How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)?

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) is funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), Government of Canada

What are Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)'s eligibility criterias?

Employers must be from not-for-profit organizations, public sector institutions, or private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees. Employers must have implemented health and safety practices, and ensure work environment policies are free of harassment and discrimination. The organization must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency and have a CRA payroll deductions program account prior to hiring youth through the CSJ program.

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)

Last Update: May 2, 2025

Canada

Wage subsidies for quality summer work experiences for young Canadians aged 15 to 30

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) at a glance

Eligible Funding

Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : November 19, 2024
Closing date : December 19, 2024

Financing Type

Wage Subsidies And Interns

Eligible Industries

All industries

Grant Providers

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Government of Canada

Status

Closed

Overview of the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program

The Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program provides wage subsidies to employers to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. Eligible employers include not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees. The program aims to help young Canadians develop skills and gain paid work experience to facilitate their transition into the labour market.

Financing terms and conditions

Not-for-profit employers can receive funding for up to 100% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage and all associated mandatory employment-related costs (MERCs).
Public and private sector employers are eligible to receive funding for up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage; no reimbursement for MERCs.
The CSJ-funded job duration must be between 6 and 16 consecutive weeks, with eligible costs corresponding to a full-time schedule (30 to 40 hours per week).
The maximum advance available is 75% of the total agreement value for projects $100,000 or less, and 50% for projects over $100,000, upon submission of the required declaration forms for each youth.

Eligible projects & activities

Hire youth with disabilities as outreach coordinators to organize and deliver community events.
Engage youth with disabilities at assisted-living facilities in areas such as arts, crafts, nutrition, and music.
Recruit underrepresented youth, including Black and racialized youth, as camp counselors to lead activities and support campers.
Employ youth in rural areas to organize and execute summer camps under the supervision of a Recreation Coordinator.
Provide opportunities for youth as baker's assistants, gaining professional trade experience in a bakery setting.
Involve youth in supporting research and development activities at environmental conservation organizations.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 32,000

Run a summer tech camp teaching coding to youth

$ 25,000

Develop a youth summer theatre program for skill growth

$ 28,000

Establish a summer garden program promoting urban agriculture

Eligibility criteria of the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program

The applicant must be a not-for-profit organization, a public sector employer, or a private sector employer with 50 or fewer full-time employees across Canada.
The organization must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and possess a payroll deductions program account (RP number) prior to hiring youth through the program.
The application must propose to provide full-time work experience (30 to 40 hours per week) within Canada for a duration of 6 to 16 consecutive weeks, between April 22 and August 31, 2024.
The employer must offer a safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory work environment and implement appropriate health and safety and anti-harassment measures.
The project must be submitted before the application deadline, be complete, and meet all mandatory requirements as outlined by Service Canada.

Who is eligible?

Not-for-profit community, charitable, or voluntary organizations.
Indigenous not-for-profit organizations.
Unions and sector councils.
Public community colleges, vocational schools, and public degree-granting universities.
Municipal governments and agencies, including regional legislative bodies and departments.
School boards and elementary and secondary institutions.
Health and public educational institutions and libraries.
Private sector entities with 50 or fewer full-time employees.
Private health and educational institutions.

Who is not eligible

Federal government departments and agencies.
Provincial government departments and agencies.
Members of the House of Commons and the Senate or their immediate family members.
Organizations that engage in partisan political activities.
Organizations that directly or indirectly infringe, undermine, weaken, or restrict legally protected human rights in Canada.

Eligible expenses

Wage contribution for not-for-profit employers up to 100% of the provincial or territorial adult minimum hourly wage.
Wage contribution for public and private sector employers up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage.
Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs) for not-for-profit employers including Employment Insurance premiums, Canada or Quebec Pension Plan contributions, Vacation pay, and Workers’ Compensation premiums or equivalent liability insurance.
Additional funding for overhead costs for accommodating youth with disabilities, such as personal tools, adaptations, and professional support services like visual language interpreters.

Eligible geographic areas

All provinces and territories within Canada

Eligibility criteria of the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program

Provide quality work experiences for youth, assessed on the following factors:
The job(s) provides a salary above the provincial or territorial minimum wage. (10 points)
Intention to retain the youth as an employee following the end of the CSJ agreement. (5 points)
The youth will receive supervision, including a detailed supervision plan. (15 points)
Provide youth with the opportunity to develop and improve their skills, assessed on the following factors:
The youth will receive mentoring, with a comprehensive mentoring plan. (15 points)
Skills development opportunities are identified. (30 points)
Respond to national and local priorities to improve access to the labour market for youth facing unique barriers:
Support for National Priorities. (15 points)
Support for Local Priorities. (10 points)

How to apply to the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program

Review Eligibility and Program Guidelines

Read the Canada Summer Jobs Applicant Guide and Articles of Agreement thoroughly.
Understand the program's objectives and assess whether your organization and project meet the eligibility requirements.

Gather Required Information

Prepare your organization’s details such as legal and common names, CRA business number, and contact information.
Compile information about the job positions, including job titles, responsibilities, and the skills youth will develop.

Complete Application Form

Fill out the application form via Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) or the online fillable application on the program website.
Provide detailed responses for the Supervision and Mentoring plans, skills development opportunities, and wage information.
Check the attestation box to confirm understanding and agreement with program criteria.

Submit Application

Submit the completed application by January 10, 2024, through GCOS or the online fillable form.
Ensure receipt of a confirmation number upon submission of the application.

Await Response

Monitor your email for updates from Service Canada about the status of your application, which will start in April 2024.

Additional information

Employers and participants funded through the program must complete feedback questionnaires as part of program follow-up.
All CSJ-funded positions are automatically posted on Job Bank for increased visibility to youth job seekers.
An employer's history with the program, such as past financial irregularities or project compliance, may affect future application eligibility.
Successful applicants may be subject to inspections or audits as part of program monitoring.