employment Strategy and has the ultimate decision-making authority for issues related to the overall policy, design and implementation of the Youth Employment Strategy.
Youth Employment Strategy initiatives are delivered nationally, regionally and locally using a variety of funding instruments, such as contribution agreements and some direct delivery methods. Transfer payments are provided primarily by participating departments through contribution agreements and service delivery agreements in support of participants' remuneration and overhead costs.
Planning Highlights: As lead, HRSDC will continue to support implementation of the YES across the eleven participating federal departments with a focus on program results and performance monitoring, and preparing the YES summative evaluation scheduled to begin in 2012.
Federal Partner: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Career Focus | Ongoing | $13.0M |
Skills Link | Ongoing | $123.3M | |
Summer Work Experience | Ongoing | $111.5M | |
Total | Ongoing | $247.8M |
Expected Results:
Career Focus:
Projected Range of Results
For POB-Service Canada:
Clients Served: 494
Employed or Self-Employed: 291
Return to School: 31
Contribution Agreements: 150
Funds Leveraged: $4.0M-$6.0M
For Sector Council:
Clients Served: 350
Employed or Self-Employed: 309
Return to School: 35
Contribution Agreements: 163
Funds Leveraged: TBD
Skills Link
For POB-Service Canada
Projected Range of Results
Clients Served: 12,283
Employed or Self-Employed: 3,876
Return to School: 1,351
Contribution Agreements: 750
Funds Leveraged: $50.0M-$65.0M
Federal Partner: Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Career Focus | $1.1M | |
Total | $1.1M |
Federal Partner: Canadian International Development Agency
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Career Focus | $7.2M | |
Total | $7.2M |
Federal Partner: Canadian Heritage
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Career Focus | $0.9M | |
Summer Work Experience | $7.9M | ||
Total | $8.8M |
Federal Partner: Environment Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Career Focus | $3.3M | |
Total | $3.3M |
Federal Partner: Industry Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Career Focus | $3.6M | |
Summer Work Experience | $3.5M | ||
Total | $7.1M |
Federal Partner: National Research Council
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Career Focus | $5.4M | |
Total | $5.4M |
Federal Partner: Natural Resources Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Career Focus | $0.6M | |
Total | $0.6M |
Federal Partner: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Skills Link | $1.0M | |
Total | $1.0M |
Federal Partner: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Skills Link | $15.9M | |
Summer Work Experience | $8.1M | ||
Total | $24.0M |
Federal Partner: Parks Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Summer Work Experience | $2.0M | |
Total | $2.0M |
Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date) | Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2012-2013 |
---|---|
Ongoing |
Total Career Focus: Total Skills Link: Total Summer Work Experience: Total Youth Employment Strategy: |
Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): Not Applicable
Contact information: John Atherton, Director General
Active Employment Measures
Skills and Employment Branch
Place du Portage, Phase IV
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Québec K1A 0J9
(819) 994-6916
john.atherton@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Name of Horizontal Initiative: Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
Note: The June 2007 start date represents the latest authorities for the Temporary Foreign Worker program. The planned spending figures are for Citizenship and Immigration Canada and HRSDC only. Figures exclude planned spending for other government departments such as Department of Foreigh Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and therefore do not represent the full Government of Canada costs for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Name of lead department(s): Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Lead department program activity: Skills and Employment
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: June 13, 2007
End date of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing
Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Ongoing
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) enables Canadian employers to hire foreign workers on a temporary basis to meet immediate skills and labour needs when Canadians are not available, subject to employers and workers meeting specified criteria. The Program is jointly managed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). The TFWP includes program streams such as: Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program, Live-in-Caregiver Program, Pilot Project for Occupations Requiring Lower Levels of Formal Training, and several Labour Market Opinion (LMO) exempt streams.
In the province of Quebec, the TFWP is administered through a partnership with the Government of Quebec, as referenced in the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration.
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is funded from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Web site of HRSDC
Shared outcome(s):
Governance structure(s):
Planning Highlights: HRSDC in partnership with CIC will implement TFWP regulatory changes, which will include enhancements to the Program that will strengthen worker protection and improve program integrity. A key part of the process will be to monitor the implementation of the Quality Assurance Framework training and materials in order to ensure consistency and compliance in the application of all program directives and guidelines. These directives include the evaluation of the genuineness of job offers made to foreign nationals, and restricting program access to employers failing to meet commitments to workers with respect to wages, working conditions and/or the occupation.
In addition, HRSDC will continue to work with other government departments and the provinces and territories to develop information sharing agreements. These agreements will assist with the administration and enforcement of the Program as well as provincial/territorial employment standards and occupational health and safety legislation.
