Canada launches $135.7-million Black communities program
A new federal program will provide $135.7 million over five years for services, organizational capacity and emerging priorities in Black communities.
The federal government has launched a Black Canadian Communities Program backed by $135.7 million over five years, starting in 2026–27.
Employment and Social Development Canada announced the program on September 20. The government says ongoing funding of $27.1 million a year is planned after the initial five-year period.
The program has three streams: services and programming for Black children and families; support for the capacity and long-term sustainability of Black-led organizations; and community-led responses to emerging priorities.
Organizations cannot apply yet. The federal release says details about funding opportunities and the application process will be published in the coming months.
The announcement also includes more than $800,000 for the Michaëlle Jean Foundation to support the 2026 National Black Canadians Summit and a youth-focused initiative.
Program details are in the federal announcement and its backgrounder, both published September 20.
Featured image: Illustrative stock photo of a group meeting; the people shown are not identified as program participants or applicants. Photo: UK Black Tech / Unsplash. Cropped for publication.
AI-assisted news brief. Sources are linked above.
How we work