Closed
Source verified July 23, 2026
Digital Skills Internships
Internship wage subsidy for digital skill development
Funding available
Up to 100% of project cost
Deadline
May 22, 2026
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Non-profit organizations, including volunteer organizations, community organizations, public libraries and foundations
See full eligibility
Overview
Digital Skills for Youth Program provides $10.47 million annually to eligible organizations in Canada that connect underemployed post-secondary graduates with work experience and digital skills development. It supports internship placements, training, mentoring, and digital projects through partner employers and executing organizations.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Up to 100% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 500 employees maximum
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Children and Youth Organizations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Children & youth
- Young adults
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Digital skills acquisition and development projects for youth, carried out with participants and employers
- Work experience activities for youth participants
- Employment support services such as mentoring and coaching
- Program promotion and partner mobilization activities
- Coordinating an employer network to provide funding, supervision, tracking, support, and training partnerships
Documents Needed
- Application form
- Proposal with the 4 required sections, converted to a searchable PDF and limited to 9 pages
- Letters of support from participating employers, minimum 3 and maximum 2 pages each
- The two most recent years of audited financial statements
- Proof of incorporation and legal compliance
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Non-profit organizations, including volunteer organizations, community organizations, public libraries and foundations
- Municipal administrations
- Indigenous organizations, such as band councils, tribal councils and self-governing entities
- For-profit organizations
- Public health, educational and cultural institutions, and provincial and territorial governments, institutions, agencies and Crown corporations
Eligible expenses
- Wage subsidies covering up to 100% of interns' wages and employer social contributions
- Training costs up to $4,000 per intern, taxes included
- Participant costs such as living expenses, dependent allowances, bursaries and housing, plus minor repairs or renovations to enable participation of youth facing barriers
- Administrative costs such as indirect costs, materials and supplies, staff salaries and training, communication, travel, and professional fees
- Funds distributed by the executing organization to employers for eligible activities
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Costs incurred before the effective date, after project completion, or eligible costs between the effective date and the execution date that exceed 20% of the total estimated eligible project costs
- In-kind contributions cannot cover eligible costs
- Salary costs for young trainees working within the OAS or the beneficiary organization
- OAS equipment, office supplies, and telecommunications costs
- Construction of a building or the purchase of land or a building, and other excluded costs such as fines, donations, lobbyist fees, excessive remuneration, entertainment without prior approval, and non-usual memberships
Selection criteria
- Merit criteria will be used to rank eligible projects.
- The strength of the project plan and its alignment with the CNJ objectives.
- The ability to offer equitable access to internship opportunities and to build a diverse, high-quality pool of candidates.
- The applicant's experience, financial health, human resources capacity, and governance structure.
- The applicant's ability to attract partnerships, support professional development, and maintain a strong network to mobilize and match youth with internships.
How to apply
- Complete the application form and include the required supporting documents.
- Submit the application by email to digitalskillsforyouth-competencesnumeriquespourlesjeunes@ised-isde.gc.ca.
Processing and Agreement
- Only complete applications submitted before the deadline will be reviewed; incomplete applications may be rejected.
- ISDE may request additional supporting documents for evaluation.
- Selected organizations will negotiate a contribution agreement with ISDE.
- ISDE will conduct ongoing monitoring and compliance verification, including quarterly performance reports, quarterly lists of host organizations, and participant information forms to certify the start and end of internships.
Additional information
- Applicants based in Quebec must complete the M-30 form and comply with the Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif before signing an agreement with the Government of Canada.
- The application and funded project are subject to the Access to Information Act, the Privacy Act, and the Lobbying Act.
- Applicants are expected to address conflicts of interest and to consider official languages, gender balance, Indigenous identity, racial balance, and disability balance in their activities.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Digital Skills Internships Program
What is the Digital Skills Internships?
Digital Skills for Youth Program provides $10.47 million annually to eligible organizations in Canada that connect underemployed post-secondary graduates with work experience and digital skills development. It supports internship placements, training, mentoring, and digital projects through partner employers and executing organizations.
How much funding can be received?
Digital Skills Internships Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Digital Skills Internships program?
To be eligible for the Digital Skills Internships program, you must:
The applicant must have a vast network of employers that can offer opportunities to youth interns.
The employers in that network must have legal status in Canada and be SMEs with up to 500 employees.
For-profit organizations are eligible only if their activity is non-commercial, not profit-seeking, and aligned with the program priorities.
What expenses are eligible under Digital Skills Internships?
Digital skills acquisition and development projects for youth, carried out with participants and employers
Work experience activities for youth participants
Employment support services such as mentoring and coaching
Program promotion and partner mobilization activities
Coordinating an employer network to provide funding, supervision, tracking, support, and training partnerships
Who can I contact for more information about the Digital Skills Internships?
You can contact Communautique by email at digitalskillsforyouth-competencesnumeriquespourlesjeunes@ised-isde.gc.ca.
Where is the Digital Skills Internships available?
The Digital Skills Internships program is available across Canada.
Is the Digital Skills Internships a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Digital Skills Internships is a Wage Subsidies And Interns