By William Muyuku
Toronto, September 23, 2026
The Government of Canada has launched a new program to strengthen Black communities and support organizations serving Black Canadians across the country.
The Black Canadian Communities Program will receive $135.7 million over five years, beginning in the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year. The government will provide an additional $27.1 million annually after that period.
Employment and Social Development Canada announced the program on September 20 during the National Black Canadians Summit in Winnipeg. The announcement was made by Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
The program will support projects benefiting Black children and families. It will also help Black-led, Black-serving and Black-focused organizations access funding, strengthen their operations and expand the services they provide.
According to the federal government, many organizations serving Black communities continue to face barriers to obtaining the resources required to maintain and expand their work. The new program is intended to address those challenges by supporting community-driven initiatives and improving organizations’ capacity to reach more people.
The Black Canadian Communities Program builds on the former Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, which has funded more than 3,000 projects across Canada since 2019.
“Across Canada, Black organizations and community leaders are doing incredible work to support families, create opportunities, and strengthen their communities,” Hajdu said in a statement. “The Black Canadian Communities Program builds on that leadership by investing in community-driven solutions that help remove barriers and create a more inclusive and prosperous future for Black Canadians and for all Canadians.”
The government is also investing more than $800,000 in the Michaëlle Jean Foundation. The funding will support the 2026 National Black Canadians Summit and the foundation’s Power of Youth Initiative, which provides grants to youth-led organizations and supports young people working to create positive change in their communities.
The federal government said the new investment is part of its broader commitment to the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, which runs from January 2025 to December 2034.
Since 2018, Canada has committed more than $1 billion to initiatives intended to empower Black communities, improve physical and mental health outcomes, support socioeconomic well-being and create greater opportunities for Black Canadians.
Official announcement:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2026/09/government-of-canada-launches-black-canadian-communities-program.html
