Question Period Note: Tabling of Employment and Social Development Canada’s Supplementary Estimates (B) for Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2025

Why is Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) requesting $17.5 million for the
Supports for Student Learning Program in the Supplementary Estimates (B) for fiscal year
ending March 31,2025?

The Government of Canada continues to invest in student and afterschool support
programs that help youth most at risk of disengaging from their learning. Last year, the
SSLP reached over 152,000 equity-deserving youth across Canada.
• Through Budget 2024, the Government of Canada committed $67.5 million over three
years for Pathways to Education and Indspire, including $17.5 million for 2024-25.
Together, they supported nearly 15,000 low income and Indigenous students last year.
• These supports are targeted to youth who face the greatest socioeconomic and
systemic barriers. Investing in tailored services that help youth graduate is proven to
help youth succeed in the job market and contribute to Canada’s economy.

The SSLP funds youth-serving organizations at the national, regional, and local levels to provide
Canadian learners with the supports needed to graduate high school, transition to and succeed in
post-secondary education (PSE). The SSLP targets at-risk learners – vulnerable youth who,
without support, may drop out of high school or face barriers in accessing and succeeding in
PSE.
Research shows that youth with higher levels of education are more inclined to enter the labour
market and maintain good paying jobs, thereby contributing to a prosperous Canadian economy.
As such, helping youth most at risk of disengaging to complete high school and access PSE,
regardless of their circumstances, reduces reliance on social programs over the long-term.
Through Budget 2024, the Government of Canada committed $67.5 million of funding to ESDC,
over three years ($17.5 million in 2024 to 2025, $25.0 million in 2025 to 2026 and $25.0 million in
2026 to 2027), to maintain the SSLP through to March 31, 2027. In 2024 to 2025, the new funding
of $17.5 million in Grants and Contributions (Vote 5) will be allocated as follows:
Pathways to Education Canada - $9.5 million
Funding will provide afterschool supports such as tutoring, mentoring and direct financial
incentives, to help youth from low-income communities graduate high school and transition to
post-secondary education and employment.
Pathways serves over 6,500 students annually. Pathways has demonstrated a strong impact on
high school graduation rates in the communities in which they operate. In 2022-23, the average
graduation rate for students in Pathways sites was 79%, and 63% of participants transitioned to
PSE or training.
Indspire - $8 million
Indspire is a national Indigenous-led charitable organization that invests in the education of
Indigenous students. In 2023 to 2024, Indspire provided bursaries and scholarships to 8,363 First
Nations, Inuit, and Métis students.
A 2023 to 2024 survey of past recipients found that of students who have received funding,
89% completed their program. Ninety-six percent of Indspire graduates found meaningful
employment within 1-year of graduating, compared to 82.6% for the Indigenous population with a
bachelor’s degree.
Indspire also receives $3.8 million in ongoing annual funding. Most of this funding ($3 million per
year) is targeted to students pursuing studies in health-related fields.
This builds on previous investments in the afterschool space, including:
(1) a Budget 2021 commitment of $118.4 million for a two-year expansion of the SSLP in 2021 to
2022 and 2022 to 2023.
(2) a January 2022 off-cycle commitment to provide one year of at-level funding for Pathways and
Indspire (i.e., $9.5 million and $8 million, respectively) in 2022 to 2023.
(3) a September 2022 off-cycle decision which announced a two-year extension of the SSLP in
2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025, including a one year of at-level funding for both Pathways and
Indspire.

Table: Funding for the Supports for Student Learning Program
Funding (in $) and Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

FTE
Existing Funding (Main Estimates 2024-25): 4
Supplementary Estimates (B):0
Total Funding: 4

Salary
Existing Funding (Main Estimates 2024-25): 337,195
Supplementary Estimates (B): 0
Total Funding: 337,195

Operating and maintenance
Existing Funding (Main Estimates 2024-25): 71,762
Supplementary Estimates (B): 0
Total Funding: 71,762

Total Operating (Vote 1)
Existing Funding (Main Estimates 2024-25): 408,957
Supplementary Estimates (B): 0
Total Funding: 408,957

Grants and Contributions (Vote 5)
Existing Funding (Main Estimates 2024-25): 23,317,000
Supplementary Estimates (B): 17,500,000
Total Funding: 40,817,000

Sub-Total
Existing Funding (Main Estimates 2024-25): 23,725,957
Supplementary Estimates (B): 17,500,000
Total Funding: 41,225,957

Employee benefit plans
Existing Funding (Main Estimates 2024-25): 91,043
Supplementary Estimates (B): 0
Total Funding: 91,043

Total Funding
Existing Funding (Main Estimates 2024-25): 23,817,000
Supplementary Estimates (B): 17,500,000
Total Funding: 41,317,000