Tips for Navigating the Canada Summer Jobs Application

The Canada Summer Jobs program is a government-funded initiative aimed at helping young people, particularly students, gain work experience during the summer months. This program provides funding to employers to create job opportunities for youth aged 15 to 30 years, particularly those facing barriers to employment. Employers can be from private, not-for-profits, and public sector organizations. The jobs created through this program are intended to be quality work experiences, offering opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills in areas such as customer service, serving/hosting/busing, office administration, technical skills, marketing, finance, culinary/kitchen, grounds maintenance, health and safety and so much more!

The CSJ program objectives are as follows:

• Provide quality work experiences for youth
• Respond to national and local priorities to improve access to the labour market for youth who face unique barriers.
• Provide opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills.
• Youth investment – by paying youth above the minimum wage in your province or territory, or by committing to retain the youth as an employee beyond the period of the CSJ Agreement.
• Supervision – by demonstrating how you will support the youth during their work placement through observing, evaluating, and providing feedback on job performance.
• Mentoring – by demonstrating how your guidance will support the professional and career-development of the youth.
• Skills development – by providing opportunities for youth to develop the skills needed for employment.
• Health and safety practices – by demonstrating that you have implemented measures to ensure that your work environment is safe.
• Employers are responsible for staying informed of provincial guidance on essential services and municipal, provincial and federal public health information, and following all necessary local health guidance.
• Work environment policies and practices – by demonstrating that you have implemented measures to provide a work environment free of harassment and discrimination, including non-discriminatory hiring practices.

The program aligns with national and local priorities, such as supporting community services or focusing on specific sectors like tourism or agriculture. The government sets particular priorities and criteria for the program to address current economic and social needs each year.

Key Points to Remember:

When applying to the Canada Summer Jobs program, it’s crucial to keep the following key points in mind to enhance the chances of your application being successful:

1. Prepare Before you get Started

Review the Canada Summer Jobs Articles of Agreement and Applicant Guide. You’ll need your organization’s legal name, business number, and other information. You should also decide who will represent your organization and who is authorized to sign the application.

2. Be Clear and Concise

Make sure your application is complete, clear, and concise. Provide all the required information, follow the specified format, and clearly explain how your proposed jobs meet the program objectives. A well-structured application helps in the efficient assessment and increases the likelihood of approval. You should also be clear about your organization, health and safety practices, work environment policies, supervision and mentoring plans, and skills development plans.

3. Inclusivity and Accessibility

Demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that jobs are accessible to all youth, especially those facing barriers to employment. This includes having a diverse hiring plan that supports underrepresented groups. The purpose of this priority is to provide opportunities for youth that are underrepresented in the labour market, particularly Black and other racialized youth, Indigenous youth, persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

4. Demonstrate Eligibility

Ensure that your organization and the jobs you propose meet the program’s eligibility criteria. This includes being a part of the private sector, not-for-profit organizations, or public sector and offering quality work experiences for youth aged 15 to 30. You should demonstrate that you have implemented measures to ensure that hiring practices and the work environment are safe and free of harassment and discrimination.

5. Provide Details

If you’re applying for multiple job titles, state how many participants you’d like to hire for each job title. You’ll also need to provide details about the job, such as the job title, hourly wage, and tasks and responsibilities. You can pull this information from your current job descriptions. Emphasize how the jobs you offer will provide youth with meaningful work experiences. Detail the skills and competencies the participants will gain or improve upon during their employment.

6. Consider Local Priorities

Indicate which local priorities your project supports. You can find local priorities for your constituency on the Elections Canada website.

7. Deadlines

Always remember to check the Canada Summer Jobs Website for deadlines as applications received or postmarked after the deadline date will not be considered, so set yourself a reminder and don’t miss out!

For more information visit:

Canada Summer Jobs wage subsidy

Applicant Guide

Assessment Criteria

Writing Your Application

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