There are a range of funding, grants, and tax credits available to support your hiring needs that can subsidize or sometimes cover student wages throughout their work term with you.
Year-Round Funding Opportunities
Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)
The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is offered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in collaboration with 18 Employer Delivery Partners.
Through SWPP, you could receive up to $5000 for every student you hire through the program and up to $7000 for every student you hire that is in their first year or that is from an under-represented group including:
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Women in STEM
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Persons with disabilities
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Newcomers
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Indigenous students
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Visible minorities
Is my organization eligible to apply?
Employers who meet the following criteria are likely eligible for SWPP funding:
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Registered Canadian business or non-profit organization
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Not part of the federal, provincial, or municipal government
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Ability to provide a meaningful paid work-integrated learning experience to a student with the capacity to pay the student consistently throughout the work term (some wage subsidies are reimbursed at the end of the term, while others have multiple installments)
Funding availability
SWPP funding is available year-round with applications for each co-op work term (Summer, Fall, Winter) being accepted before or at the beginning of the work term. Some Employer Delivery Partners accept applications retroactively.
How do I apply to receive SWPP funding?
Each SWPP delivery partner has their own online application process. Eligible employers can apply for funding from more than one provider to maximize their chances of approval, however funding from multiple SWPP providers cannot be combined to hire a student. SWPP funding can be combined with other forms of provincial, municipal, and private sources, as well as tax credits.
SWPP Delivery Partners
There are 18 SWPP Delivery Partners that support employers in different sectors:
- BioTalent Canada
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There are two ways to meet eligibility for the BioTalent Canada SWPP funding:
- The organization has a biotechnology or healthcare focus.
- The student work term position has a biotechnology or healthcare focus.
- Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council - AGRI Talent
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The AGRI Talent program is available to registered Canadian businesses and not-for-profits in the agriculture industry, including but not limited to field crops, primary producers, greenhouse, horticulture, aquaculture, veterinary clinics serving farm animals, farm equipment dealerships, and agriculture focused media agencies.
- Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace
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The Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace SWPP program is open to employers directly involved in the aviation and aerospace industry or those involved in a supportive capacity (e.g., as a supplier).
- Cultural Human Resources Council
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For-profit and not-for-profit organizations in the cultural sector can apply to the Cultural Human Resources Council Student Work Placement Program. Areas include Film and Television, Performing Arts, Music and Sound Recording, Visual Arts and Crafts, Writing and Publishing, and Heritage. The student’s field of study does not have to be related to arts and culture to qualify.
- Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA)
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Eligible organizations must be involved in the media production industry and be a member of the CMPA to access the Canadian Media Producers Association Student Work Placement Program.
- Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) - Empowering Futures
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Empowering Futures is open to employers in the electrical power sector, including firms directly involved in the generation and distribution of electrical power, manufacturers of equipment, service providers, and firms that support the sector (e.g., research, renewable energy).
- Environmental Careers Organization (ECO Canada) - Co-op Program
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Employers hiring students enrolled in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art or math are eligible to apply to ECO Canada's Co-op Program.
- Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium - WIL Works
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The WIL Works program is open to employers in the manufacturing sector or those offering related projects.
- Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Quebec (FCCQ) - Accueillez un Stagiaire
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FCCQ's Accueillez un Stagiaire program is available to private sector and not-for-profit organizations registered in Canada.
- Food Processing Skills Canada
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Employers in the Canadian food and beverage manufacturing industry can apply to the Food Processing Skills Canada Student Work Placement Program. Employers can hire students from various educational disciplines, ranging from food science to business.
- Information and Communication Technology Council - Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital
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The Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital program is open to technology sector or employers hiring students for related projects.
- Magnet
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Employers in any industry that meet SWPP eligibility criteria can apply to Magnet's funding program.
- Mining Industry Human Resources Canada (MIHR) - Gearing Up
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Gearing Up is available to small, medium or large companies and not-for-profit organizations involved in the mining and mineral exploration sectors.
- Ontario Chamber of Commerce - Talent Opportunities Program
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Registered Canadian businesses and not-for-profit organizations anywhere in Canada can apply to the Talent Opportunities Program.
- Technation - Career Ready Program
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For the Career Ready Program, preference given to tech immersive roles that are within high growth sectors such as: digital technology (IT, digital marketing, software engineering), AI, loT, Machine Learning, Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity, Agri-Tech, Clean Tech, Health Tech.
- Tourism HR Canada - Propel
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Registered Canadian businesses, startups, and non-for-profits in the tourism and hospitality sector are eligible to apply to the Propel program. This includes five different industry groups:
- