Apply for funding up to 75% to hire young people for summer jobs

Neil Ellis, Bay of Quinte MP

Employers can now apply to get funding to hire a young Canadian this summer.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on young Canadians who are trying to find work,” notes Bay of Quinte MP Neil Ellis. “Employers are also facing challenges when recruiting and hiring workers while adapting to the realities of the pandemic.”

Ellis, on behalf of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced the employer application period for Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2021 is officially open.

This year, up to 120,000 job opportunities will be available to young Canadians – a 50 per cent increase from the 80,000 CSJ opportunities approved in 2020.

“With this significant increase, more employers and youth will be able to apply and benefit from the program,” said Ellis.

The employer application period for CSJ 2021 opened Dec. 21 and will close on Friday, Jan. 29.

Not-for-profit organizations and public- and private-sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees in the Bay of Quinte can now apply for funding to hire a young Canadian.

Similar temporary flexibilities introduced for CSJ 2020 will be applied this year to help small businesses operate. These include:
– a wage subsidy, so that private and public sector employers can receive up to 75 per cent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee (not-for-profit organizations will continue to receive 100 per cent);
– an extension to the end date for employment to Feb. 26, 2022; and
– allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis.

CSJ provides paid opportunities for youth between the ages of 15 and 30 to develop and improve their skills in the not-for-profit, small business and public sectors.

“The announcement builds on the commitments made in both the Fall Economic Statement and the Speech from the Throne to support young Canadians—namely to create more paid work opportunities next year and to ensure Canadian businesses have the supports they need to get through the pandemic,” said Ellis.

Employers interested in applying for CSJ 2021 funding are encouraged to open an account on the secure Government Grants and Contributions Online Services portal, a one-time process that will allow them to apply for this and other funding opportunities.

“This program has helped so many young people in the Bay of Quinte over the years. Small businesses, the not-for-profit sector and public sector employers continue to play a crucial role in the success of this program,” said Ellis. “Creating more job opportunities for young Canadians has never been more important than now. By working together, we will make a difference for young people everywhere and work toward building a stronger Canada.”

• CSJ is part of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which helps youth, particularly those facing barriers, to gain the skills and experience they need to successfully transition to the labour market.
• The national priorities for CSJ 2021 reflect Canada’s diverse population and evolving needs. This year’s national priorities support:
– organizations that provide services to or intend to hire youth who self-identify as being part of underrepresented groups or as having additional barriers to entering or staying in the labour market;
– opportunities offered by organizations that provide services to persons with disabilities or intend to hire youth with disabilities;
– opportunities for youth in rural areas, remote communities, or official language minority communities;
– opportunities offered by organizations that focus on protecting and conserving the environment; and
– opportunities offered by employers impacted by COVID-19, in particular small businesses, in recognition of their contribution to the creation of jobs.

Not-for-profit employers can receive funding for up to 100 percent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage and mandatory employment-related costs. Small businesses with 50 or fewer employees and public-sector employers can receive funding for up to 75 per cent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage.

Since 2016, the Government of Canada has increased investments in Canada Summer Jobs—more than doubling the number of jobs created annually, from 35,000 to over 79,000. In 2020, the government invested $320.45 million in CSJ, adding an additional $62 million to increase the number of jobs for youth to 80,000.