On December 29, 2020 the federal government updated the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) website for the 2021 program. Applications for 2021 summer jobs are now open and will remain open until January 29, 2021 unless otherwise extended.
The CSJ program provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. Funded employers are not restricted to hiring students — all youth aged 15 to 30 years may be eligible participants.
Updates to the website for 2021 also confirmed the following program flexibilities for the 2021 program which are intended to address needs of employers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Wage subsidies: Funded public and private sector employers will be eligible to receive a wage subsidy reimbursement of up to 75% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage. Under regular rules, private and public sector employers are only eligible to receive up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum wage.
- Part-time employment: All funded employers may offer part-time placements (for example, fewer than 30 hours per week). Under regular rules, all CSJ-funded employment has to be full time (a minimum of 30 hours per week).
- Employment period: All funded employers may offer job placements between April 26, 2021 and February 26, 2022. Under regular rules, all CSJ-funded positions have to be completed during the summer months.
- Changes to project and job activities: All funded employers may amend project and job activities if the proposed project is impacted by COVID-19 restrictions after an agreement is signed. In such cases, the employer should contact Service Canada to discuss potential amendments. All changes must be approved by Service Canada.
Further restrictions on eligible youth participants include:
- International students are not eligible participants. International students include anyone who is temporarily in Canada for studies and who is not a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada. Youth awaiting a refugee status ruling, as well as those who hold a temporary visitor visa, youth visa or work visa are ineligible.
- Youth hired for a Canada Summer Jobs-funded job cannot displace or replace existing employees or volunteers, employees that have been laid-off and are awaiting recall, employees absent due to an industrial dispute, employees on vacation, or employees on maternity or parental leave.
- No cost incurred by the Employer in relation to a Participant who is a member of the Immediate Family of the Employer or who is a member of the Immediate Family of an officer or director of the Employer, is eligible for reimbursement under the Agreement. If Canada is satisfied, and agrees in writing before the commencement of the Job, that the hiring of the Participant was not the result of favouritism by reason of membership in the Immediate Family of the Employer, officer or director, as the case may be, the costs may be eligible for reimbursement.
For more information on the Canada Summer Jobs program visit https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs.html or contact Gregory, Harriman & Associates LLP by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 1-403-934-3176.
Disclaimer
The information in this publication is current as of January 7, 2021.
This publication has been carefully prepared, but it has been written in general terms and should be seen as broad guidance only. The publication cannot be relied upon to cover specific situations and you should not act, or refrain from acting, upon the information contained therein without obtaining specific professional advice. Please contact Gregory, Harriman & Associates LLP to discuss these matters in the context of your particular circumstances. Gregory, Harriman & Associates LLP, its partners, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability or duty of care for any loss arising from any action taken or not taken by anyone in reliance on the information in this publication or for any decision based on it.