Wage Subsidies and Grants

There are many funding opportunities available to help your organization hire students. The following is a sample of programs available, or you can download the Employer Wage Subsidy Programs summary document. We encourage you to continue to search to see what other opportunities are available.

*Note: Please visit the website of each wage subsidy or grant you are interested in to see important deadlines and application periods. Furthermore, there may be times when grants and wage subsidy programs close and then re-open again, so please watch for those updates.

Federal Programs/Provincial Programs

Canadian Summer Jobs


Industries	All
Program	BCom & BCom Co-op
Amount	Not-for-profit employers are eligible to receive funding for up to 100% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage. Public and private sector employers are eligible to receive funding for up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage.
Employer Eligibility	- Employers from not-for-profit organizations and the public sector - Employers from private sector organizations (50 or fewer full-time employees) - Attestation is checked. - Application was received by the deadline. - Eligibility of employer. - Eligibility of project. - Job duration: Between 6 and 16 consecutive weeks. - Job hours: Must be full-time (i.e. 30 to 40 hours per week). - Other Sources of Funding: You must declare whether you will receive funding from other sources for the job placement. - Salary: The salary must respect minimum wage requirements (see Section 4 Assessment Criteria for details). - Money owing to the Government of Canada: Your organization must declare any money owing to the Government of Canada.\ - Health and Safety: You must demonstrate that you have implemented measures to ensure youth awareness of health and safety practices in the work environment. Safety measures must relate to the type of work environment and specific job type and activities. Service Canada will consider each case on its merits, comparing the risks with the benefits for the youth. - Hiring practices and work environment: You must demonstrate that you have implemented measures to ensure hiring practices and a work environment free of harassment and discrimination, such as raising awareness and prevention activities. - Supervision: You must describe the supervision plan for the youth and proposed job activities. - Mentoring: You must describe the mentoring plan for the youth and proposed job activities. - Past Results: The Department will review all files associated with your organization to verify if there is documented evidence from previous agreements with the Department that would render your application ineligible (e.g., financial irregularities, health and safety concerns, or past project results). The Department may consult with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on past financial irregularities.
Student Eligibility	To be eligible, youth must: - Be between 15 and 30 years of age at the start of the employment; - Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment; - Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations. -The program's broader objectives as part of the Youth Employment Strategy are to improve the labour market participation of Canadian youth. International students are not eligible participants. International students include anyone who is temporarily in Canada for studies and who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada.
More Information	https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs.html

First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program (STEP)


Industries	All
Program	BCom & BCom Co-op
Amount	- The maximum amount of funding to be provided to a funding recipient in a fiscal year is set out in the funding agreement signed by the funding recipient. - The initiative is nationally and regionally based and proposal-driven. - The non-profit sector is eligible to receive a contribution of up to 100% of the applicable wage, plus mandatory employment-related costs (MERC), while the private sector is eligible to receive up to 50% of the applicable wage only. Note: Where a participant with disabilities is hired, all employers are eligible to apply for 100% of the wage. A maximum contribution of $3,000 per participant may be available, on an actual cost basis, for special equipment and facilities to accommodate the student's needs.
Employer Eligibility	- First Nations and Inuit communities - First Nations and Inuit governments - First Nations and Inuit organizations - Not-for-profit associations - Private sector employers
Student Eligibility	Eligible participants are: - First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students aged 15 to 30 inclusive - Ordinarily resident on reserve or in recognized communities or on community lands - Legally entitled to work in Canada - Registered as full-time students during the preceding academic year and who intend to return to school on a full-time basis in the next academic year
More Information	https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1100100033607/1533125081187

Business Strategy Internship | Mitacs

Industries: All

Program: BCom, BCom Co-op, MBA, PhD, PostDocs

Amount: Organizations can contribute $5,000 or $7,500, with Mitacs matching these funds to provide a $10,000 or $15,000 award to students working on a project that will create value for the organization through innovation.

Employer Eligibility: Organizations can be business, eligible nonprofit, municipality or health authorities.

