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Source verified July 8, 2026
Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program
Wage subsidies for electricity-sector student placements
Latest source updateLast Update: April 9, 2026Latest change: Empowering Futures now lists a lower maximum incentive and revised eligibility language for students and participating employers.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: April 9, 2026
Latest change: Empowering Futures now lists a lower maximum incentive and revised eligibility language for students and participating employers.
Empowering Futures terms updated
Empowering Futures now states a maximum incentive of up to $5,000 per placement instead of $7,000, and the eligibility wording has been updated for participants and employers. The page also adds a 2026 alignment requirement for the work placement and changes the Net New rule so it applies only to medium and large businesses with 100+ full-time employees as of April 1, 2026. The application steps, contact details, and overall program scope appear largely unchanged in the visible content.
Funding available
$ 7,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
Empowering Futures is EHRC's student work placement initiative for Canada's electricity industry, offering wage subsidies of up to $5,000 to employers. It supports new work-integrated learning opportunities for students in full- or part-time placements tied to their studies.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Attract or retain talent
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Newcomers to Canada
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Work-integrated learning placements for students
- Co-op placements
- Internships
- Work placements related to studies
Documents Needed
- Employer application form
- Participant eligibility form
- Learning plan
- Placement contract
- Supporting employment proof
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian-owned companies
- Electricity generation, transmission and distribution firms
- Companies supporting the electricity sector
- Manufacturers and service providers for the electricity sector
Who is not eligible
- Post-secondary institutions
Eligible expenses
- Student wages for approved placements
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Wages already funded by another federally funded program
- Retroactive applications
- Placements based on friends or family members without an approved nepotism policy
- Placements longer than one year
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Net new placement count compared with the employer's baseline
- Student eligibility and placement fit
- Placement meets program duration requirements
- Application completeness and required information provided
How to apply
- Step 1
- Create an account on the online platform.
- Enter the required organization information.
- Step 2
- Submit the funding application for the placement.
- Step 3
- Have the participant complete the eligibility form.
- Step 4
- Wait for EHRC review and approval.
- Sign the contract and create the learning plan.
- Submit monthly claims for reimbursement.
Processing and Agreement
- The employer submits the application.
- The participant submits the eligibility form.
- EHRC reviews the application within 10 business days.
- If approved, the employer, participant, and EHRC sign a contract.
- The employer and participant create a learning plan, then monthly claims and end-of-placement evaluations follow.
Additional information
- Applicants can apply without having selected a student first.
- Employers may submit up to 20 requests for the same job title and category.
- Monthly claims must be supported by pay stubs.
- Evaluation surveys are required at the end of the placement.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program Program
What is the Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program?
Empowering Futures is EHRC's student work placement initiative for Canada's electricity industry, offering wage subsidies of up to $5,000 to employers. It supports new work-integrated learning opportunities for students in full- or part-time placements tied to their studies.
How much funding can be received?
Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses, capped at $7,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program program?
To be eligible for the Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program program, you must:
The employer must be a Canadian-owned company in the electricity sector or supporting it.
The participant must be a post-secondary student legally allowed to work in Canada.
The placement must be a full- or part-time work-integrated learning opportunity for a student in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts, or business program, tied to studies and aligned with the student's post-secondary education program as of April 1, 2026.
What expenses are eligible under Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program?
Work-integrated learning placements for students
Co-op placements
Internships
Work placements related to studies
Who can I contact for more information about the Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program?
You can contact Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) by email at turnin@ehrc.ca or by phone at 613-235-5540 ext. 243.
Where is the Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program available?
The Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Empowering Futures — Student Work Placement Program is a Wage Subsidies And Interns