ARCHIVED - Human Resources and Skills Development Canada - Supplementary Tables

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, 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 world of work. 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 employability 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 graduates acquire career-related skills and financing for their education through summer jobs.

The Government of Canada's support to 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, and private sector, not-for-profit and voluntary sector organizations to deliver Youth Employment Strategy initiatives.

Canada's Economic Action Plan increased funding by $10 million in 2009 and provided an additional $10 million in 2010 for Canada Summer Jobs. This is part of the overall Government of Canada strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world.

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 11 participating federal departments with a focus on program results and performance monitoring, and preparing the YES summative evaluation scheduled to begin 2012.

Federal Partner: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
Skills and Employment	Career Focus	Ongoing	$13.0M	Projected Range of Results For POB-Service Canada: Clients Served: 370 Employed or Self-Employed: 220 Return to School: 37 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	Ongoing	$139.4M	Service Canada Projected Range of Results Clients Served: 15,500 Employed or Self-Employed: 1,860 Return to School: 5,890 Contribution Agreements: 955 Funds Leveraged: $50.0M-$65.0M
	Summer Work Experience (Canada Summer Jobs)	Ongoing	$111.4M	Clients Served: not available Employed or Self-Employed: not available Return to School: not available Contribution Agreements: not available Funds Leveraged: CFO
Total			$263.8M

Federal Partner: Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Career Focus		$1.1M	HRSDC does not set expected results for other federal departments
Total			$1.1M

Federal Partner: Canadian International Development Agency
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Career Focus		$7.3M	HRSDC does not set expected results for other federal departments
Total			$7.3M

Federal Partner: Canadian Heritage
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Career Focus		$0.9M	HRSDC does not set expected results for other federal departments
	Summer Work Experience		$8.0M
Total			$8.9M

Federal Partner: Environment Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Career Focus		$3.3M	HRSDC does not set expected results for other federal departments
Total			$3.3M

Federal Partner: Industry Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Career Focus		$9.5M	HRSDC does not set expected results for other federal departments
	Summer Work Experience		$7.4M
Total			$16.9M

Federal Partner: National Research Council
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Career Focus		$5.3M	HRSDC does not set expected results for other federal departments
Total			$5.3M

Federal Partner: Natural Resources Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Career Focus		$0.6M	HRSDC does not set expected results for other federal departments
Total			$0.6M

Federal Partner: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Skills Link		$1.0M	HRSDC does not set expected results for other federal departments
Total			$1.0M

Federal Partner: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Skills Link		$16.0M	HRSDC does not set expected results for other federal departments
	Summer Work Experience		$8.0M
Total			$24.0M

Federal Partner: Parks Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Summer Work Experience		$2.0M	HRSDC does not set expected results for other federal departments
Total			$2.0M

Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date)	Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2011–2012
Ongoing	$334.2M

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
Telephone: (819) 994-6916
john.atherton@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Place du Portage, Phase IV
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Québec

Name of Horizontal Initiative: Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

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.
http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/workplaceskills/foreign_workers/index.shtml

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 employments standards and occupational health and safety legislation.

Federal Partner: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
Skills and Employment	Temporary Foreign Worker Program	Ongoing	$39.2M	Program enhancements, including those to strengthen worker protection, enhance program integrity and respond to the recommendations of the Auditor General of Canada. The work activities include : implement a Quality Assurance Framework to ensure national consistency and compliance with legislation in the LMO assessment process; partner with CIC to monitor implementation of TFWP regulatory changes, that come into force on April 1, 2011 to ensure changes are made in an efficient manner and employers, TFW’s and stakeholders are fully aware of TFWP requirements; support completion of a joint HRSDC-CIC evaluation of the LMO streams of the TFWP with results expected in 2011-12; design and implement a new HRSDC/Service Canada LMO process framework, including a new TFWP manual and associated training for officers; work with Service Canada to implement jointly-managed employer monitoring processes; develop new approaches to employer monitoring to enhance our ability to accurately identify and mitigate program integrity risks; enhance mechanisms to report publicly on TFWP outcomes, including program statistics, results of compliance work to date and tools and information for employers; develop and implement information sharing agreements with provinces/territories to assist in the administration and enforcement of provincial/territorial employment standards and occupational health and safety legislation; develop and implement information sharing agreements with other government departments; 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.
Total			$39.2M

Federal Partner: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
Temporary Resident Program	Temporary Foreign Worker Program	Ongoing	$24.2M	Program enhancements, resulting from regulatory amendment to CIC’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. These changes strengthen worker protection, enhance program integrity, and respond to the recommendations of the Auditor General of Canada. The work activities include: partner with HRSDC to monitor implementation of TFWP regulatory changes that come into force on April 1, 2011, to ensure changes are made in an efficient manner and employers, TFWs and stakeholders are fully aware of TFWP requirements; support completion of a joint HRSDC-CIC evaluation of the LMO streams of the TFWP with results expected in 2011-12; partner and participate with HRSDC in joint F-P/T Temporary Foreign Workers working groups; and, negotiate and implement, with HRSDC, Federal-Provincial Temporary Foreign Worker Annexes.
Total			$24.2M

Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date)	Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2011–2012
Ongoing	$63.4M

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
Telephone: (819) 994-1021
andrew.kenyon@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Place du Portage, Phase IV
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec

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 DFAIT and PWSGC and therefore do not represent the full Government of Canada costs for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Name of Horizontal Initiative: Canada Student Loans Program and Canada Student Grants Program

Name of lead department(s): Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Lead department program activity: Learning

Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: September, 1964

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 Canada Student Loans Program and Canada Student Grants Program lower financial barriers to post-secondary education by providing loans and grants to students with a demonstrated financial need. This helps increase their opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills they need to fully participate in the job market, the economy and society.

Information for Canadians about planning, saving and paying for post-secondary studies, including school selection, as well as applying for and managing student loans and grants, can be accessed at: http://www.canlearn.ca

Shared outcome(s): Maintain the Government's commitment to accessible post-secondary education by:

• lowering financial barriers to post-secondary education through the provision of financial assistance to eligible Canadians.

Governance structure(s): The Government of Canada has entered into Integration Agreements with four provinces (Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador) in order to create a "one-student-one-loan" service approach. These four integrated provinces account for over 60% of Canada Student Loans Program borrowers. British Columbia will adopt this integrated model when it finalizes its Integration Agreement with the Government of Canada for 2011-2012.

Canada Student Loans and Canada Student Grants are jointly delivered and administered by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, participating provinces and Yukon¹. An external Service Provider, financial institutions, Canada Revenue Agency and Public Works and Government Services Canada are responsible for conducting one or more activities during the loan lifecycle.

Effective management of the Program and relations with third-party agents is the primary responsibility of the Canada Student Loans Directorate. Program activities include defining the operational and financial processes for the delivery of the program by the service providers, investigation of escalated cases by the Client Relations office, and control and monitoring by the Comptroller's Office.

The application and needs assessment for the Program is delivered by provincial student assistance offices, which also administer provincial aid. The participating provinces and Yukon:

• determine individual eligibility for loans and grants based on federal criteria;
• issue loan certificates; and,
• designate educational institutions that students may attend.

While the Canada Student Loans Program provides guidance and direction regarding delivery of the program, the Service Provider assumes responsibility for the administration of the loans while students are studying and in repayment. Responsibilities of the Service Provider include:

• verifying loan agreements;
• managing the in-study interest-free period;
• handling loan repayment; and,
• advising and counselling borrowers on their debt management options.

Public Works and Government Services Canada is responsible for disbursing loans and grants to the borrowers and to Educational Institutions, in cases where funds are directed to schools to cover tuition.

Accounts Receivable Directorate within the Canada Revenue Agency is the agent responsible for the collection of defaulted loans. Defaulted guaranteed and risk-shared loans become debts to the Crown when the Government of Canada buys back the debt from financial institutions. Defaulted direct financed loans are returned to government after the Service Provider has attempted collection for a set period of time and the borrower has either not made payments on their loan or is unwilling to repay.