Federal Partner: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Skills and Employment | Temporary Foreign Worker Program | Ongoing | $38.6M |
Total | Ongoing | $38.6M |
Expected Results:
Program enhancement including those to strengthen worker protection, enhance program integrity and respond to the recommendations of the Auditor General of Canada.
Federal Partner: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Temporary Resident Program | Temporary Foreign Worker Program | Ongoing | $23.3M |
Total | Ongoing | $23.3M |
Expected Results:
Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date) | Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2012-2013 |
---|---|
Ongoing | $61.9M |
Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): Not Applicable
Contact information: Andrew Kenyon, Director General
Temporary Foreign Worker and Labour Market Information Directorate
Skills and Employment Branch
Place du Portage, Phase IV
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0J9
(819) 994-1021
andrew.kenyon@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Name of Horizontal Initiative: National Child Benefit Program Initiative
Name of lead department(s): Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Lead department program activity: Income Security
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: 1998
End date of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing
Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Ongoing
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): Through the Federal-Provincial/Territorial (F-P/T) National Child Benefit (NCB) initiative, the Government of Canada is working with provincial and territorial governments1 to provide income support, as well as benefits and services, for low-income families with children. The initiative also includes a First Nations component.
Shared outcome(s): The National Child Benefit initiative has three goals:
Annual National Child Benefit Progress Reports include information on the level of spending by all jurisdictions. There is a data collection process to which all participating jurisdictions contribute to in order to present comparable information on National Child Benefit initiatives. The data submitted by each jurisdiction is reviewed jointly to ensure consistency in reporting. To obtain the most recent Progress Report or for further information, please visit the Federal-Provincial/Territorial National Child Benefit website: http://www.nationalchildbenefit.ca/eng/home.shtml.
Federal Spending:
The Government of Canada contributes to the National Child Benefit initiative through a supplement to its Canada Child Tax Benefit. In addition to the base benefit of the Canada Child Tax Benefit, which is targeted to both low- and middle-income families, the National Child Benefit Supplement provides extra income support to low-income families with children. Federal spending on the Canada Child Tax Benefit is tracked by the Canada Revenue Agency, which is responsible for the delivery of the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCB).
The federal government provided $3.76B through the NCB Supplement in the 2010-2011 benefit year (July 2010 to June 2011). By 2011-2012, total annual federal support delivered through the Canada Child Tax Benefit, including the NCB Supplement, is projected to reach $10.37B, including a projected $3.81B through the NCB Supplement.
Provincial and Territorial and First Nations Spending:
Under the National Child Benefit initiative, provinces, territories and First Nations provide benefits and services that further the goals of the initiative. The latest F-P/T NCB Progress Report, the National Child Benefit Progress Report: 2007, reports that in 2007-2008, total reinvestments and investments for provinces, territories, and First Nations were estimated at $836M in programs and services. These programs and services include child/day care initiatives; child benefits and earned income supplements; early childhood services and children-at-risk services; supplementary health benefits; and youth initiatives. First Nations investments and reinvestments in programs and services were estimated at $54.8M in 2007-2008.
Indicators and Impacts:
The National Child Benefit Progress Report: 2007 includes an analysis of both societal level indicators, which measure areas such as low income and labour force attachment, and direct outcome indicators, which measure only those changes that are directly attributed to the National Child Benefit initiative.
With respect to societal level indicators, the report shows that the proportion of families with children living in low income has declined significantly since the mid-1990s, decreasing from 17.6 percent in 1996 to 10.5 percent in 2005, based on Statistics Canada's post-tax low-income cut-offs. During this period, the number of children living in low income decreased from 1,304,000 in 1996 to 787,894 in 2005, a decrease of approximately 516,106 children.
Further, using the Market Basket Measure (MBM), the report estimates that in 2005, as a direct result of the National Child Benefit initiative:
In addition, in June 2005, federal, provincial and territorial governments released a synthesis report of a comprehensive evaluation of the first three years of the National Child Benefit initiative (1998-1999, 1999-2000, and 2000-2001). The evaluation compiled evidence from a number of studies and showed that the National Child Benefit initiative is meeting its goals. In addition, a second evaluation is underway.
For a complete discussion of indicators, please see Chapters 5 and 6 of the National Child Benefit Progress Report: 2007. For a discussion of evaluation results, please see the Evaluation of the National Child Benefit Initiative: Synthesis Report. These reports are available free of charge on the National Child Benefit website, at: http://www.nationalchildbenefit.ca/eng/home.shtml.