Responsibilities

Partner organizations must:

Offer work integrated learning opportunities to students during the internship.
Provide adequate supervision and direction for the project.

The partner organization supervisor will:

Set project deliverables and timeline for the student, answer questions and provide general supervision and mentorship to the student as the student’s on-site supervisor.
Providing onboarding, training, performance management, feedback, and answer technical questions
Be available during the assigned working hours of the student. If they are unavailable, they will assign an alternative supervisor
Meet (in-person or virtually) with the student regularly to oversee the progress of their project

The University of Alberta will:

Advertise positions to current University of Alberta graduate students.
Serve as the official employer for the intern.
Provide an academic advisor, as required by all Mitacs projects.
Receive the portion of the Mitacs grant which is covering student wages, to be distributed through University Payroll.

How to get started

Partner organizations interested in participating in the program are invited to contact an Edmonton Mitacs Advisors | Mitacs

Important points:

Projects should focus on applied, relevant innovation which will improve your organization’s operations. Project scope, objectives and deliverables should be based on this. Creating value for both the partner and the student is the key to a great project.
Students are not hired directly by the company. The company sends Mitacs their contribution portion, Mitacs will match it and then send a grant to the university to pay the student.
Projects need a University Academic Supervisor to be the Mitacs BSI grant holder. Mitacs and the Alberta School of Business will coordinate a Academic Supervisor for all projects.

Technology Alberta

Website: https://technologyalberta.com/first-jobs-program-overview/

Industries: All

Program: BCom, BCom Co-op

Amount:
1. Program name: FIRST jobs 200
Work Term Length: 200 hours (10 hours/week)
Intern Stipend: $4,000
Reimbursement to Company: $4,000 (100%)

2. Program name: FIRST jobs 250
Work Term Length: 250 hours (15-20 hours/week)
Intern Stipend: $5,000
Reimbursement to Company: $4,000 (80%)

3. Program name: Scale-Up
Work Term Length: 500 hours (Full-time, 30-40 hours/week)
Intern Stipend: $10,000
Reimbursement to Company: $7,500 (75%)

Employer Eligibility:
- Company must be incorporated and operating in Alberta
- SME (fewer than 100 employees)
- Working in the technology sector and creating innovative solutions
- Able to provide a meaningful work integrated learning experience to their hired student/new graduate
- Able to provide mentorship to their hire on their provided project
- Able to pay their hire $20/hour for the program duration (200, 250, 500 hours)

Student Eligibility:
- Currently studying at an accredited post-secondary institution located in Alberta (or graduated within the past 6 months)
- Over 18 years of age
- Alberta resident, able to work within the province for the duration of their work term (International students are eligible for FIRST Jobs Program)
- Have not previously completed a FIRST Jobs Program work term (in any stream)
- Have not previously been employed by their FIRST Jobs company

Government of Canada Student Work Placement Programs

BioTalent Canada - Student Work Placement Program


Industries	Co-op position needs to have a biotechnology focus or the employer needs to have a biotechnology focus
Program	BCom Co-op
Amount	- Up to $5,000 for every student, you hire through the program. - Up to $7,000 for every student you hire that is in their first year or is from an under-represented group including women in STEM, persons with disabilities, newcomers and Indigenous students
Employer Eligibility	Wage subsidies are available to all employers who are creating a work integrated learning opportunity and who meet the program criteria. Employers can hire STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) or business students from any post-secondary institutions across Canada through BioTalent Canada's Student Work Placement Program. To qualify for the program, either the co-op position needs to have a biotechnology focus or the employer needs to have a biotechnology focus. Examples of positions that could qualify: - Sales and Marketing Assistant at a biofuels company - Software Engineer at a health technology company - Associate Research Chemist for safe food processing at a meat manufacturing plant - Laboratory Technologist for environmental management at an automotive company
Student Eligibility	- Are a current full-time student registered in a post-secondary STEM or business program co-op in Canada - Are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada - Are legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial legislation and regulations
More Information	https://www.biotalent.ca/programs/student-work-placement-program/

Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace - Student Work Placement Program


Industries	Aerospace & Aviation Industry
Program	BCom & BCom Co-op
Amount	- Up to $7,000 for every student you hire that is in their first year or is from an under-represented group including women in STEM, persons with disabilities, newcomers and Indigenous students. - Up to $5,000 for every student, you hire through the program.
Employer Eligibility	- Complete and sign the Employer information form. - Provide a brief company description. - Provide proof of the participant's PSE enrolment/transcript. - Provide the participant's job description. - Provide the participant's working/learning plan*** - Provide a job placement of a minimum of 12 weeks; the standard job placement period is 16 weeks. - Provide proof of placement employment, start date, contract with participant, full wage and benefits of participant to CCAA. - Confirm that the wages for the position are not funded by another federally funded program like IRAP, Mitacs, etc
Student Eligibility	The participant (student) must: - Be a full-time student currently registered in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) or business program at a Canadian post-secondary education (PSE) institution - Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or hold refugee status; PARTICIPANTS ON A STUDENT VISA AND/OR WORK PERMIT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. - Be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial legislation and regulations. - Consent to release employment information to CCAA and the Government of Canada periodically during the placement and after the end of the placement - Provide proof of PSE enrolment/transcript. - Complete and sign the Participant/Student form.
More Information	https://avaerocouncil.ca/subsidies

Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) - Empowering Futures: Developing Electricity Talent Through Work-Integrated Learning


Industries	- Firms whose primary activity is the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power. - Sector support including renewables in any of the following areas: R & D, business development, energy efficiency. - Firms engaged in manufacturing of equipment and the provision of services necessary to the generation.
Program	BCom & BCom Co-op
Amount	- Up to $5,000 for every student, you hire through the program. - Up to $7,000 for every student you hire that is in their first year or is from an under-represented group including women in STEM, persons with disabilities, newcomers and Indigenous students
Employer Eligibility	The company must meet eligibility requirements: - The wages for this position must not be funded by another federally-funded program. - The company must provide a full-time work opportunity for a minimum of 16 weeks, 5 days a week, 7.5 hours a day. - The wage subsidy covers the cost of a co-op student's salary by up to 50% to a maximum of $5,000 and up to 70% to a maximum of $7,000 for students and under-represented groups including: women in STEM, women in business, indigenous students, persons with disabilities and newcomers. - The company must provide a minimum of $1 for each $1 of wage subsidy, or a minimum of $1 for each $2.33 for first-year students and under-represented groups. - The company must not recruit and retain friends or family members as participants to the co-op wage subsidy program. - The company must reference the participant information form to inform potential participants what their involvement in the co-op wage subsidy program will entail. - The company must provide proof of co-op placement employment, start date, contract with participant, full wage and benefits of participant to Electricity Human Resources Canada upon request. - The company must provide information about the placement to Electricity Human Resources Canada as required. - The company must develop a Formal Learning Plan with the participant, before the start of the placement. - The company must provide Electricity Human Resources Canada with monthly financial claims and progress reports
Student Eligibility	To participate in a student work placement in the electricity sector you must: - be registered as a full-time student in a post secondary institution in Canada. - be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person with refugee protection in Canada - be legally able to work in Canada according to the laws and regulations of the province or territory where you live. If you are interested in applying to a work placement or if you want to find out more about this program, you can contact our Empowering Futures Program Coordinator directly.
More Information	https://ehrc.ca/programs/empowering-futures/

Environmental Careers Organization of Canada - Wage Subsidy Program for Environmental Students


Industries	Environmental Sector
Program	BCom Co-op
Amount	Up to $5,000 for every student, you hire through the program.
Employer Eligibility	Organizations in Canada working in the environmental sector and are looking to hire students from science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).
Student Eligibility	Current university or college students studying in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) and Business qualify for our Co-op Program. Students must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or have Refugee status. Students on a work permit or visa are not eligible.
More Information	https://eco.ca/environmental-professionals/employment-funding-and-job-board/apply-for-job-funding/

