Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities in Ontario face systemic barriers that limit access to education, training and quality employment opportunities. These longstanding barriers have contributed to higher unemployment rates and overrepresentation of these communities in low-paying, precarious jobs.

Ontario’s economic empowerment initiatives aim to:

  • remove these barriers
  • promote inclusion
  • help people from these communities gain skills, build networks and succeed in their careers or businesses

This inclusive approach helps build a stronger economy where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Connecting newcomers and Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities to education, skills development and employment opportunities

Enhancements to apprenticeship programs to focus on under-represented groups

The government is incentivizing apprenticeship programs so individuals can gain hands-on experience in the skilled trades, build valuable professional networks and earn credits toward graduation.

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) allows secondary school students to explore and consider careers in the skilled trades. Students in high school can gain exposure to the trades and train as apprentices while also completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students complete secondary school credits through a co-op education program.

The OYAP is delivered by all 72 District School Boards in Ontario, in over 800 secondary schools. Since 2022, the government has brought OYAP into First Nations secondary schools, expanding from 2 to 8 schools in 2024.

For September 2025, the government is launching a new accelerated stream of the OYAP program called Focused Apprenticeship Training (FAST), which allows students in grades 11 and 12 to participate in full-time apprenticeship learning while pursuing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Pre-apprenticeship is a free program that supports individuals interested in working in the skilled trades but do not have the skills or experience to get a job as an apprentice. The goal of the program is to increase the number of new entrants, including individuals that are from underrepresented groups to the skilled trades. This includes youth, women, Indigenous, Black and other racialized people as well as 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals. During 2023 to 2024, 68 projects were approved intending to serve over 1,700 participants.

Achievement Incentive Program

The Achievement Incentive program supports employers, by providing a financial incentive when apprentices meet specific training and certification milestones. Enhanced milestone payments, including a registration milestone payment, are provided to employers that sponsor new youth apprentices and those from underrepresented or equity-deserving groups including women, transgender people, Francophones, Indigenous people, newcomers, people with a disabilities and racialized individuals. In the 2024 to 2025 year, Ontario supported 8,363 apprentices that self-identified as being part of one or more underrepresented groups through this initiative with the goal of addressing anticipated labour gaps and barriers faced by both sponsors and apprentices.

Enhancing the Skills Development Fund to address challenges to hiring, training or retraining workers

The Skills Development Fund Training Stream (SDF TS) supports employers through:

  • recruitment
  • training
  • retention of workers

It also supports workers, job seekers and employers by providing workforce development activities including:

  • training and retraining
  • wrap-around supports
  • employability services
  • job placements

The SDF TS aims to address the structural inequalities and economic barriers that prevent people from participating fully in the labour market. Building on the additional $100 million announced in January 2025, an additional $705 million in new funding has been announced for the SDF TS over the next 3 years.

Investing in Women’s Futures program

The Investing in Women’s Futures (IWF) program aims to ensure women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals are supported to become economically empowered to live safely with a strong sense of well-being.

In 2023 to 2024, IWF served a total of 10,422 women, including:

  • survivors of gender-based violence
  • low-income women
  • immigrant, refugee and newcomer women
  • Indigenous, Black and other racialized women

Their services also extend to women with disabilities and members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ and non-binary communities.

The IWF program funds 34 organizations with a wide breadth of services across the province to provide a safe space and wraparound supports for women who experience social and economic barriers. This helps participants to stabilize their lives, embark on a path to healing and gain the skills needed for economic self-sufficiency and security.

Indigenous Transportation Initiatives Fund

The Indigenous Transportation Initiatives Fund (ITIF) is an annual application-based funding program for Indigenous communities and organizations aimed at addressing transportation service and infrastructure gaps through support for locally driven projects. ITIF launched in 2021 and helps to fund the operation of:

  • public transit services
  • road and trail upgrades
  • driver’s licence support
  • technical training initiatives
  • the installation of safety measures

Nine projects funded in 2024 to 2025 were completed by March 31, 2025. These included local transportation services, streetscape improvements and the redevelopment of a deep seaport. Eight projects have been awarded ITIF funding in the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year, totalling $600,000. The projects are expected to be completed by March 31, 2026.

Thirty-nine projects have been completed since the inception of ITIF in 2021 to 2022.

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation’s People and Talent Program

The People and Talent Program Indigenous Workforce Development Stream was established to strengthen and develop the Northern Ontario Indigenous workforce through strategic partnerships offering internships to Indigenous persons. In the 2024 to 2025 fiscal year, $2.7 million was invested to support 66 Indigenous internships. As of May 2025, more than $424,000 in funding has been approved in the 2025 to 2026 year to support 10 Indigenous internships.

Supporting Indigenous, Black and other racialized businesses and entrepreneurs

Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs grant program

The Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Entrepreneurs (RAISE) grant program helps to address barriers faced by Indigenous, Black and other racialized entrepreneurs.

The RAISE grant program provides:

  • business development training
  • culturally responsive business coaching
  • networking opportunities
  • a one-time grant of $10,000 to help entrepreneurs grow successful businesses

In 2023, Ontario announced an additional $15 million over 3 years to support over 1,400 entrepreneurs.

Since 2023, grants have been disbursed to 996 entrepreneurs with more than half of RAISE recipients identifying as Black, 41% as racialized and almost 60% as women entrepreneurs. Approximately 95% of participants report being able to achieve their business goals, with nearly $59,000 average growth in revenue and 67% grew their customer base. The 2025 to 2026 program is expected to launch in Fall 2025.