Governance structure(s): The National Child Benefit initiative Governance and Accountability Framework outlines the key characteristics of the federal, provincial and territorial partnership: cooperation, openness, flexibility, evolution and accountability. As a co-operative effort among governments, the National Child Benefit initiative combines the strengths of a national program with the flexibility of provincial and territorial initiatives designed to meet the specific needs and conditions within each jurisdiction.
With respect to accountability, under the Governance and Accountability Framework, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers Responsible for Social Services have committed to sharing data on reinvestment initiatives and reviewing results and outcomes achieved in order to identify best practices. Federal, provincial and territorial governments have also agreed to report annually to the public with a primary focus on the performance of the initiative. To date, nine annual progress reports have been published, as well as a synthesis report on a comprehensive evaluation of the first three years of the initiative.
The Federal Role:
Under the National Child Benefit initiative, the Government of Canada provides additional income support to low-income families with children via the National Child Benefit Supplement component of the Canada Child Tax Benefit. Canada Revenue Agency delivers these benefits to families.
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is responsible for policy development with respect to the National Child Benefit initiative, and the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development represents the Government of Canada in this F-P/T initiative.
The Canada Child Tax Benefit (including the National Child Benefit Supplement) is a tax measure, and is administered by Canada Revenue Agency. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada have roles in reinvestments and investments.
The Provincial and Territorial Role:
Under the National Child Benefit initiative, provinces, territories and First Nations provide benefits and services that further the goals of the initiative. The initiative is designed so that provinces, territories and First Nations have the flexibility to develop and deliver programs and services that best meet the needs and priorities of their communities. As part of this flexibility, provinces and territories may adjust social assistance or child benefit payments by the full or partial amount of the National Child Benefit Supplement. This approach has resulted in families on social assistance being no worse off in terms of their level of benefits, while providing additional funds for new or enhanced provincial and territorial programs benefitting low-income families with children.
As the National Child Benefit initiative has matured, the majority of provinces and territories no longer recover increases to the National Child Benefit Supplement. This means that the vast majority of children living in low-income families, including those on social assistance, are currently receiving some or all of the National Child Benefit Supplement.
Under the National Reinvestment Framework, provincial and territorial governments, along with First Nations, have committed to re-allocating available social assistance funds into benefits and services for children in low-income families that further the goals of the initiative. Jurisdictions have focused reinvestments primarily in key areas:
First Nations Role:
The federal government is responsible for ensuring programs for First Nations children on reserve are comparable to those available to other Canadian children. Under the National Child Benefit, First Nations have the flexibility to reinvest savings from adjustments to social assistance into programs and services tailored to meet the needs and priorities of individual communities. Some 500 First Nations participate in the National Child Benefit initiative and implement their own programs.
Planning Highlights: In 2012-2013, HRSDC will work with its federal, provincial and territorial partners to finalize and release the 2008 NCB Progress Report. (As noted above, F-P/T Ministers Responsible for Social Services release an annual report on the progress of the initiative).
Federal Partner: Canada Revenue Agency2
Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) | Names of Programs for Federal Partners | ($ millions) | |
---|---|---|---|
Total Allocation (from Start to End Date) | Planned Spending for 2012-2013 |
||
Administers the National Child Benefit Supplement and delivers income benefits directly to low income families. | National Child Benefit Supplement | Ongoing | $3.94B(projected) |
Total | Ongoing | $3.94B(projected) |
1 The Government of Québec has stated that it agrees with the basic principles of the National Child Benefit. Québec chose not to participate in the initiative because it wanted to assume control over income support for children in Québec; however, it has adopted a similar approach to the National Child Benefit. Throughout this text, references to joint federal, provincial and territorial positions do not include Québec.
2 While Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is responsible for policy development with respect to the National Child Benefit initiative, the Canada Child Tax Benefit (including the National Child Benefit Supplement) is a tax measure, and is administered by Canada Revenue Agency. In addition, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada have roles in reinvestments and investments.
Expected Results: Continued progress on the goals of the National Child Benefit initiative, as described in the "Shared Outcomes", above.
Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date) | Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2012-2013 |
---|---|
Ongoing | $3.94B (projected) |
Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): Not Applicable
Contact information:
Siobhan Harty, Director General
Social Policy Directorate
Strategic Policy and Research Branch
Place du Portage, Phase IV
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0J9
(613) 994-3184
siobhan.harty@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Name of Horizontal Initiative: Early Childhood Development Agreement
Name of lead department(s): Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Lead department program activity: N/A
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: September 2000 with funding beginning April 2001
End date of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing
Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Ongoing
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): In September 2000, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for Social Services reached agreement to improve and expand early childhood development supports for young children (prenatal to age 6) and for their parents.
