ARCHIVED - Human Resources and Skills Development Canada - Supplementary Tables

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:

• Serves as a catalyst for partnerships at the community level, between governments and across the federal government;
• Provides communities with resources and information to target homelessness supports and services to the areas of greatest need based on local circumstances;
• Invests funds in a manner that targets the greatest needs and affected client groups while ensuring that those investments complement those of other stakeholders and partners; and,
• Enhances understanding of homelessness among communities, partners and stakeholders, as well as all orders of government, through knowledge development and dissemination as well as results reporting and analysis.

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:

• Designated Communities;
• Rural and Remote Homelessness; and,
• Aboriginal Homelessness.

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:

• Federal Horizontal Pilot Projects (FHPP);
• Homelessness Knowledge Development (HKD);
• National Homelessness Information System (NHIS); and
• Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative (SFRPHI).

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:

• Community Entity model: Under this model, the federal government entrusts a community body, often the community's municipal government, through a single contribution agreement with the ability to select and manage HPS projects in their area. This includes: publishing Calls for Proposals based on the priorities identified in the Community Plan; approving projects recommended by a Community Advisory Board (CAB); contracting and monitoring all agreements it holds with third-party service providers; reporting on CAB activities and disbursements; and, reporting on the results and outcomes for these agreements.
• Shared Delivery model: Under this model, HRSDC works in partnership with the community, through a CAB, to support funding priorities resulting in a joint selection of projects and decision-making process. Where appropriate, partners also include the province/territory. HRSDC is responsible for project approvals, negotiation of contribution agreements, and monitoring.

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:

• Strengthening accountability through increased data collection;
• Increasing the relevance and dissemination of research;
• Engaging with provinces and territories on HPS at the corporate and local level to complement efforts in the prevention and reduction of homelessness;
• Focusing on labour market integration to help homeless individuals access the labour market;
• Working horizontally with other federal departments and agencies to address homelessness among key populations of federal interest;
• Using early findings from the Mental Health Commission of Canada to inform future directions; and
• Strengthening the community based model by revitalizing community infrastructure (CABs/CEs).

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:

• Continued availability of essential supports and facilities within communities for individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• New projects funded based on identified priorities from 2011-2014 Community Plans.
• Projects that receive funding through the Designated Communities funding stream demonstrate cost-matching by other partners.
• Pilot projects are developed and implemented to facilitate broader involvement of federal departments and agencies in developing solutions to homelessness.
• Understanding of homelessness issues and improved dissemination of research findings at the community level is increased.
• Increased number of shelters with data exported to NHIS.

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:

• Number of youth served
• Number of youth employed / self-employed
• Number of youth returning to school

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: $35.1M Total Skills Link: $140.2M Total Summer Work Experience: $133.0M Total Youth Employment Strategy: $308.3M

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):

• Employers' temporary human resource needs are addressed;
• Temporary Foreign Workers' rights and protections are respected;
• Entry of eligible temporary foreign workers into Canada in a timely manner;
• Temporary migration that is consistent with federal, provincial and territorial regulations, standards and international obligations; and,
• Migration that significantly benefits Canada's economic, social, and cultural development.

Governance structure(s):

• HRSDC is responsible for providing a LMO to CIC and employers indicating whether the employment of the temporary foreign worker is likely to have a positive, negative or neutral impact on the labour market in Canada, and processes LMO applications to support the work permit application process.
• CIC is responsible for assessing work permit applications and issuing work permits to workers.
• Each Department is responsible for the design and management of those elements of the program under its Minister's responsibility.

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.

• Implement activities outlined in the HRSDC TFWP Response Plan to the Red Tape Reduction Commission. Initiatives include:
  • strengthen operational guidance through the implementation of a Quality Assurance Framework;
  • improve processing of applications with the launch of the TFWP Web Service;
  • better assessment of wage information with the development of a new wage methodology;
• Develop an accelerated and simplified LMO application process;
• Work with Service Canada to implement an enhanced TFWP employer compliance framework;
• Continuing to work toward information sharing protocols and authorities with Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA);
• Exploring the development of a policy for on-site employer visits and the extension of additional monitoring activities for the Live-in Caregiver Program
• Reporting publicly on TFWP outcomes, including program statistics, and results of employer compliance reviews where possible
• Continue to develop and implement information sharing agreements with other government programs/departments and provinces/territories to assist in the administration and enforcement of employment standards and occupational health and safety legislation;
• Complete a joint HRSDC-CIC summative program evaluation of the TFWP, with results expected in 2012-2013, and develop a Management Action Plan;
• Collaborate with CIC in efforts to modernize the TFWP;
• Partner and participate with CIC in joint F-P/T Temporary Foreign Workers Working groups; and,
• Negotiate and implement, with CIC, Federal-Provincial Temporary Foreign Worker Annexes.

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:

• Complete a joint HRSDC – CIC evaluation of the LMO streams of the TFWP, with results expected in 2012-2013, and develop a Management Action Plan;
• Collaborate with HRSDC in efforts to modernize the TFWP;
• Partner and participate with HRSDC in joint Federal-Provincial/Territorial Temporary Foreign Workers working groups; and,
• Negotiate and implement, with HRSDC, Federal-Provincial Temporary Foreign Worker Annexes;
• Implement activities outlined in the CIC TFWP response plan to the Red Tape Reduction Commission.

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:

• Help prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty;
• Promote attachment to the labour market by ensuring that families will always be better off as a result of working; and,
• Reduce overlap and duplication by harmonizing program objectives and benefits and simplifying administration.

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:

• 171,100 children in 78,800 families were prevented from living in low income in 2005, a reduction of 13.7 percent. This means that in 2005, there were 13.7 percent fewer families with children living in low income than there would have been without the National Child Benefit. These families saw their average disposable income increase by an estimated $2,400, or 9.5 percent.
• For those families with children who remained in low income, the National Child Benefit improved their disposable income by an average of $1,900 (10.7 percent). This means that the low-income gap (the additional amount of income needed by low-income families to reach the low-income line) was reduced by 20.4 percent in 2005.

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:

• Child Benefits and Earned Income Supplements;
• Child Care;
• Early Childhood Services and Children-at-Risk Services;
• Supplementary Health Benefits; and,
• Youth Initiatives.

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:

• to promote early childhood development so that, to their fullest potential, children will be physically and emotionally healthy, safe and secure, ready to learn, and socially engaged and responsible; and,
• to help children reach their potential and to help families support their children within strong communities.

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:

• promoting healthy pregnancy, birth and infancy;
• improving parenting and family supports;
• strengthening early childhood development, learning and care; and,
• strengthening community supports.

All participating federal, provincial and territorial governments have committed to three reporting requirements:

• Each government released a first report on Early Childhood Development programs and expenditures for the 2000-2001 fiscal year, providing a baseline against which new investments can be tracked;
• In fall 2002, governments began annual reporting, using a shared framework with comparable program indicators, to track progress in improving and expanding early childhood development programs and services within the four areas for action; and,
• In fall 2002, governments began regular reporting on children's well-being, using a common set of outcome indicators.

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:

• to promote early childhood development; and,
• to support the participation of parents in employment or training by improving access to affordable, quality early learning and child care programs and services.

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