Question Period Note: Tabling of Employment and Social Development Canada’s Supplementary Estimates (B) for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2026

Why is Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) requesting $4.2 million to support
the Canada’s Black Justice Strategy (CBJS) in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for fical year
ending March 31, 2026?

The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposed funding to establish the CBJS as part of the
Government of Canada’s commitment to the UN Decade for People of African Descent to
address the injustices Black people face in Canada, and to increase their access to justice.
• It represents a whole-of-government approach to overcoming the overrepresentation of Black
people in the criminal justice system, in part by addressing social determinants of justice
including employment and income.
• This investment enables the Government to respond to the recommendation to help Black
youth overcome employment barriers as outlined in the “Response to A Roadmap for
Transformative Change: The Report of the External Steering Group on Canada’s Black
Justice Strategy,” (The Report).
• ESDC’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy Program is allocated $9.45 million over two
years, starting in 2025 to 2026, to increase its reach to Black youth. The Program already
identifies Black youth as a priority group and provides funding for individually tailored
supports and services to equip youth with the tools they need to succeed on their
employment journey. The additional funding will allow for more dedicated supports to be
provided, including mentorship, skills development and training, wraparound supports (e.g.
dependent care support, mental health counselling) and/or paid work experiences.

Total Funding for the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
Funding (in $)
Existing Funding
(Main Estimates
2025-26)
Supplementary
Estimates (B) Total Funding
Total Grants and
Contributions (Vote 5)
412,517,913 4,240,000 416,757,913
The YESS is a Government of Canada initiative that delivers 16 programs, including Canada
Summer Jobs, through a network of 12 federal departments, agencies, and Crown corporations.
The Strategy is designed to support diverse youth (aged 15 to 30) to become job-ready through
work experience, training, skills development and wraparound supports that allow them to
successfully transition into diverse sectors of the labour market. Through its wide range of
programs, the Strategy invests in young people to build a strong Canadian economy while
ensuring we continue to support those who may struggle to get ahead.
ESDC’s YESS Program has been effective in supporting Black youth and other racialized youth.
Between fiscal years 2020 to 2021 and 2022 to 2023, approximately 40% of participants in the
program self-identified as visible minority youth, including Black youth.

Black youth are significantly underrepresented in the labour market. In 2024, the
unemployment rate for Black youth aged 15 to 24 was 21.5%, compared to 13.1% for the
overall youth population. Additionally, many Black youth face decreased opportunities for
educational success, reduced employment options and career advancement opportunities,
increased rates of poverty and unemployment, and elevated levels of contact with the criminal
justice system.
• The Fall Economic Statement 2024 announced the launch of the Canada’s Black Justice
Strategy, led by the Department of Justice, which provided $86.8 million in funding for CBJS,
of which $9.45 million will be allocated to ESDC’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
(YESS) Program for fiscal years 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027. Of this, $4.2 million is being
sought for fiscal year 2025 to 2026 as part of the Supplementary Estimates (B).
• The CBJS investment will be implemented through the existing YESS Program and will
support three new projects and increase funding to 14 existing projects to help more Black
youth gain the skills they need to enter and succeed in the labour market.