Under the Early Childhood Development Agreement, the Government of Canada agreed to transfer $500M per year via the Canada Social Transfer (CST) to provinces and territories. In Budget 2007, the CST was renewed until 2013-2014 and a 3% escalator was added to CST transfers starting in 2009-2010.
Information about the Agreement, including the text of the First Ministers' communiqué on Early Childhood Development, is available on the federal, provincial and territorial web portal on early childhood development and early learning and child care at: www.ecd-elcc.ca.
Shared outcome(s): The objectives of the initiative, as outlined in the Early Childhood Development Agreement, are:
Governance structure(s): In the Early Childhood Development Agreement, First Ministers recognized that provinces and territories have the primary responsibility for early childhood development programs and services. Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for Social Services and Ministers of Health are responsible for implementation of the commitments in the Agreement.
Planning Highlights: As funds are transferred to the provinces and territories via the Canada Social Transfer (CST), provinces and territories are responsible for planning and prioritizing how the funds are invested.
Results to be Achieved by Non-federal Partners:
Provincial and territorial governments are investing the funds transferred to them by the Government of Canada in any or all of the following four areas of action outlined in the Early Childhood Development Agreement:
All participating federal, provincial and territorial governments have committed to three reporting requirements:
The Government of Québec supports the general principles expressed in the Early Childhood Development Initiative but did not participate in developing the initiative because it wishes to retain sole responsibility for social matters. However, it receives its share of funding granted by the Government of Canada and makes significant investments in programs and services that benefit families and children.
Contact information:
Siobhan Harty, Director General
Social Policy
Strategic Policy & Research Branch
Place du Portage, Phase IV
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0J9
Telephone: (819) 994-3184
siobhan.harty@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Name of Horizontal Initiative: Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care
Name of lead department(s): Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Lead department program activity: N/A
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: March 2003
End date of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing
Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Ongoing
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): In March 2003, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for Social Services, reached agreement on a framework for improving access to affordable, quality, provincially and territorially regulated early learning and child care programs and services. Under the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care, the Government of Canada provided $1.05 billion over five years (2003-2008) through the Canada Social Transfer (CST) to support provincial and territorial government investments in early learning and child care. In Budget 2007 the CST was renewed until 2013-2014 and a 3% escalator was added to CST transfers starting in 2009-2010. The Government of Canada is providing over $1.97 billion over six years (2008-2014).
The objective of this initiative, which complements the September 2000 Early Childhood Development Agreement, is to further promote early childhood development and support the participation of parents in employment or training by improving access to affordable, quality early learning and child care programs and services.
Governments also committed to transparent public reporting that will give Canadians a clear idea of the progress being made in improving access to affordable, quality early learning and child care programs and services, beginning with a baseline report in November 2003.
Information about the initiative, including the text of the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care, is available on the federal, provincial and territorial Web portal on early childhood development and early learning and child care at: www.ecd-elcc.ca.
Shared outcome(s): The objectives of the initiative, as outlined in the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care are:
Governance structure(s): The Multilateral Framework for Early Learning and Child Care recognizes that provinces and territories have the primary responsibility for early learning and child care programs and services.
Planning Highlights: As funds are transferred to the provinces and territories via the Canada Social Transfer (CST), provinces and territories are responsible for planning and prioritizing how the funds are invested.
Results to be Achieved by Non-federal Partners:
Provincial and territorial governments have agreed to invest the funding provided in regulated early learning and child care programs for children under the age of six. Early learning and child care programs and services funded through this initiative will primarily provide direct care and early learning for children in settings such as child care centres, family child care homes, preschools, and nursery schools. Investments can include capital and operating funding, fee subsidies, wage enhancements, training, professional development and support, quality assurance, and parent information and referral. Programs and services that are part of the formal school system are not included in this initiative.
Governments also committed to transparent public reporting that will give Canadians a clear idea of the progress being made in improving access to affordable, quality early learning and child care programs and services, beginning with a baseline report in November 2003 and annual reporting in November 2004.
The Government of Québec supports the general principles expressed in the Early Learning and Child Care Initiative but did not participate in developing the initiative because it wishes to retain sole responsibility for social matters. However, it receives its share of funding granted by the Government of Canada and makes significant investments in programs and services that benefit families and children.
Contact information:
Siobhan Harty, Director General
Social Policy
Strategic Policy & Research Branch
Place du Portage, Phase IV
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0J9
Telephone: (819) 994-3184
siobhan.harty@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca