Most countries have a sector that handles development and social services; Canada is one of these countries. The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is responsible for developing, managing, and delivering social programs and services in Canada.
The ESDC is a federal body charged with the responsibility of helping Canadians to live healthy and productive lives while improving the quality of life for its citizens in any way they can.
They also ensure to put down regulations that’ll better the standard of living for all Canadians. They achieve this by employing and promoting a highly skilled labor force.
ESDC Background Check
The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is the fourth largest department within Canada’s Government and is headed by Hon. Ahmed Hussen. It was founded in December 2003 by the Parent Department of Human Resources.
Although they have similar services and modes of operation, ESDC focused on social support programs for families and children. At the same time, her Parent group, the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), focused on the workforce.
The Canadian Government enacted the separation of the HRSDC and ESDC departments in July 2005 with its headquarters in Gatineau. 140 Promenade du Portage Gatineau, Québec K1A 0J9.
The department has Hon. Ahmed Hussen, as the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Hon. Carla Qualtrough, as the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Hon. Deb Schulte, as the Minister of Seniors and Hon. Filomena Tassi, as the Minister of Labour.
Purpose of ESDC
The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) aims to build a healthier and more inclusive Canada by supporting and encouraging Canadians to live healthy and productive lives while improving their citizens’ quality of life. The ESDC is considered as one of the top employer (2021) in Canada due to the following reasons:
- ESDC offers family-friendly benefits for new parents to reduce their employees’ rate of bringing their kids to work. (From 37 up to 52 weeks)
- ESDC offers its employees a flexible work plan by allowing them to take care of personal needs and impromptu travels without affecting their earnings.
- The Employment and Social Development Canada provides an innovation fund to encourage their employees to discuss their ideas for improving service delivery coupled with an annual fair for employees to display their innovative ideas.
Role of the ESDC
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) distributes several services and programs to enhance Canadians’ lifestyle. Some of them include:
- The ESDC helps with basic income security, including scholarships for students, aids for unemployed people, and helping poor parents train their young ones.
- The ESDC contributed immensely to economic and social well-being. They achieve this by providing healthy, safe, and fair working environments in the federal jurisdiction.
- The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is specifically responsible for disbursing funds directly to organizations and individuals through Government Programs like Canada Student Loan Program, Old Age Security, e.t.c.
- Additionally, the ESDC also provides funding to voluntary organizations and private sectors, other government branches, and Educators.
Responsibilities of the ESDC
The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is responsible for:
- Creating policies to ensure that everyone can utilize their skills, talents, and resources to help their community for the greater good.
- Developing programs that can help Canadians transit from one stage of life to the other. i.e., from the workforce to retirement, from unemployment to employment e.t.c.
- Providing funding support for families and children through their Employment Insurance Programs.
- Promoting growth by giving assistance and opportunities to Canadians in serious need. i.e., people with disabilities.
- Developing programs voluntarily for other federal departments, i.e., offering passport services on behalf of the Immigration.
- Managing employment equity, occupational health and safety, and workers’ compensation.
Sub-Agencies Under ESDC
Sub-agencies are those agencies that work with the ESDC to achieve their collective goals. They are the smaller outlets, each with a peculiar mission and specialization area of the ESDC. The sub-agencies of ESDC and their responsibilities are the following:
- Service Canada
Service Canada is the Sub-agency of the Employment and Social Development Canada, created to serve as the only point of access for Canada’s most-used programs like the Employment Insurance Program, Social Insurance Program e.t.c. They are also responsible for reviewing and accepting Canada Passport applications.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMJC) is charged with providing mortgage liquidity, offering advice and research to the Canadian Government, and overseeing housing development.
- Canada Industrial Relations Board
Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) is the sub-agency of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), responsible for interpreting and administering industrial relations and Occupational Health and Safety Sections of the Canada Labour Code (CLC).
- Service Canada Centres for Youth
Service Canada Centres for Youth (SCCY) is an Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) sub-agency set up to help students who need jobs during the summer. These jobs allow them to improve their skills and enhance their work experience. It is a win-win situation since most employers need help during the summer, and students are usually on holidays that period.
