Systemic racism and discrimination can impact individuals from early childhood through adulthood. To address these challenges, Ontario has implemented initiatives that provide Indigenous, Black and racialized children and youth with greater access to economic, educational and recreational opportunities. These efforts include:

  • expanding culturally relevant, inclusive and accessible supports
  • improving the child welfare, education and justice systems
  • enhancing access to early learning, health and development programs

By removing barriers and supporting well-being, these initiatives aim to ensure every child in Ontario has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Improving child welfare, education and justice systems to better support children and youth

Indigenous Student Success Fund

The Indigenous Student Success Fund (ISSF) continues to provide $18.2 million in funding annually to 45 publicly assisted colleges and universities. This funding helps institutions develop and deliver programs and services that support retention and well-being of Indigenous students. This is critical in ensuring Indigenous students have the support they need to thrive at post-secondary institutions. Funding for ISSF also supports Indigenous community involvement in institutional governance and program development.

Examples of available supports include:

  • Indigenous counsellors
  • education experience camps
  • Elders-in-residence
  • academic supports
  • transition programs
  • Indigenous student bursaries
  • student and community outreach activities

The most recent ISSF data from 2023 to 2024 indicates that approximately 18,000 self-identified Indigenous students were enrolled in colleges and universities. Furthermore, the most recent data from 2023 to 2024 indicates that there were approximately 4,900 self-identified Indigenous graduates.

Children at Risk of Exploitation Units

Children at Risk of Exploitation (CARE) Units are specialized intervention teams of police officers and child protection workers that identify and locate children and youth who are being or at risk of being sex trafficked. CARE units connect them to appropriate community-based services and collect intelligence to support investigations of offenders. CARE Units are intended to be culturally responsive and reflective of the needs of the community they serve. Indigenous children and youth are at higher risk of being trafficked. To address the unique needs of Indigenous children and youth, CARE Units include Indigenous children’s aid societies and Indigenous Liaisons. On average, each year the Toronto and Durham CARE Units serve more than 200 children and youth being or at high risk of being sex trafficked. The implementation of a third CARE Unit in Kenora is currently in progress, with a projected timeline set for 2025.

De-streaming

In July 2020, as part of its efforts to ensure all students can reach their full potential, the government announced the end of streaming of Grade 9 students into applied and academic courses, beginning with math in September 2021. De-streaming was introduced to establish a foundational year of learning for Grade 9 students. It was intended to address the negative impacts of early streaming and better support all students, including those who have been historically disadvantaged. Since the 2021 to 2022 school year, the government had been providing $3 million each year in funding to school boards for the De-streaming Implementation Supports Program. This funding supported Grade 7 and 8 students transitioning to secondary school, Grade 9 students preparing for senior programs and First Nations students moving from federally operated to provincially funded schools. The initiative is now fully implemented.

Youth Justice Services Redesign for Black and Indigenous Youth

The Youth Justice Services Redesign for Black and Indigenous Youth (the Redesign) seeks to address the overrepresentation of Black and Indigenous youth in the justice system, informed and driven by ongoing engagement with Black and Indigenous community partners and stakeholders.

In Summer 2024, the Youth Justice Division expanded its targeted programs, involving $1.6 million in annualized funding to support 12 new Indigenous and Black-led programs and an additional $1 million in time-limited federal funds for the 2023 to 2026 fiscal years to support 3 new programs focused on initiatives that are Black-led, and Indigenous-led, as well as initiatives that address gender-based violence. The new programs will strengthen community-driven interventions and contribute to improved outcomes and opportunities for youth who are at risk of or are involved with the justice system.

The Youth Justice Division also co-developed youth justice transfer policies alongside Indigenous partners to ensure they are more responsive to the needs of Indigenous youth, families and communities. The amended transfer policies were implemented in January 2025. Partners appreciated the depth of engagement on the transfer policies, including regular communications and the adoption of an iterative collaborative process to develop the final product.

Targeted Education Supports for Indigenous, Black and Other Racialized Students

Ontario supports a range of initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes, with a focus on Indigenous, Black and other racialized students.