Information and Communication Technology Council - WIL Digital


Industries	- Registered businesses or not-for-profit organizations in Canada - Number or CRA Organization Number and company information will be required in the application.
Program	BCom & BCom Co-op
Amount	- Up to $5,000 for every student, you hire through the program. - Up to $7,000 for every student you hire that is in their first year or is from an under-represented group including women in STEM, persons with disabilities, newcomers and Indigenous students
Employer Eligibility	Below are the Company eligibility requirements to qualify for wage subsidy: 1. A registered company in Canada Company must be registered and operate in Canada. Business/ Charitable Registration Number or CRA Organization. Number and company information will be required in the application. 2. Must offer a quality position to a student including the following: - Must have the ability to recruit, hire, pay, train and support the student. - Must hire a student from a STEM (science, technology, engineering or math), Business, Arts, Humanities, Social Science program within a publicly funded Canadian PostSecondary Educational Institution. - Must hire a student as an employee of the company. Students hired as contractors are not eligible. - Must offer a quality position that will advance the skills and employment readiness of students. 3. Must have Insurance The company must maintain general liability insurance to cover claims for bodily injury or property damage resulting from anything that could be done or omitted by the student during the placement period. 4. Must be compliant with Human Rights and Labor legislation, regulations, and laws. The company must comply with all applicable federal and provincial human rights and labor legislation, regulations, and any other relevant standards including the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Employment Standards Act.
	Students are eligible to apply through an employer if they are: - Registered as a full-time student in a Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, or Business Program within a Canadian post-secondary institution, regardless of age; - A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a protected person as defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act - Legally entitled to work in Canada and legally entitled to work according to specific province legislation and regulations.
More Information	https://etalentcanada.ca/for-employers/programs/work-integrated-learning-will-digital

Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) - Gearing Up: Developing Mining Talent Through Work-Integrated Learning


Industries	Mining or Mineral Exploration Sector
Program	BCom & BCom Co-op
Amount	- Up to $5,000 for every student, you hire through the program. - Up to $7,000 for every student you hire that is in their first year or is from an under-represented group including women in STEM, persons with disabilities, newcomers and Indigenous students
Employer Eligibility	- Employers must be Canadian-owned or a Canadian subsidiary, and in one of the following categories: - Small, medium or large companies involved in the mining or mineral exploration sector; - Post-secondary educational institution; or - Not-for profit organization.
Student Eligibility	- Full-time students in a post-secondary program; - Canadian citizens, permanent residents or persons granted refugee status in Canada; - Legally allowed to work according to the relevant provincial, territorial and Canadian regulations; - Be studying in fields related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and/or business
More Information	https://mihr.ca/career-development/gearing-up/

TECHNATION (formerly know as ITAC) - Career Ready Program


Industries	To be an eligible employer, you must provide a quality work experience in a role that immerses a student in the use of technology. We encourage both tech-focused and non-tech-focused organizations to apply.
Program	BCom & BCom Co-op
Amount	- The program provides 50% (to a maximum of $5000.00) of a student’s pay in wage subsidies to employers. - An increased subsidy of 70% (to a maximum of $7000.00) is awarded to employers hiring students from under-represented groups:
Employer Eligibility	If you meet all these criteria, you are eligible to be a Career Ready employer: - A registered Canadian business or and non-profit who can provide a meaningful, tech-focused work placement opportunity to a student. - Note: Large financial sector employers are no longer eligible, as well as post-secondary institutions and municipalities
Student Eligibility	- Enrolled as a full time student at an accredited post-secondary college or university in Canada - Can provide documentation to prove your Canadian Citizenship, Permanent Resident or Refugee Status in Canada - Eligible to work in Canada
More Information	https://technationcanada.ca/en/future-workforce-development/career-ready-program/

