Open
Venture for Canada — Internship Program
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Canada
Interns for startups and SMEs
Wage Subsidies And Interns
Overview
Access wage subsidies to hire interns from Canadian universities and colleges.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Integrate new technologies
- Reduce the ecological footprint
- Develop employee skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 7,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : November 14, 2019
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
- Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Newcomers to Canada
- Youth (<40)
- Startups
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Young adults
- Indigenous peoples
- New immigrants & refugees
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Provincial
- National
Activities funded
- Providing internship placements to university or college students in a small business, startup, social enterprise, nonprofit, or charity.
- Offering hands-on work experience in entrepreneurial or innovation-related roles, such as sales, marketing, software, hardware development, finance, or operations.
- Delivering work-integrated learning opportunities that foster skill-building and work-readiness for students.
- Facilitating remote or in-person internships with structured supervision and coaching.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 4,550
Employ an HR intern to help with recruitment and staff training programs
$ 7,000
Engage two marketing interns to enhance digital content and social media presence
$ 7,000
Engage a graphic design intern to develop new branding materials
$ 7,000
Hire three IT interns to develop a new mobile application for our company
$ 5,600
Hire a financial analysis intern to support our cooperative's budgeting and financial reporting
$ 5,250
Hire an engineering intern to assist with renewable energy projects
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a small or medium-sized business, start-up, social enterprise, nonprofit, or charity.
- The company must be registered in one of the following provinces or territories: BC, AB, SK, MB, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL, YT, NT, or NU.
- The business must employ fewer than 500 people.
- The internship offered must provide a safe and supportive environment that fosters innovation or entrepreneurial skill-building opportunities.
Who is eligible?
- Startups
- Small and medium-sized businesses
- Social enterprises
- Nonprofit organizations
- Charities
Who is not eligible
- Employers based exclusively in Ontario.
- Government departments and crown corporations.
- Credit unions.
- Post-secondary institutions (universities, colleges, and polytechnics).
Eligible expenses
- Wages paid to student interns (subsidized hourly wages, minimum $18.00/hour via payroll).
Eligible geographic areas
- British Columbia (BC)
- Alberta (AB)
- Saskatchewan (SK)
- Manitoba (MB)
- Quebec (QC)
- New Brunswick (NB)
- Nova Scotia (NS)
- Prince Edward Island (PE)
- Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)
- Yukon (YT)
- Northwest Territories (NT)
- Nunavut (NU)
How to apply
1
Check if You Qualify & Apply
- Complete the preliminary information form to verify eligibility for the program.
- Receive a link to the full application upon qualification.
2
Attend an Employer Onboarding Session
- Participate in a webinar where VFC will provide guidance and recommendations for the hiring process.
- Ensure attendance is mandatory to align expectations.
3
Multiple Ways to Find a Student
- Post job opportunities on the VFC Bulletin Board.
- Alternatively, recruit students through your personal networks, ensuring they meet program criteria.
4
Hire & Request Funding
- Submit a Hiring Request form upon finding a suitable student candidate.
- Await confirmation of funding eligibility, which will be provided within 15 business days.
5
Get Paid
Receive the subsidy in two installments: the first within 45 days from the start and the second within 45 days upon completion.
6
Meanwhile, Interns get Training
Ensure the interns receive continuous VFC training during their placement.
7
Hire Again
If previously eligible, bypass initial steps for future hires, subject to conditions.
Additional information
- Interns can work in a variety of roles, including sales, marketing, software, hardware development, finance, and operations.
- Employers hiring for a second time may be eligible to hire more interns depending on their organization size.
- Interns are required to accumulate training points to be eligible for a subsequent internship placement.
- The program emphasizes diversity, supporting employers who hire students from underrepresented groups with enhanced wage subsidies.
