Youth Employment and Skills Program

Eligibility for the Youth Employment and Skills Program requires that employers meet specific criteria regarding their organizational profile and the employment opportunities they can offer.

• The employer must be an agricultural-related organization capable of providing agriculture career-related work experiences and skills in Canada.
• The employer must be a legal entity capable of entering into legally binding agreements.
• The employer is responsible for hiring participants and verifying their eligibility for the Youth Employment and Skills Program activities.
• Wages and benefits must be paid in a timely manner and according to provincial/territorial labour laws and regulations.
• Wages must align with industry standards for the employee's region and be commensurate with their training and work experience.
• The employer must hire the employee under their organization's payroll and deduct the required source deductions.
• The employer cannot be both employer and employee in the project (e.g., a sole proprietor cannot hire themselves).

Who is eligible?

Eligible applicants for the Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP) include agricultural-related organizations that can provide agriculture career-related work experiences and skills to youth within Canada. Furthermore, eligible employers must be legal entities that can enter into binding agreements, are responsible for hiring and verifying the eligibility of participants, and must comply with relevant labor laws and regulations. Employers hiring a youth facing barriers, Indigenous individuals or organizations are given priority and may receive enhanced funding support.

Who is not eligible

This program has constraints that exclude certain individuals and entities. The restrictions ensure the program benefits target eligible youth and employers effectively within the agricultural sector.

• Individuals holding temporary resident status, such as those on work or study visas.
• Family members of the employer for relocation, travel, or accommodation expenses.
• Sole proprietors hiring themselves for a project.
• Unauthorized contracted employees for wage claims.
• Employers not engaging in agricultural-related work experiences.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers specific expenses related to hiring and supporting youth under the program.

• Salaries and wages for eligible employees, in accordance with industry standards and regional norms.
• Social benefits including health benefits, vacation pay, and employer's contributions to CPP, EI, QPP, QPIP, CNESST, and the Health Services Fund.
• Pre-approved barrier-related expenses for youth facing employment barriers, covered at 80% up to a maximum of $5,000. Eligible expenses include critical transportation, relocation, assistance with dependents, accommodation needs, and accessibility equipment/technology.
• Pre-approved relocation costs for non-barrier youth at 50% funding level, up to a maximum of $5,000.

Eligible geographic areas

Eligible geographical areas for the Youth Employment and Skills Program are not explicitly mentioned in the provided information, as the program appears to be open to agricultural-related organizations across Canada. Applicants are possibly influenced by the requirement to comply with Canadian standards and regulations only.

Evaluation and Selection Criteria for this grant are as follows: - The extent to which the application demonstrates a clear understanding of the project goals and objectives. - The potential impact of the project on the youth employed and the community. - The relevance of the project to addressing barriers faced by youth participants. - The feasibility and sustainability of the project. - The quality of the work plan and timeline for project implementation. - The budget and cost-effectiveness of the project. - The capacity of the applicant to successfully carry out the project. These criteria will be used to evaluate and select projects for funding under the Youth Employment and Skills Program.

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

• Priority for the 2025–2026 program year will be given to Indigenous applicants, followed by all other first applications.
• Applications from Quebec-based organizations need to comply with the Province of Quebec's M-30 Act.
• All public information documents related to the project must be available in both official languages if required under the Official Languages Act.
• Confidential information in submissions must be clearly identified to ensure its protection as per the Access to Information Act.
• Funding decisions consider public policy and public interest considerations beyond simply meeting eligibility criteria.