Trucking HR Canada Student Work Placement Subsidy


Industries	Co-op position needs to be employed in the trucking or transportation industry.
Program	BCom Co-op
Amount	Wage subsidy up to a maximum of 50%, up to $5,000 for every student work placement provided
Employer Eligibility	To qualify for the program, the employer must be in the trucking and transportation industry. However, this can be applied to a wide-range of non-trucking companies. For example, many manufacturers or construction companies may have their own class 1 commercial vehicle fleet used to deliver product or move their equipment around. An ice cream producer in AB makes their own ice cream but then delivers it to the grocery store warehouses by their own truck. They have now become a trucking company as well as a producer. As such, these types of employers are eligible for the same grant. Work placements must offer: - Full-time or part-time work opportunity (minimum 4 weeks up to a maximum of 16 weeks at a minimum of 10 hours/week), directly related to the applicant’s program of study, and /or fulfilling a trucking and logistics job function - Not funded by any other Federal Grant Program - Add participating students to the company’s payroll. Participants are not eligible for the program as contractors. - Provide a safe and harassment-free work environment for participants The employer must: - Submit evidence of salaries remitted to the participants (pay stubs) for reimbursement. - Provide a safe and harassment-free work environment This grant can be used towards roles such as HR, Accounting, Supply Chain, General Business or any related field of study.
Student Eligibility	To participate employers must hire students who are: - Canadian citizens, permanent residents or persons who have been granted refugee status in Canada - Able to provide proof of part/full-time enrollment in a Canadian post-secondary institution - Legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations
More Information	https://truckinghr.com/student-work-placement-subsidy/

Venture for Canada


Industries	Small to medium-sized enterprises, nonprofits or charities located in BC, AB, MB, SK, NB, NS, PEI, or NL
Program	BCom & BCom Co-op
Amount	- Up to $5,000 for every student, you hire through the program. - Up to $7,000 for every student you hire that is in their first year or is from an under-represented group including women in STEM, persons with disabilities, newcomers and Indigenous students
Employer Eligibility	If you meet all these criteria, you are eligible to a VFC Intern employer: - You're an SME, start-up, social enterprise, nonprofit, or charity - Your business is located in BC, AB, MB, SK, NB, NS, PEI, or NL - You've got between 1 - 500 employees - You can provide an internship opportunity allows our motivated Interns contribute to new initiatives or add new value to your organization. - All industries welcome!
Student Eligibility	- Enrolled as a full time student at a post-secondary college or university in Canada - Can provide documentation to prove your Canadian Citizenship, Permanent Resident or Refugee Status in Canada - Eligible to work in Canada
More Information	https://www.ventureforcanada.ca/

University of Alberta Funding Program

International Student Summer Employment Program (ISSEP)

Industries: All

Program: International students (undergraduate)

Amount: Approved positions will receive a subsidy of $7.00/hour to a maximum of $4,000/position

Employer Eligibility:
- Approved positions must comply with Alberta Labour Standards and be hired at the Alberta minimum wage or higher

Note: Positions must be located within the greater Edmonton, Alberta area.

Student Eligibility:
- Students hired must be full-time University of Alberta undergraduate International students
- Must have a valid study permit that allows work in Canada
- Must have a SIN card or be eligible to get one
- Must be taking a scheduled break from classes
- Must have been registered as a full-time student in the preceding winter term
- Will be returning to school the following academic year in an undergraduate program
- Must be available to work from May to August
- In order to view the posted jobs in the ISSEP job board, you must have registered for classes in the Fall term following the summer you intended to work

More information: For more detailed information, please visit:

https://www.ualberta.ca/career-centre/programs-services/internship-work-
experience/international-student-summer-employment-program.html

or email issep.questions@ualberta.ca

*Please note this is not an exhaustive list of grant programs available.

** Please note that program details were accurate as of posting date. Careers and Work Integrated Learning accepts no responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of this content and recommends confirmation of all details with the applicable program prior to proceeding with any posting or hiring processes.

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