Question Period Note: Social Development Partnerships Program - Children and Families - Social Inclusion and Financial Empowerment

In January 2021, the Government of Canada approved the launch of two Calls for Proposals (CFP) providing up to $39M in funding for projects that benefit vulnerable communities under two themes: Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Children and Youth and Financial Empowerment of Low-Income People.

• The Government of Canada saw unprecedented interest in the 2021 Calls for Proposals to support vulnerable communities under the Children and Families stream of the Social Development Partnerships Program.

• The Government committed to conducting fair, transparent assessments of funding applications by investing in projects that help equity-deserving populations experience better quality of life.

• Recommended and funded projects represent a diverse, inclusive cohort, aligning program priorities giving consideration to equity, fairness, support for vulnerable adults, rural and remote communities, and Official Language Minority Communities.

• Signed Agreements: 11 Financial Empowerment CFP projects totalling $11.2M. 18 approved Social Inclusion stream projects totalling $27.5M.

Proposals (CFPs) providing up to $39M in funding over five years for projects that benefit vulnerable communities under two themes: Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Children and Youth and Financial Empowerment of Low-Income People.

On May 25, 2021, the Government of Canada launched the two CFPs as part of the Children and Families component of the Social Development Partnerships Program. The CFPs were open for a period of six weeks, and closed on July 6, 2021.

The CFPs invited eligible organizations to apply for up to $3 million in funding to support projects that focus on one of two objectives:
• Financial Empowerment: services and supports to help increase the financial wellbeing of low-income adults; or
• Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Children and Youth: services and supports to help increase the social inclusion of children and youth who may be experiencing impacts to their physical and mental wellbeing due to social isolation.

The Government of Canada received 228 applications for Financial Empowerment for a total funding request of $363.7M and 655 applications for Social Inclusion for a total funding request of $1.58B.

Given the large volume of applications received, only the applications that scored highest in the assessment process could be recommended for funding.

Agreements have been signed for 11 projects under the Financial Empowerment CFP totalling $11.2M.

Investments have been approved for 18 projects for the Social Inclusion stream, totalling $27,516,941. Agreements are expected to be signed by October 2022.

“All Canadians deserve an equitable chance to succeed. The projects we’ve announced today will help give marginalized adults the tools and resources they need to build their financial literacy and take important steps toward joining the middle class.”

– Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould

“Charitable organizations play a vital role in supporting marginalized and low-income Canadians. The Government of Canada is proud to contribute to this work toward a more equitable Canada.”

– Ya’ara Saks, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Member of Parliament for York Centre