Planning Highlights: Planning highlights for the Canada Student Loans Program in 2011-2012 include:

• Ensuring the sustained delivery of core services to help Canadians access post-secondary education;
• Implementing mandated program initiatives to improve post-secondary related services and programs, including modernizing and streamlining student financial assistance through the new Service Delivery Vision;
• Reviewing and enhancing client service delivery in support of post-secondary education;
• Developing and advancing policy options in support of post-secondary education awareness and participation; and,
• Implementing administrative integration of student financial assistance with the Province of British Columbia.

Federal Partner: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
Learning	Canada Student Loan Program	$806.2M Loans disbursed under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act: $2,282.4M	$774.6M Loans disbursed under the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act: $2,114.2M	Estimated number of Canadians to benefit from loans and non repayable in- study interest subsidies received (in the 2010-11 Loan Year beginning August 1, 2010) through the Canada Student Loans Program: 505,000
	Canada Student Grant Program	$578.4M	$554.3M	Estimated number of Canadians to benefit from the Canada Student Grant Program (in the 2010-11 Loan Year beginning August 1, 2010): 306,000
Total		$1,384.6M	$1,328.9M

Expected Results: Continued promotion of access (both participation and completion) to post-secondary education by removing financial and information barriers

Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date)	Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2011–2012
$1,384.6M	$1,328.9M

Results to be achieved by non–federal partners (if applicable):

Not Applicable

Contact information:

Marc LeBrun, Director General
Canada Student Loans Directorate
Learning Branch
Telephone: (819) 997-6684
marc.l.lebrunr@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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¹ Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut do not participate in the Canada Student Loans Program. These jurisdictions receive an alternative payment to assist in the cost of delivering a similar student financial assistance program.

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 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 F-P/T National Child Benefit website: http://www.nationalchildbenefit.ca.

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.

The federal government provided $3.68B through the NCB Supplement in the 2009-2010 benefit year (July to June). By 2010-2011, total annual federal support delivered through the Canada Child Tax Benefit, including the NCB Supplement, is projected to reach $10.12B, including a projected $3.74B 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. In the latest F-P/T NCB Progress Report, the National Child Benefit Progress Report: 2007, reports that in 2006-2007, total reinvestments and investments for provinces, territories, and First Nations were estimated at $833.6M 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 $52.7M in 2006-2007.

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: www.nationalchildbenefit.ca.

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. Indian and Northern Affairs 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 2011-2012, HRSDC will work with its federal partners and the provinces and territories to finalize and release the 2008 NCB Progress Report, and to prepare the 2009 NCB Progress Report.

Federal Partner: Canada Revenue Agency²
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
Administers the National Child Benefit Supplement and delivers income benefits directly to low income families.	National Child Benefit Supplement	Ongoing	$3,800.0M (projected)	Continued progress on the goals of the National Child Benefit initiative, as described in the "Shared Outcomes", above.
Total		Ongoing	$3,800.0M

Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date)	Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2011–2012
Ongoing	$3,800.0M

Results to be achieved by non–federal partners (if applicable):

Not Applicable

Contact information:

François Weldon, Acting Director General
Social Policy Directorate
Strategic Policy and Research Branch
Telephone: (613) 994-3184
francois.weldon@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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¹The 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, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada have roles in reinvestments and investments.

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): $404.4M over three years

Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) promotes strategic partnerships and structures, including 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 Homelessness Partnering Secretariat, provide the means to develop and explore innovative methods, as well as horizontal approaches, to addressing 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; and
• Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative (SFRPHI).

For more information, please visit the Homelessness Partnering Strategy website: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/homelessness/index.shtml

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.

Under the renewed HPS, emphasis will be placed on coordinating federal, provincial and territorial priorities, programs, and investments to address the needs of individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Provinces and territories will be offered an opportunity to enter into bilateral arrangements with the Government of Canada to ensure a greater alignment of priorities and investments, which will bolster community efforts to tackle the challenges of homelessness, including related mental health issues. Efforts towards coordination could or will include: creating processes for provincial and territorial review of Community Plans and associated priorities; engaging communities to include provinces and territories on Community Advisory Boards; and, obtaining buy-in to support an increased emphasis on labour market integration.

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 and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Planning Highlights: Planning highlights for 2011–2012 focus on continuing the HPS initiatives to prevent and reduce homelessness across Canada while introducing several enhancements for the 2011–2014 period.

