Closed
Source verified August 1, 2026
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)
Wage subsidies for summer youth employment
Latest source updateLast Update: May 3, 2026Latest change: Canada Summer Jobs now includes updated 2025 program results plus a detailed Apply now section with deadlines and submission options.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: May 3, 2026
Latest change: Canada Summer Jobs now includes updated 2025 program results plus a detailed Apply now section with deadlines and submission options.
Canada Summer Jobs content updated
Canada Summer Jobs now includes a new Apply now section that explains the 2025 application window, submission methods, confirmation of receipt, and what to do if information is missing. It also adds guidance for GCOS, an online fillable form, and mail or in-person submission, along with contact links and postal-disruption notes. The program results area was also updated with 2025 figures and infographic content, which changes the reported outcomes and summary statistics for the program. The core eligibility rules and funding structure appear mostly unchanged, but the visible application timeline and process instructions are significantly more detailed.
Funding available
$ 300,000
Deadline
December 11, 2025
Opened November 4, 2025
Location
Canada
Overview
Canada Summer Jobs provides wage subsidies to help Canadian not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers, and small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees create summer job opportunities for youth. Supported positions are full-time, last 6 to 16 consecutive weeks, and are designed to support skills acquisition and development.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Attract or retain talent
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 300,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 50 employees maximum
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Religious Congregations and Associations
- Business Associations
- Professional Associations
- Unions
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Create summer job opportunities for youth.
- Offer full-time jobs that run for 6 to 16 consecutive weeks.
- Support skills acquisition and development.
Documents Needed
- Completed Canada Summer Jobs Application/Agreement.
- Mandatory attestation confirming compliance with the Articles of Agreement and the accuracy of the application.
- Name, title, date, and signature of the organization’s authorized representative; if two representatives are required, both must sign.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian not-for-profit organizations.
- Public sector employers.
- Small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees.
Who is not eligible
- Members of the House of Commons and the Senate, or members of their immediate family.
- Federal Government Departments and Agencies.
- Provincial Departments and Agencies.
- Organizations that engage in partisan political activities.
- Organizations that engage in activities that directly or indirectly infringe, undermine, weaken, or restrict the exercise of human rights legally protected in Canada.
Eligible expenses
- Wages of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or refugees between the ages of 15 and 30 for a full-time job with a duration between 6-16 consecutive weeks.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Activities that take place outside of Canada, including youth teleworking outside of Canada.
- Activities that contribute to the provision of a personal service to the employer.
- Partisan political activities.
- Fundraising activities to cover salary costs for the youth participant.
- Projects or job activities that discriminate, advocate intolerance, discrimination and/or prejudice, or undermine or restrict a woman’s access to sexual and reproductive health services.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Quality assessment begins only after all eligibility requirements are met.
- Objective 1 is worth 30 points and assesses salary above minimum wage, intent to retain the youth, and the quality of the supervision plan.
- Objective 2 is worth 40 points and assesses the mentoring plan and the transferable skills the youth will develop through the work experience.
- Objective 3 is worth 30 points and assesses support for youth facing barriers to employment and alignment with national and local priorities.
- Additional points are awarded when an application supports more than one national priority or more than one local priority.
How to apply
- Access GCOS with your username and password, click Continue, select your Organization’s Name, and open Grants and Contributions Online Services.
- Retrieve the CFP identifier for the current year and click Apply under the Program: Canada Summer Jobs.
- Enter a brief and descriptive title and the total number of full-time employees working for your organization.
- Complete the application screens from the Summary of Application, including the required organization and project information.
- Open Review and Submit to review the complete summary of your application.
- Click Next to submit your application.
Processing and Agreement
- If the application is approved, representatives with signing rights receive an email and must sign the agreement electronically for it to be valid.
- The agreement is valid only when signed by the official representative(s) in accordance with the organization's by-laws or other constituting documents.
- Once the project has Active status, the employer can submit an employer and employee declaration.
- An employee with a status of Pending review requires an assessment from a Departmental representative to verify eligibility.
- When the project has Active status and at least one employer and employee declaration has been submitted, the employer can submit a payment claim and activity report.
Additional information
- Canada Summer Jobs is a program under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS).
- In 2025, the program achieved 42,800+ applications received from employers, 27,450+ employers funded, and 75,000+ jobs created.
- Applicants can consult the list of employers approved for funding.
- Applicants can also consult the list of organizations funded and annual results infographics.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) Program
What is the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)?
Canada Summer Jobs provides wage subsidies to help Canadian not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers, and small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees create summer job opportunities for youth. Supported positions are full-time, last 6 to 16 consecutive weeks, and are designed to support skills acquisition and development.
How much funding can be received?
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $300,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was December 11, 2025.
Who is eligible for the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program?
To be eligible for the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program, you must:
The applicant must be a Canadian not-for-profit organization, a public sector employer, or a small business with 50 or fewer full-time employees.
What expenses are eligible under Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)?
Create summer job opportunities for youth.
Offer full-time jobs that run for 6 to 16 consecutive weeks.
Support skills acquisition and development.
Who can I contact for more information about the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)?
You can contact Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) by email at NA-GCOS-SELSC-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca or by phone at 1-800-367-5693.
Where is the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) available?
The Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program is available across Canada.