The 2025 Canada Summer Jobs Grant

The 2025 Canada Summer Jobs Grant program applications are now open until December 19, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. PST. 

The Canada Summer Jobs Grant is a program under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), which aims to provide quality summer employment opportunities for youth to develop skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market.  The program provides wage subsidies to support employers from not-for-profit organizations and the public sector, as well as private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for youth aged 15 to 30 years.

Eligible Canadian employers consist of Not-for-profit organizations, Public sector employers and Private sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees across Canada.  Youth participants must (i) be between 15-30 years of age at the beginning of the employment period, (ii) be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred for the duration of employment and (iii) have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada.

All applications will go through a funding decision process. Eligible projects must provide full-time work experience (30 to 40 hours per week) to youth in Canada. Youth job placements are to start on or after April 21, 2025, with latest placements starting July 21, 2025, and will be completed by August 30, 2025 (for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 16 weeks).

The applications will be screened for eligibility relative to the two criteria defined below:

15 Mandatory Eligibility Requirements:

1. The application must be submitted before the deadline.
2. When submitting the application, the attestation box must be checked.
3. The application must be complete.
4. Employer must be eligible (public sector, not-for-profit sector, or private sector (with 50 or fewer full-time employees)).
5. Project activities must be eligible.
6. Job duration: Must be between 6 and 16 consecutive weeks.
7. Job hours: Must be full-time (30 to 40 hours per week).
8. Other sources of funding: The applicant must declare whether they have applied, will apply, or have received funding from different sources for the job(s) requested.
9. Salary: The salary must respect minimum wage requirements in your province or territory.
10. Money owing to the Government of Canada: the organization must declare any money due to the Government of Canada.
11. Health and safety: The applicant must demonstrate that they have implemented adequate measures to ensure youth awareness of health and safety practices in the work environment. Safety measures must relate to the work environment, specific job types, and activities.
12. Hiring practices and work environment: The applicant must demonstrate that they have implemented adequate measures to ensure that hiring practices and the work environment are free of harassment and discrimination.
13. Supervision: The applicant must outline the supervision plan for the youth and proposed job activities.
14. Mentoring: The applicant must outline the mentoring plan for the youth.
15. Past results: The Department (Employment and Social Development Canada) will review all files associated with the organization to verify if there is documented evidence from previous agreements with the Department that would render the application ineligible (including but not limited to financial irregularities, health and safety concerns, past project default or other results). The Department may also review previous applications and all previous correspondence, including responses to requests for missing information or clarification, as part of this review process. The Department may also consult the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on past financial irregularities.

 Quality of the proposed job placement - demonstrated through the following:

1. Youth investment.
   • Paying youth above the minimum wage in the province.

Committing to retain the youth as an employee beyond the period of the Canada Summer Jobs Grant Agreement.

2. Supervision.
   • Demonstrating how you will support the youth during their work placement.

Observing, evaluating, and providing feedback on job performance.

3. Mentoring.
   • Demonstrating how your guidance will support the professional development of the youth.
4. Skills development.
   • Providing opportunities for youth to develop the skills needed for employment.
5. Health and safety practices.
   • Implemented measures to ensure that your work environment is safe.
   • Work environment policies and practices.
   • Implemented measures providing a work environment free of harassment and discrimination (hiring practices).  

Not-for-profit employers can receive funding for up to 100% of the provincial or territorial adult minimum hourly wage and Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs), such as Canada Pension Plan contributions, Employment Insurance premiums and vacation pay.

Public or private sector employers can receive a wage subsidy of up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage in effect at the time of employment. For example, if a private sector employer pays a youth $18.00 per hour in a province where the minimum hourly wage is $17.00, the contribution provided will be 50% of the minimum wage of $17.00 ($8.50).

All applications are due by December 19, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified of the status of their applications starting in April 2025. Employers can apply online through the Canada Summer Jobs Grant portal by registering for a Grants and Contributions Online Services account.

If your business needs assistance in applying, please contact our office ASAP.