Support the delivery of Service Canada programming in rural communities.

What success looks like

Service Canada programming is delivered to more Canadians in rural communities.

Government's narrative on progress

Service Canada regions support Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in delivering on key commitments and in responding to the unique service delivery needs of citizens in the areas they serve, including in rural, remote and Northern communities. This includes scheduled outreach sites in communities that may otherwise be underserved where staff answer clients’ questions, guide clients through online services and forms, and help clients identify services and benefits available to them. As of March 31, 2019, there were 247 scheduled outreach sites, of which 43 offer services in both official languages. Specific initiatives to date targeted at supporting the delivery of Service Canada programming include: • In collaboration with the Canada Revenue Agency, conducting a joint outreach approach to rural, remote and on-reserve indigenous communities to proactively improve access to the Canada Child Benefit and other benefits, including: Employment Insurance, Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, Social Insurance Numbers, the Canada Learning Bond and Canada Education Savings Grants, and passport services. Between April 2018 and March 2019, Service Canada conducted in-person visits to 668 Indigenous communities. • Doubling the in-person outreach network in the Western Canada and Territories region to provide 300,000 more Canadians with access to in-person services within 50km of their homes. • Expanding Community and Outreach Liaison Services and the availability of video chat services in targeted locations across the Service Canada network to improve access to ESDC programs and services in rural and remote areas. • Expanding the Service Delivery Partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) where GNWT employees provide services on behalf of Service Canada.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.