A wage subsidy for hiring young people aged 15 to 30 into summer positions, open to businesses with 50 or fewer employees, including sole proprietors.
Applications for summer placements typically close in winter, so a business that starts thinking about summer staffing in spring has already missed the window. Set a reminder for the intake rather than the hiring season.
| Type | Non-repayable wage subsidy. |
| Amount | A share of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage per placement. Confirm the current share for private-sector employers. |
| Who qualifies | Businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Sole proprietors are eligible. |
| Employee eligibility | Young people aged 15 to 30. |
| Apply through | The Government of Canada application portal. |
| Timing | Intake typically closes in winter for placements the following summer. |
Wage share for private-sector employers requires confirmation.
| Program | Type | Maximum | Apply through | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Summer Jobs | Wage subsidy, non-repayable | Wage subsidy | Government of Canada application portal | Intake typically closes in winter for summer placements weeks |
| CanExport SMEs | Grant, non-repayable | Grant | Global Affairs Canada online portal | 8 to 12 after intake closes weeks |
| SR&ED | Tax credit, non-repayable | Tax credit | Filed with your corporate tax return | 9 to 26 weeks |
Eligibility and intake dates: canada.ca
Facts on this page last checked 7 August 2026.
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