Expansion of Dual Credit Programs

Dual Credit programs are targeted to primarily support secondary school students who may be facing challenges in graduating. The goal of the program is to support students to graduate and successfully transition them to college or apprenticeship programs. The most recent outcome data from the 2023 to 2024 school year shows:

  • an 89% retention rate of students staying to the end of the Dual Credit course
  • 93% of students earn the Dual Credit that they attempt
  • 92% of Dual Credit students graduate from high school
  • 48% of Dual Credit students transition to college and 5.8% of Dual Credit students transition to apprenticeship, which are both higher than the provincial rate for all students

Licences and supports for reading programs and interventions

This initiative provides funding to school boards to purchase licenses, resources and professional learning to support interventions for all students who struggle to read, including, but not limited to, students with learning disabilities. This may include Indigenous, Black and other racialized groups who may be overrepresented among students needing special education programs and services.

Funded through transfer payment agreements, since 2021 to 2022, funding is projected to be $12.5 million in 2025 to 2026. Across the province, school boards are enhancing their capacity to deliver evidence-based reading programs and interventions. By leveraging data-driven instruction approaches, educators can provide timely and targeted support to students. Early implementation of structured literacy through multi-tiered systems of support, particularly from kindergarten to Grade 2, has led to improvements in student outcomes.

Early intervention in math for students with special education needs

Previously funded through transfer payment agreements, the amount was moved to the annual funding model in 2023 to 2024. In 2025 to 2026, the ministry is projecting funding of $9.42 million. Funding is provided to all school boards implementing mathematics supports for students in kindergarten to Grade 8, with a focus on students with special education needs.

The goal of this project is to:

  • increase student engagement
  • prevent and help close learning gaps
  • prepare students for the transition into a de-streamed Grade 9

In the 2022 to 2023 school year, 16,964 students with special education needs participated in math intervention initiatives, leading to reported improvements in student outcomes and teaching practices. Now that this initiative is embedded in Core Education Funding, school boards are receiving stable year-over-year funding to support Early Math Interventions.

Graduation Coach Program for Black students

This program provides selected boards with funding to hire Graduation Coaches to support academic excellence and help remove systemic barriers within classrooms and school communities. These coaches provide comprehensive, culturally responsive supports to Black students to help improve their academic achievement and well-being.

For 2025 to 2026, the ministry provided $6 million in funding for 46 Graduation Coaches across 26 school boards.

Indigenous Graduation Coach program

The Indigenous Graduation Coach program supports the well-being and achievement of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students with the goal of obtaining an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and transitioning into post-secondary education, training or labour market opportunities. The program also provides support to First Nations students as they transition from federally funded or First Nations-operated schools to provincially funded schools. The coach is a mentor for students and facilitates access and referrals to academic supports and community resources according to student needs. Ontario has continuously funded the program since the 2018 to 2019 school year. For the 2025 to 2026 school year, $5.5 million is being allocated to select school boards for Indigenous Graduation Coaches to support the well-being and achievement of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students.

Elimination of discretionary suspensions for junior kindergarten to Grade 3 students

In 2020, a regulation came into effect to eliminate discretionary suspensions for students in junior kindergarten to Grade 3. The regulation has been implemented and is in effect. In the past, discretionary suspension policies had disproportionately impacted young Indigenous, Black and other racialized students as well as those with special education needs. Keeping students in school increases their opportunity to develop and practise important social and emotional skills and develop positive views about learning, school, teachers and their community, thereby promoting opportunities for academic success.

Board Action Plans on Indigenous Education

Board Action Plans (BAP) on Indigenous Education support the academic success and well-being of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students, as well as building the knowledge of all students and educators on Indigenous histories, cultures, perspectives and contributions. It also includes:

  • growing and improving relationships with Indigenous Education Councils and community members
  • adopting First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies curricula as a course offering
  • empowering and better engaging First Nations, Métis and Inuit children and youth

In 2024 to 2025, the government provided $136.2 million to school boards to support the implementation of the BAP on Indigenous Education and the hiring of a dedicated Indigenous education lead in each school board.

Removing barriers and improving access to culturally relevant programs in early learning and childcare, education, child development, health, sports and recreation

Black Youth Action Plan

The Black Youth Action Plan (BYAP) addresses persistent outcome disparities for Black children, youth and families through its various programs offered by over 60 community focused organizations.

