How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 85% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Ambition-Compétences — Training for resilience and competitiveness in employment

Q: What are Ambition-Compétences — Training for resilience and competitiveness in employment's eligibility criterias?

Employers must be private for-profit companies, cooperatives, or non-profit organizations located in one of the defined sectors with specific NAICS codes: Primary (codes starting with 11 or 21), Manufacturing (codes starting with 31, 32, or 33), or Logistics (codes starting with 48 or 49). Eligible applicants must not be municipalities, government departments, or entities funded by more than 50% public funds, unless part of certain sectors like the social economy and community action. Employers should not have unresolved debts with the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity, nor be engaged in controversial activities or subject to a labor dispute.

Last Update: June 4, 2025

QC, Canada

Enhances workforce skills amid economic challenges

Ambition-Compétences — Training for resilience and competitiveness in employment at a glance

Eligible Funding

Up to 85% of project cost

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing
Transportation and warehousing

Grant Providers

Commission des partenaires du marché du travail (CPMT)

Status

Open

Overview of the Ambition-Compétences — Training for resilience and competitiveness in employment program

The "Ambition-Compétences — Training for Resilience and Competitiveness in Employment" program provides funding to enhance workforce skills in companies affected by tariffs, with projects eligible for up to $20,000 per company. This initiative supports training development, needs analysis, and the updating of existing training to boost business productivity.

Financing terms and conditions

The analysis of needs and the development or adaptation of training is reimbursed at 100% of the actual costs.
The diffusion of the training, including participant salaries, is funded at 85%.
Administrative expenses related to the project are covered at 100%.
A maximum average grant per targeted business is set at $20,000.
Reimbursement for salaries: maximum of $25 per hour for participants during training (after applying the reimbursement rate).
Professional fees for consultants and trainers: capped at $150 per hour.
Reimbursement of actual costs for pedagogical material, whether virtual or real.
Travel, meal, and accommodation expenses follow the Treasury Board's rates.
The management fees for the project are limited to a maximum of 10% of the total subsidy amount.
Taxes, where applicable, are reimbursed on actual costs.

Eligible projects & activities

Identification and analysis of training needs for businesses and workforce.
Development of new training programs.
Adaptation or updating of existing training programs.
Delivery of a structured training program.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 40,000

Developing a sustainable urban farming initiative

$ 48,000

Implementing a digital literacy program for seniors

$ 68,000

Creating accessible art spaces for diverse communities

$ 120,000

Upgrading renewable energy infrastructure in remote areas

$ 32,000

Launching a tech-savvy recycling program in local schools

$ 56,000

Digitizing historical archives for public accessibility

Eligibility criteria of the Ambition-Compétences — Training for resilience and competitiveness in employment program

The project must involve at least two companies and meet the needs of multiple workers.
The project should aim to improve or acquire new skills in participants, with varied eligible activities.
The project must target measurable objectives consistent with those of the call for projects and the program.
The project must provide accountability showing the achievement of objectives and the impact on participants and companies.
Eligible promoters must have a Quebec company number and be a permanent group of organizations.
Eligible promoters include employer associations, legally constituted worker associations, parity committees, sectoral workforce committees, order givers with an accredited training service, franchisors, recognized training mutuals, and Indigenous organizations working in employability and skills development.
Eligible employers include private for-profit companies, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations.
Employers must operate in one of the three following sectors: Primary (NAICS codes starting with 11 or 21), Manufacturing (NAICS codes starting with 31, 32, or 33), or Logistics (NAICS codes starting with 48 or 49).

Who is eligible?

For-profit private companies located in the primary, manufacturing, or logistics sectors, identified by specific NAICS codes.
Cooperatives operating in eligible sectors.
Non-profit organizations active in eligible fields.

Who is not eligible

Municipalities.
Ministries, organizations, and state corporations of the Quebec government.
Ministries, organizations, and state corporations of the Canadian government.
Companies or organizations funded more than 50% by public funds, with certain exceptions (e.g., sectors under the social economy, culture, and certain long-term care centers).
Political parties or associations.
Companies or organizations with an outstanding debt to the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity, unless there is a signed repayment agreement.
Companies or organizations engaged in controversial activities that would be unreasonable to associate with the Ministry or CPMT.
Companies or organizations whose activities are halted due to a labor dispute (strike or lock-out).
Companies or organizations subject to the French Language Charter that have not obtained their francization certificate.
Employers in a non-eligible sector.

Eligible expenses

Needs analysis and development or adaptation of new training at 100%.
Delivery of training, including participant wages, at 85%.
Expenses related to project administration at 100%.
Base salary of participants in the context of a pilot project, maximum of $25/hour.
Professional fees for consultants, trainers, maximum of $150/hour.
Base salary of trade experts, maximum of $150/hour.
Costs related to the development or adaptation of teaching materials at actual cost.
Travel, meal, and accommodation expenses according to the Treasury Board rates.
Updating training materials, actual cost.
Base salary of the internal trainer at actual cost.
Teaching materials at actual cost.
Room rental at actual cost.
Equipment rental at actual cost.
Classification test fees at actual cost.
Salary (hourly rate) of the internal resource assigned to the project, actual cost.
Promotional expenses at actual cost.
Reimbursement of taxes when applicable, actual cost.
Project management fees, maximum of 10% of the grant amount.

Eligible geographic areas

Companies located in Quebec.

Eligibility criteria of the Ambition-Compétences — Training for resilience and competitiveness in employment program

Clarity and feasibility of the project in relation to the objectives and expectations of the call for projects.
Accountability that demonstrates the achievement of objectives and the impact on the participating individuals and businesses.
Ability to meet the needs of multiple workers from at least two businesses.
Proposal of concrete measures for improving or acquiring skills for the participants.

How to apply to the Ambition-Compétences — Training for resilience and competitiveness in employment program

Identification of the promoter

Make sure you are an eligible promoter with a business number from Quebec and are a permanent grouping of organizations.
Confirm that you are among the eligible groupings such as employer associations, sectoral workforce committees, etc.

Project Preparation

Design a project involving at least two companies with measurable objectives.
Plan the necessary training steps and the structure of the project.
Prepare the required documents, including the list of participating companies with their NAICS codes.

Creation of the request

Fill out the application form that will be sent.
Include an accountability report and provide documents to demonstrate the project's impact.

Submission of the application

Send your request by email to the address: partenaires@mess.gouv.qc.ca.

Follow-up on the request

Regularly check your email for communications from the ministry following the submission.

Additional information

An example of a project that might be funded is one offering training to sawmills in response to U.S. tariffs on softwood lumber, which includes 80 participants from 10 businesses.
The aim is to enable companies to maintain their workforce while adjusting production in light of tariffs, potentially offering improved future performance.
The program is primarily targeted at structured training activities and skills upgrading, excluding self-directed learning or informal workshops.
Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, subject to fund availability or the end of imposed tariffs.
The maximum average subsidy per company is expected to be $20,000 during the grant review process.

Contact Commission des partenaires du marché du travail (CPMT)

partenaires@mess.gouv.qc.ca

Apply to this program

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