The Service Canada Centres for Youth (SCCY) also help with:
- Developing résumés for students
- Giving tips on how to ace job interviews
- Hold group sessions for Youths.
Generally, the SCCY puts students through all they need to know about employment and navigate their ways through it.
- Canada Student Loans Program
Canada Student Loan Program (CSLP) is a sublet of employment, and Social Development Canada (ESDC) was charged with assisting post-secondary students in paying for their studies in Canada.
- Canada Pension Plan
The Canada Pension Plan is Canada’s two primary public retirement income system and a social insurance program. They require all working-class Canadians over 18 years to contribute a certain amount of their earnings to the pension plan. This donation is to aid their retirement years.
Employment Requirements
To achieve their lofty goals, the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has a staggering 24,000 workforce and only employs certain people who meet specific criteria. For instance, they hire people with experience in the following Sectors:
- Research & development.
- Infectious disease
- Monitoring / evaluation
- Reproductive health
- Development
Furthermore, they lookout for people with the following set of skills:
- Experience in recruitment
- International experience
- Conflict Resolution
- Managerial experience
- Business development
ESDC has employees worldwide, ranging from Canada, Uganda, the Philippines, Bangladesh, etc.
Employment And Social Development Canada Stats
The Employment and Social Development Canada has a whopping 28,003 full-time employees and 2,177 part-time employees. A 23.6% of workforce utilized on a contract basis and a 55-year-old longest-serving employee. The Industry is focused on Passport services, employment insurance, social development e.t.c.
Available Funding Programs Provided By the ESDC
Employment and Social Development Canada offers funding programs that enhance social development, support jobs, and organize training. All these programs come in the form of grants and contributions.
What are Grants?
Grants are the periodic transfer payments the Government offers to organizations or individuals for use when they meet specific criteria set by a funding program.
What are Contributions?
Contributions, like grants, are fundings meant to be reimbursed to individuals or organizations that meet a specific set of conditions. However, they are mainly contributed by various organizations, hence the word “Contributions.”
Below is a list of some Funding Programs offered by the ESDC:
- The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women (AIG-W)
Eligibility: This grant is available for women only.
Purpose: To help women pay for expenses while they are trained as apprentices in chosen trades where men are dominant to represent the female gender.
Requirements: The AIG-W grant is a CA$3,000 grant available for registered apprentices who have completed their first level. They can apply for this grant twice during the training and apply only after completing their second level.
Deadline: January 1st, 2019 – December 31st, 2020.
- Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Quality Improvement Projects
Deadline: February 3rd, 2021 – March 31st, 2021 at 2:00 PM EDT (Eastern Daylight Time)
Description: The Canadian Government believes all Canadian children deserve an honest and fair chance to succeed. Hence, the need to provide high-quality early learning and childcare to solidify their foundation for future success. They fund indigenous organizations, governments, and communities looking for ways to improve Child Care in their communities.
Grant: Up to CA$750,000
Duration: The project will not exceed March 31st, 2023.
Application: applications should be sent by email to edsc.agjea.paq-qip.ielcc.esdc@servicecanada.gc.ca. Or to the mailing address Indigenous Early Learning Child Care (IELCC)
Unit Mail stop 402. National Grants and Contributions Delivery Centre (ESDC) 140 Promenade Du Portage Phase IV, Floor 4, Gatineau QC K1A 0J9.
Recipient: This grant is available for the following types of recipients:
- Indigenous governments.
- Indigenous organizations.
- Indigenous communities.
Awards
Canada’s Top Family-friendly Employers (2020): Earned for their tremendous Family-friendly benefits like maternity/paternity leave.
Canada’s Best Diversity Employers (2020): Earned for their training on “The Richness of our Differences.”
They also developed an Indigenous dashboard to help tackle representation differences in its workforce.
Canada’s Top Employers For Young People (2021): Earned for introducing an affiliate program that allows employers to hire qualified graduates. These graduates must be citizens who had served in public service offices approved by the Government.
