In Canada, where one in six workers is self-employed, SEDI was one of the first organizations to recognize the need for self-employment training for the unemployed and persons with limited financial resources. Since 1986, SEDI has empowered low-income entrepreneurs – including women, youth, newcomers and the disabled – to create their own jobs and contribute to their communities' growth.

In 1992, SEDI's Self-Employment Benefits (SEB) program was incorporated into the Employment Insurance legislation. Today, this entrepreneurship training program is available to unemployed Canadians on a national scale.

In this section you will find more information about SEDI's policy work related to entrepreneurship for low-income earners, information for individuals interested in starting a business (including online tools for persons with disabilities), as well as resources for further reading.