Culturally adapted youth programs under BYAP provide Black children, youth and their families with early intervention supports to:

  • improve well-being
  • overcome barriers
  • increase their chances of success in education, employment and community inclusion

In 2023 to 2024, there was a 61% increase in the number of Black youth using culturally adapted youth programs through BYAP.

The BYAP Economic Empowerment Program helps Black youth gain:

  • in-demand skills
  • career advancement experiences
  • high-growth employment opportunities

Over 19,000 people have been supported by BYAP’s Economic Empowerment Programs since early 2023. The programs have introduced Black youth participants to educational and career pathways, including mentorship, networking and high-quality employment, in the automotive, construction, health, skilled trades, technology and financial sectors. Funding for BYAP programs will continue for 2025 to 2026.

Black Employment Support Program

The Black Employment Support Program (BESP) is a BYAP pilot project developed with a focus on employment. The BESP aims to assist Black justice-involved individuals with their successful reintegration into the community from correctional institutions by providing culturally responsive supports that promote:

  • healthy functioning
  • skills training
  • employment and entrepreneurial opportunities
  • career pathway planning
  • education
  • holistic wrap-around supports

The program was implemented in January and February of 2023 at 3 locations:

  • Toronto East Detention Centre
  • Toronto South Detention Centre
  • Youth Justice’s Roy McMurtry Youth Centre

The Ministry of the Solicitor General has invested over $800,000 in 2024 to 2025 to meet high participant demand.

As of May 2025, BESP has had:

  • 887 participants
  • 53 participants employed (out of the 90 who have been released to community or are serving their sentence in community)
    • Participants who are not currently employed are receiving supports across several areas including education and training, mentorship, re-entry case management and shelter/housing.
  • 10 graduation ceremonies where approximately 300 individuals proclaimed their declaration of change and graduated from the Group Workshop stream of the BESP

Community Aboriginal Recreation Activator program

The Community Aboriginal Recreation Activator (CARA) program supports up to 27 First Nations to hire a recreation activator. These activators plan and deliver community-driven sport, recreation and physical activity programming, using local resources and partnerships with other community-based organizations. The CARA program provides sport and recreation opportunities for Indigenous community members of all ages. Funding for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year has been approved and will continue to support sport and recreation access.

Inclusive Grassroots Recreation

The Inclusive Grassroots Recreation (IGR) program supports the participation of children and youth in sport and recreation at the grassroots level, with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion. This includes children and youth from groups that are marginalized or under-represented in sport and recreation. The IGR program is delivered in partnership with organizations that are sector leaders in addressing systemic barriers to sport participation, with proven capacity, established community networks and expertise in working with equity-deserving communities. In the 2024 to 2025 program year, it is anticipated the IGR program will provide affordable, accessible and inclusive sport and recreation programming for 35,000 children and youth across Ontario.

Sport pathway for Ontario Native wellness

The Sport Pathway supports an integrated network of opportunities for Indigenous people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport at recreational levels and advance to their desired level of competition.

Activities include:

  • physical literacy and introductory sport programs
  • youth multi-sport camps
  • athlete and coach development workshops
  • regional and provincial sport tournaments
  • family wellness programs.

The Sport Pathway is delivered in partnership with Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario, the Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Sport Body (PTASB) for Ontario. Funding for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year has been approved and will continue to support existing programs.

Youth Cultural Camps

The Youth Cultural Camps (YCC) program supports up to 10 Indigenous organizations to deliver cultural programming opportunities that enable Indigenous youth to expand their understanding of traditional knowledge and languages and develop leadership skills through experiential and land-based activities.

The YCC program allows Indigenous youth and young adults to:

  • learn from Knowledge Keepers and Elders in their community
  • build resiliency
  • gain a stronger sense of identity, confidence and hope for the future

Funding for the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year has been approved and will continue to support existing programs.

Community Partnerships to Combat Racism, Hate and Discrimination

The Ministry of Education is collaborating with community partners to deliver culturally relevant and responsive supports, services and resources for students and educators, aiming to address and prevent racism, hate and discrimination.

Pinball Clemons Foundation

The government provides funding to the Pinball Clemons Foundation to improve social supports for students from underserved communities who demonstrate an increase in anti-social or violent behaviour or are at risk of being involved or impacted by these behaviours. In 2025 to 2026, the organization will support the well-being and academic achievement of marginalized and racialized children and youth through school assemblies, programming, community events and educator workshops.