Specific 2011–2012 planning highlights include:

• Ensuring a seamless transition to the renewed HPS to avoid a break in services;
• Engaging in a dialogue with provinces and territories to ensure a greater alignment of priorities and investments;
• Providing greater support for rural and remote communities;
• Improving data sharing and collection;
• Developing linkages with the five pilot projects of the Mental Health Commission of Canada to share knowledge around mental health and homelessness; and,
• Increasing the relevance and dissemination of research.

Federal Partner: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
Social Development	Homelessness Partnering Strategy - regionally Delivered Projects	$385.8M	$128.6M	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.
	Federal Horizontal Pilot Projects (Examples of federal partners for this initiative include Health Canada, Justice Canada, Veteran Affairs, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)	$3.7M	$1.2M	Pilot projects are developed and implemented to facilitate broader involvement of federal departments and agencies in developing solutions to homelessness.
	Homelessness Knowledge Development	$3.7M	$1.2M	Understanding of homelessness issues and improved dissemination of research findings at the community level is increased.
	National Homelessness Information System	$2.2M	$0.8M	Increased number of shelters will export data to NHIS.
Total		$395.4M	$131.8M

Federal Partner: PWSGC
($ millions)

Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	Planned Spending for 2011–2012	Expected Results for 2011–2012
	Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative	$9.0M	$3.0M	Communities have enhanced capacity to provide facilities for use by individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Total		$9.0M	$3.0M

Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date)	Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2011–2012
$404.4M	$134.8M

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
Telephone: (819) 997-5464
barbara.lawless@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Name of Horizontal Initiative: Early Childhood Development Agreement

Name of lead department(s): Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)

Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: September 2000 with funding beginning April 2001

End date of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing until 2013-2014

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Not available

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.

The Government of Canada is transferring $1.2 billion in 2011-2012 to provinces and territories in support of families with young children through the Canada Social Transfer (CST), which will grow to almost $1.3 billion by 2013–2014. This is a lump sum transfer to provincial and territorial governments in support of the Communiqué on Early Childhood Development, the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care, and the Child Care Spaces Initiative¹.

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: http://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. Implementation has been tasked to a Working Group comprised of officials from all jurisdictions (including Québec, which participates as an observer). The Working Group reports to Deputy Ministers responsible for Social Services. Previously, the Working Group was jointly chaired by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan. Currently, the Social Services Forum governance structure is under review.

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 (if applicable):

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. Government of Canada reports are available at: http://www.socialunion.gc.ca.

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:

François Weldon, Acting Director General
Social Policy
Strategic Policy & Research Branch
Telephone: (819) 994-3184
francois.weldon@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

¹ The notional allocation is $500 million for the Communiqué on Early Childhood Development; $350 million for the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care; and, $250 million for the Child Care Spaces Initiative. These do not reflect the 3% escalator.

Name of Horizontal Initiative: Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care

Name of lead department(s): Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)

Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: March 2003

End date of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing until 2013-2014

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): Not available

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. 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.

The Government of Canada is transferring $1.2 billion in 2011-2012 to provinces and territories in support of families with young children through the Canada Social Transfer (CST), which will grow to almost $1.3 billion by 2013–2014. This is a lump sum transfer to provincial and territorial governments in support of the Communiqué on Early Childhood Development, the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care, and the Child Care Spaces Initiative¹.

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. Government of Canada reports are available at: www.socialunion.gc.ca.

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: http://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.

Implementation of the commitments outlined in the Multilateral Framework has been tasked to a Working Group comprised of officials from all jurisdictions (including Québec, which participates as an observer). This Working Group reports to Deputy Ministers responsible for Social Services, and is jointly chaired by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and the Province of Saskatchewan.

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 (if applicable):

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:

François Weldon, Acting Director General
Social Policy
Strategic Policy & Research Branch
Telephone: (819) 994-3184
francois.weldon@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

¹ The notional allocation is $500 million for the Communiqué on Early Childhood Development; $350 million for the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care; and, $250 million for the Child Care Spaces Initiative. These do not reflect the 3% escalator