Funding to Hire Students

Wage Subsidy Information Banner

Please note: this is intended as a resource. Western does not endorse these funding sources and cannot guarantee this information is totally accurate. We encourage you to visit the individual websites for more information.

To hire Undergraduate Students

Canada Summer Jobs

Provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for students. Not-for-profit employers are eligible for up to 100% of the provincial/territorial adult minimum hourly wage. Public and private-sector employers are eligible for up to 50% of the provincial/territorial adult minimum hourly wage.

Funding: Canada Summer Jobs – Overview - Canada.ca

NSERC - Colleges and Universities

$4,500 non-repayable grant for private companies that hire undergraduate researchers

  • Short-term (i.e. 6 months) research and development funding grants through NSERC Engage
  • Long-term (i.e. 5 years) research and development funding grants through NSERC CRD

http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/rpp-pp/crd-rdc_eng.asp

Ontario Co-Op Tax Credit

Maximum credit for each work placement is $3,000 with minimum employment period of 10 weeks up to a maximum of four months.

Dependant on company profits, # of employees and allocation of the tax code.

https://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/credit/cetc/

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC)

10% refundable tax credit, up to $300,000 per year.

For Ontario corporations that hire students for scientific research and experimental development.

http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/credit/oitc/index.html

Science Horizons Youth Internship Program

If your business or not-for-profit organization undertakes environmental science projects, you could receive up to $12,000 to hire an intern for at least six months.

About the Science Horizons Youth Internship Program - Canada.ca

Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

This program is Government of Canada funded and delivered by 9 partner organizations who represent key industries and sectors in Canada. Together, they partner with colleges, universities, polytechnics and CEGEPS to provide wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements.

Learn more about SWPP 

To hire Graduate Students

Canada Summer Jobs

Provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for students. Not-for-profit employers are eligible for up to 100% of the provincial/territorial adult minimum hourly wage. Public and private-sector employers are eligible for up to 50% of the provincial/territorial adult minimum hourly wage.

Funding: Canada Summer Jobs - Overview - Canada.ca

MITACS - Accelerate Ontario (Masters & PhD Students)

Each 4-month internship project receives $15,000 in direct funding, with the partner organization and Mitacs each providing $7,500

https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/accelerate 

Ontario Co-Op Tax Credit

Maximum credit for each work placement is $3,000 with minimum employment period of 10 weeks up to a maximum of four months.

Dependant on company profits, # of employees and allocation of the tax code.

https://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/credit/cetc/

Science Horizons Youth Internship Program

If your business or not-for-profit organization undertakes environmental science projects, you could receive up to $12,000 to hire an intern for at least six months.

About the Science Horizons Youth Internship Program - Canada.ca

Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

This program is Government of Canada funded and delivered by 9 partner organizations who represent key industries and sectors in Canada. Together, they partner with colleges, universities, polytechnics and CEGEPS to provide wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements.

Learn more about SWPP 

To hire New Graduates

Science Horizons

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/science-technology/managing/horizons-youth-internship-program.html

STIP (Science & Technology Internship Program) Green Jobs

Are you an organization looking to attract and retain highly skilled talent? Learn more about the STIP Green Jobs wage subsidy program that will help you find new graduates seeking work experience in: Mining and Minerals, Energy, Forestry or Earth Sciences. Access funding of up to 80% of each intern’s salary, to a maximum of $10,000 for a full-time, 4-month internship that supports a motivated and qualified new graduate! 

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/climate-change/canadas-green-future/green-jobs/87 

Talent Edge Internship Program

OCE provides at $10,000 contribution for a project-based internship with a clearly-defined R&D component.

https://www.oc-innovation.ca/programs/talentedge-internship-program-tip-ngnp/

Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG)

The Canada-Ontario Job Grant was created to provide training to Canadian employees in order to improve their employability and in-demand skillsets. COJG offers non-repayable grant contributions of 66% of training costs (ie. course, exams, textbooks, software resources, etc.) up to a max limit of $10k per trainee.

http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/eopg/cojg/

Connect Canada Internship

Supports the hiring of an intern in any research field, including natural sciences, engineering, economy, social science, health, environment and ethics by matching up to $5000 of the partnership company’s contribution. The company will tap into the intern’s skillset in order to solve an R&D problem over a 4-6 month project.

http://www.mentorworks.ca/what-we-offer/government-funding/human-resources-and-training/connect-canada/

IRAP Youth Employment Program

Designed to assist funding of hiring young Canadian post-secondary graduates. Graduate can be applied to most areas from business development to technical to customer service/administration. Amount: Max support of $15k (80% of salary) for a period of 6 to 12 months. Fulltime hire for graduate student under the age of 31 years.

https://nrc.canada.ca/en/support-technology-innovation/nrc-irap-funding-hire-young-graduates

Other

Canadian Small Business Financing Act (Federal Loan product)

Up to $500,000 to help new businesses get started and established firms make improvements and expand and stimulate economic growth and create jobs for Canadians

https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/csbfp-pfpec.nsf/eng/h_la02855.html

Digital Media Tax Credit

40% of eligible Ontario labour expenditures and eligible marketing and distribution to create "non-specified" interactive digital media products in Ontario.

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/corporations/provincial-territorial-corporation-tax/ontario-provincial-corporation-tax/ontario-refundable-media-tax-credits/ontario-interactive-digital-media-tax-credit.html 

EODF - Eastern Ontario Development Fund (Job creation component - Cobourg to Ottawa)

Supports projects that create jobs, encourage innovation, and attract private sector investment Business stream: up to 15% of eligible project costs for a maximum grant of $1.5 million (Successful applicants will need to contribute at least 50% of total costs).

Regional stream: up to 50% of eligible project costs for a maximum grant of up to $1.5 million (Successful applicants will need to contribute at least 35% of total costs).

https://www.ontario.ca/page/eastern-ontario-development-fund 

FedDev funding options

FedDev Ontario delivers programming to help create, retain and grow businesses, cultivate partnerships and build strong communities. This will support a strong southern Ontario economy and position the region to compete globally.

http://www.feddevontario.gc.ca/eic/site/723.nsf/eng/h_00122.html

Mentor Works provides online resources at no cost. You can visit their website for a list of funding sources that your company is specifically eligible for.

OCE Voucher Programs

Eligible Ontario companies receive one of four vouchers, which is a credit, that they can redeem for expertise and resources from Ontario universities, colleges and research hospitals to advance productivity and commercialization.

https://www.oc-innovation.ca/programs/voucher-for-innovation-and-productivity-vip/ 

Ontario Exporters Fund

https://www.ontario.ca/page/financial-help-and-resources-exporters

Ontario Power Authority (OPA) - Grid Innovation Fund

Focused on the development of innovative conservation initiatives and technologies. Maximum funding support differs for various types of projects.

http://www.ieso.ca/en/Get-Involved/Funding-Programs/Grid-Innovation-Fund/Overview

Rural Economic Development Fund (RED) (50% Grant)

Ontario’s Rural Economic Development (RED) program provides cost-share funding to support activities that create strong rural communities in Ontario. 

Economic Diversification and Competitiveness Stream: up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $150,000.

Strategic Economic Infrastructure Stream: up to 30% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $250,000.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/rural-economic-development-program