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center

The government has provided funding to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies for a project aimed at expanding the organization’s capacity to deliver student-focused workshops on the topic of antisemitism, both historical and contemporary, by hiring a dedicated education specialist. This specialist will deliver antisemitism programming to elementary and secondary students in schools across Ontario.

Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

The government has provided funding to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs for a project focused on fostering a comprehensive, high-impact approach to unlearning antisemitism, leveraging educational tools and community resources to create a more inclusive Ontario. The project will enhance intercultural competency and equip educators, administrators and school staff with the skills and knowledge necessary to foster a more supportive and culturally responsive educational setting.

Focus on Youth

The Focus on Youth (FOY) program helps youth transition to adulthood by creating employment experiences for high school students who experience barriers to employment due to circumstances directly linked to:

  • systemic inequality
  • racism
  • discrimination
  • socio-economic disadvantage

It also increases access to free or low-cost summer camps for children and youth in kindergarten to Grade 12.

The 2024 to 2025 program year will see 7 new school boards participating in a pilot expansion of the FOY program. Most expansion boards in rural areas are partnering with local Indigenous Friendship Centres and offering land-based programming to meet the needs of Indigenous students.

Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Program

Through innovative, hands-on activities and partnerships with the local business community, the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Program (IYEP) encourages Indigenous youth to develop entrepreneurial and business skills through enrolment in a two-credit program.

The course content in this program includes:

  • marketing
  • accounting basics
  • financial literacy
  • how to raise money to start a business venture

Students learn how entrepreneurs successfully plan business ventures by:

  • recognizing opportunities
  • generating ideas
  • organizing resources

For the 2023 to 2024 school year, 195 students completed the IYEP credit.

Caring with culture: strengthening support for Black children and families in Ontario

The following initiatives are not included as part of the official Anti-Racism strategy. However, through anti-racism efforts outside of the strategy, the government continues to improve the experiences of Black children and youth in Ontario’s child welfare system through culturally responsive approaches. This anti-racism approach extends to equitable services for racialized children who may have additional therapeutic needs.

One Vision One Voice

Since 2015, the government has provided funding to the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies for the One Vision One Voice (OVOV) Program. From July 2021, $800,000 in annual funding has been provided to support the program. The purpose of the OVOV Program is to support culturally appropriate service delivery and improve outcomes for Black and African Canadian children, youth and families involved with Ontario’s child welfare system.

This year, the OVOV Program will prioritize collaboration with children’s aid societies to implement and evaluate sector-wide initiatives. Strategic committees and working groups will be led to gather feedback and identify ways to reduce disparities. The program will continue engaging with communities to understand their needs and inform future initiatives, while also analyzing policies and tools to monitor inequities and advance racial equity in child welfare.

Kujali: Caring for Black children training for foster parents

The Kujali training is a free e-learning course and is foundational for all foster parents to enhance understanding and sensitivity towards the specific needs and experiences of Black children and youth who are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system. Developed based on feedback heard directly from Black youth, this training helps create a more inclusive and supportive caregiving environment. This initiative came into effect on January 1, 2025, as mandatory training for all foster parents in Ontario. By completing this training, foster parents will be better prepared to address and mitigate the effects of racial biases and build stronger, more empathetic connections with children in their care.

Leading Innovation for Transformation strategy

In 2023, MCCSS launched the Leading Innovation for Transformation (LIFT) strategy for the children’s rehabilitation sector, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy.

The LIFT strategy aims to:

  • improve timely access to pre/post-surgical services
  • reduce wait times
  • expand service provisions

LIFT supports the delivery of innovative, evidence-based services that are tiered, equitable, and integrated into seamless pathways. Service providers are expected to build supportive relationships in equity-deserving communities to enhance service delivery and connect with aligned programs.

A key focus is improving service quality and equity across the province by requiring providers to implement equity strategies. These may include collecting data to identify equity-deserving communities and adapting tools or processes to reflect families’ linguistic and cultural needs.

With an additional investment of $45 million in 2023 to the children’s rehabilitation sector, the ministry aims to embed equitable culturally safer service delivery across the sector.