Policies and Programs

Each of our policies and programs is listed in alphabetical order. Select the policy or program that interests you for more information.

Policies and Programs

Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy: The Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy (AHRDS) is designed to expand the employment opportunities of Aboriginal people across Canada. Under this Strategy, Aboriginal organizations design and deliver employment programs and services best suited to meet the unique needs of their communities. The AHRDS is delivered by Service Canada.
Apprenticeship and Labour Mobility Initiatives: The Government of Canada is working with key apprenticeship stakeholders, including provincial and territorial governments, to find solutions to ensure adequate supply of skilled trade workers and to allow qualified, skilled Canadian workers to practise their respective trades anywhere in Canada.
Canada Education Savings Grant: The Canada Education Savings Grant helps parents, grandparents and interested Canadians save over the long term for a child's post-secondary education.
Canada Student Loans Program: The Canada Student Loans Program helps post-secondary students who cannot afford to pay for post-secondary education without assistance. The program provides assistance to both full-time and part-time students.
Employment Insurance (EI): Employment Insurance (EI) provides temporary financial assistance for unemployed Canadians while they look for work or upgrade their skills, as well as Canadians who are sick, pregnant or caring for a newborn or adopted child, or need to care for a family member who is seriously ill with a significant risk of death. EI programs and services are delivered by Service Canada.
Finance and Administration: The Finance and Administration office provides corporate financial and administrative services that are essential for our internal departmental operations, proper management and accountability.
Foreign Credential Recognition: The FCR Program will improve the integration of internationally trained workers into the work force by working with key stakeholders to implement projects that will facilitate the assessment and recognition of qualifications acquired outside of Canada.
Foreign Worker Program: The Foreign Worker Program seeks to improve the Canadian labour market by ensuring that qualified foreign workers are admitted to work in Canada for jobs or vacancies that cannot readily be filled by Canadians and only when reasonable efforts have been made by employers to hire or train Canadian residents or permanent residents.
Grants and Contributions: Our Grants and Contributions programs benefit Canadians individually, as well as organizations.
Income Security Programs: Income Security Programs administers the Canada Pension Plan, and is responsible for the Old Age Security pension, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance, and Allowance for the survivor. Together, these benefits ensure a basic income to all eligible Canadians.
Inter-country Adoption Services: Inter-country Adoption Services represents Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) in its capacity as the lead federal department for inter-country adoption.
International Academic Mobility (IAM): The International Academic Mobility (IAM) initiative enables Canadian students to access learning opportunities abroad and increase international skills, knowledge and understanding.

Labour Market Information (LMI): LMI is a key service that assists job seekers, people choosing a career, workers, career practitioners, employment service providers, employers and community development organizations in making labour market related decisions. The information provided covers the Canadian, provincial and local labour markets and includes job descriptions, employment prospects, wages / salaries, potential employers, industries, economic outlooks, local events and community information.
Labour Program: The objective of the Labour Program is to promote a fair, safe, healthy, stable, cooperative and productive work environment, which contributes to the social and economic well-being of all Canadians.
National Council of Welfare: The National Council of Welfare (NCW) is a citizens' advisory body on matters of concern to low-income Canadians.
National Homelessness Initiative: The National Homelessness Initiative works through partnerships with community organizations, the private sector and all levels of government to help people who are homeless in Canada.
National Literacy Secretariat: The National Literacy Secretariat was formed to work in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, the volunteer sector, business and labour, the literacy community and Government of Canada departments to help advance literacy issues and policy development on a national and international scale.
New Horizons for Seniors: The New Horizons for Seniors Program provides funding to support community-based projects across Canada that enable seniors to participate in social activities, pursue an active life and contribute to their community.
Occupational and Skills Initiatives: To help develop Canada's skilled workforce, the department produces a variety of occupational and career awareness products and activities, so Canadians may fully understand the evolving labour market.
Office for Disability Issues: The Office for Disability Issues works to advance the Government of Canada's Disability Agenda, through collaboration with other branches and directorates of the Department of Social Development as well as other federal departments and agencies.
Policies, Planning and Reporting: Policy and Strategic Direction Branch of Social Development Canada and the Strategic Policy and Planning Branch of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada are the centre of their Department's policy development work. They play a key role in integrating work in other areas of their Department and supporting their Ministers in meeting policy challenges. They also provide corporate strategic support for their Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the area of Intergovernmental relations. Both branches are also responsible for the production of rigorous, independent and objective audit and evaluation studies.
Secretariat, Official Language Minority Communities: The Secretariat, Official Language Minority Communities (SOLMC), coordinates efforts of the department in recognising the Francophone and Acadian communities outside Quebec and the Anglophone community in Quebec as target audiences in order to provide them with access to programs and services. SOLMC initiatives are delivered by Service Canada.
Sector Council Program: The Sector Council Program supports sector councils and the work they do in helping address human resource and skills issues in Canada's labour market.
Social Development Partnerships Program: The Social Development Partnerships Program (SDPP) provides funding to non-profit organizations, educational institutions, research institutes, and professional associations working to meet the social development needs of persons with disabilities, children and their families, and other vulnerable or excluded populations.
Social Insurance Number (SIN): The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number used in the administration of various Canadian government programs. You will require a SIN to work in Canada or to receive government benefits. The SIN program is delivered by Service Canada.
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers: The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) is a federal-provincial/territorial cost-shared initiative providing support to unemployed older workers in communities affected by significant downsizing or closures through programming aimed at reintegrating them into employment.
Training & Careers: Training & Careers helps Canadians find work, decide on career directions, create a personal learning plan or deal with workplace issues. Get access to information, services, interactive tools and quizzes that make a difference. Training & Careers is delivered by Service Canada.
Understanding the Early Years: Understanding the Early Years (UEY) is a research initiative providing communities with information about the readiness to learn of their children, community factors influencing child development, and local resources available to support young children and their families. Communities can use this information to create and deliver policies, programs, or investments that help their children thrive in the early years.
Workplace Skills Initiative: The Workplace Skills Initiative ( WSI) is a new funding initiative, designed to help pilot innovative models that will mobilize and transform Canadian workplaces to meet both present and future challenges.
Youth Employment Strategy Programs: Youth Employment Strategy Programs provide youth, employers, service providers, parents and educators access to career and labour market information resources and services. Youth Employment Strategy Programs are delivered by Service Canada.