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Source verified September 20, 2026
EHRC — Discovering Potential
Youth placements in the electricity industry
Latest source updateLast Update: September 20, 2026Latest change: EHRC’s Discovering Potential page now shows the program as active and currently accepting applications for new youth positions beginning on or after April 1, 2026, while the funding page says the program is at capacity and closed for new applications.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: September 20, 2026
Latest change: EHRC’s Discovering Potential page now shows the program as active and currently accepting applications for new youth positions beginning on or after April 1, 2026, while the funding page says the program is at capacity and closed for new applications.
Discovering Potential program status and eligibility updated
EHRC’s Discovering Potential program page now shows the program as active, with applications for new youth positions beginning on or after April 1, 2026, and it now includes links to apply for funding and download the 2026 overview. The funding page also says the program is at capacity and currently closed for new applications. The eligibility language was revised so employer organizations may qualify under one or more listed criteria, and the program now explicitly says apprenticeships and short-term or seasonal roles are not eligible as of April 1, 2026; retroactive applications are still not accepted. The employment section was also reorganized to state that eligible placements must meet one or both listed criteria and that placements must be completed by March 31, 2028.
Funding available
$ 22,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Firms whose primary activity is the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity.
See full eligibility
Overview
Discovering Potential is an EHRC program for employers in Canada’s electricity industry that provides subsidies of up to $22,000 per participant to support youth placements. It funds internships and on-the-job training opportunities in STEM and related fields, helping young workers build career skills and experience.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Implement environmental initiatives
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 22,000 $
- Up to 75% 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
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Newcomers to Canada
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
- Environment
- Employment and Training
Target groups
- Children & youth
- Young adults
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Rural / Remote communities
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Municipal
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Relevant and meaningful internships or on-the-job training opportunities in the electricity industry.
- Internships that provide youth participants with meaningful employment in electricity or natural resources and help them attain career skills and experience.
- Training opportunities that support the success of young workers facing barriers to employment.
Documents Needed
- Participant eligibility form
- Employment contract
- Proof of employment and start date
- Formal Learning Plan
- Monthly claims and progress reports
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Firms whose primary activity is the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity.
- Sector support, including renewables, in R & D, business development, energy efficiency, fuel switching, clean energy technology, smart grid, energy storage, and sustainable development of non-renewable resources.
- Firms engaged in the manufacturing of equipment or the provision of services necessary for generation, transmission, or distribution of electricity.
- Firms incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
- Indigenous organizations and groups; provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments and their departments and agencies.
Eligible expenses
- Wage costs for the participant
- Training costs for the participant
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- The wages/training costs for this position are not funded by another federally-funded program.
- As of April 1st, 2026, apprenticeships and short-term or seasonal roles are not eligible for this program.
- Retroactive applications are not accepted.
Eligible geographic areas
- The North: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
- Rural communities with population fewer than 5,000 people and density fewer than 400 people per square kilometer.
- Remote communities with at least 10 dwellings and no year-round road access.
Selection criteria
- EHRC is currently prioritizing applications for Women in STEM positions.
How to apply
- The employer fills out an online application for the placements they would like to be funded.
- The participant completes an online eligibility form sent to their email.
- If you have applied for wage subsidy funding through EHRC before, select one of the three options and Funding for Futures will determine the program of eligibility for you.
Processing and Agreement
- EHRC reviews the participant’s eligibility form after submission.
- If the placement is approved, a contract is created between the participant, the employer, and EHRC.
- The employer and participant create a Learning Plan after the contract is signed.
- The employer submits monthly financial claims and progress reports for each participant.
- At the end of the placement, the employer and participant complete evaluation surveys.
- The placement is not marked complete until both evaluation surveys are successfully completed.
Additional information
- Additional funding may be available for opportunities that support Indigenous youth, participants with disabilities, or participants in the North, rural or remote communities.
- The North includes the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the EHRC — Discovering Potential Program
What is the EHRC — Discovering Potential?
Discovering Potential is an EHRC program for employers in Canada’s electricity industry that provides subsidies of up to $22,000 per participant to support youth placements. It funds internships and on-the-job training opportunities in STEM and related fields, helping young workers build career skills and experience.
How much funding can be received?
EHRC — Discovering Potential Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $22,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the EHRC — Discovering Potential program?
To be eligible for the EHRC — Discovering Potential program, you must:
Firms whose primary activity is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, firms supporting the sector, or firms engaged in manufacturing equipment or providing services necessary for electricity generation, transmission or distribution.
Firms incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Indigenous organizations and groups, and provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments and their departments and agencies.
What expenses are eligible under EHRC — Discovering Potential?
Relevant and meaningful internships or on-the-job training opportunities in the electricity industry.
Internships that provide youth participants with meaningful employment in electricity or natural resources and help them attain career skills and experience.
Training opportunities that support the success of young workers facing barriers to employment.
Who can I contact for more information about the EHRC — Discovering Potential?
You can contact Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) by email at verroen@ehrc.ca or by phone at 343-643-2387.
Where is the EHRC — Discovering Potential available?
The EHRC — Discovering Potential program is available across Canada.