Supporting Indigenous economic development

Ontario is increasing access and lowering barriers to economic opportunities for Indigenous communities and businesses.

Capacity funding and training supports for Indigenous Economic Development Officers through Ontario First Nations Economic Developers Association

From 2022 to 2025, Ontario allocated $6.8 million to strengthen economic development in First Nation communities. The program supports Economic Development Officers’ (EDO) recruitment and retention through wage supplements and delivers in-person and online training via the Ontario First Nation Economic Developers Association (OFNEDA). Key outcomes include:

  • enhanced training and certification of Indigenous EDOs and businesses
  • recruitment and retention of qualified individuals in First Nation communities to help develop their local economies and businesses
  • increased participation of Indigenous businesses in Ontario procurement opportunities

Funding for this program is planned for expansion to $8.4 million from 2025 to 2028 with the development of new and enhanced training for 2025 and beyond.

Loans and grants to Indigenous businesses through Indigenous financial institutions

IAFNER has increased access to low-interest loans and grants for Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs delivered through its Indigenous Economic Development Fund (IEDF), Business and Community Fund (BCF) program.

Key outcomes include:

  • growth of Indigenous businesses across Ontario
  • greater access to low-cost financing and grants for Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs

The BCF has more than doubled in support through a $4 million a year increase in low-interest loans and grants for Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs (IFIs). As of 2025, the program saw an increase of $4 million a year to $7.8 million annually.

E-Commerce grants to support digitization of Indigenous businesses

From 2022 to 2025, the $2.5 million e-commerce grant program has supported the digitization and e-commerce development of small to medium-sized Indigenous businesses in Ontario, including start-ups and early-stage online ventures. This program is delivered through Ontario’s Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs) and is on track to fund at least 200 businesses.

The initiative aims to:

  • enhance digital literacy
  • expand market access
  • create economic opportunities for Indigenous businesses

Indigenous partners have praised the program as transformative for entrepreneurs within their communities. With $1 million allocated for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year, the program will continue through 2028, reinforcing efforts toward Indigenous Economic Reconciliation by strengthening online tech capacity in Indigenous communities.

Improving understanding of the Indigenous supply chain

From 2022 to 2025, Ontario has invested $800,000 to support the First Nation supply chain by identifying challenges and opportunities and developing a comprehensive online supply chain map and business directory. The Chiefs of Ontario (COO) have carried out extensive engagement on supply chain and directory development with First Nations communities. Launch of the business directory is anticipated in Fall 2025 and over 1,000 businesses are already registered and undergoing the verification process. This will boost procurement opportunities and economic growth for First Nation communities. The COO will grow a robust, comprehensive and sophisticated online First Nation supply chain map and business portal that is accessible to both government and public sector buyers.

Creating public and private sector partnerships to support communities and grow Ontario’s economy

Small Business Enterprise Centres

Ontario’s 47 Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBECs) provide entrepreneurs and small businesses with access to information and expertise to help them start, grow or purchase a business. Seven SBECs are located in Northern Ontario’s urban areas with an annual budget of $1.7 million. During 2024-25, the SBECs supported over 16,000 small businesses and entrepreneurs. Each SBEC determines their programming for specialized or priority groups and to meet the needs of their local communities.

In previous years, the SBEC network, through the Starter Company Plus program, has provided dedicated cohorts to diversity-focused groups of entrepreneurs including:

  • Indigenous, Black and other racialized individuals
  • women
  • Francophones

With core services, Starter Company Plus and Summer Company programs, in 2024–25, Ontario SBECs created over 15,800 jobs and helped over 1,450 grant participants to start, grow or purchase a business.

Temporary help agency reform

The licensing system for temporary help agencies and recruiters aims to establish a level playing field by eliminating unfair competition from non-compliant agencies and their clients. Regulating the temporary help agency and recruiter industry through licensing is intended to provide clients with clarity that they are engaging with vetted and compliant agencies. As a result, licensing aims to help protect vulnerable workers. Based on statistics from May 2025, 5,651 first-time applications are currently in the process of becoming licensed and 2,162 applications have been approved.

Connecting the economy: growing Ontario’s inclusive approach to economic participation

The following initiatives are not included as part of the official strategy. However, they are in alignment with Ontario’s Anti-Racism Strategy, as we continue to support the economic participation of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities, so that all communities can participate in developing the economy, by connecting Ontarians through:

  • roads
  • digital networks
  • skills training

Winter roads program

The Ontario winter roads network connects remote Indigenous communities to the provincial highway system. The government flows funding annually to eligible recipients for construction and maintenance of winter roads. The government provides $6 million annually for road construction and maintenance, plus an additional $5 million since 2023 to replace ice crossings with bridges and culverts, enhancing the network’s safety and longevity.

This contributes to positive health outcomes for these communities by:

  • improving safety
  • reducing isolation
  • supporting economic and social development

Women’s Economic Security Program

The Women’s Economic Security Program (WESP) provides training for priority populations, including Indigenous, Black and racialized women. This training aims to address labour market gaps in sectors where women have historically been underrepresented, such as:

  • the skilled trades
  • information technology
  • entrepreneurship

The program includes mandatory program supports and wraparound services to help remove socio-economic barriers that low-income women may face participating in and completing the training programs.

In August 2024, as part of Ontario’s Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, funding of up to $26.7 million was granted over 3 years to support 25 WESP programs. This includes $11.7 million through the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence bilateral agreement with the federal government.

From 2018 to 2024, 5,700 women benefitted from WESP, with 2,700 pursuing further education or training, starting an apprenticeship, a business or a job.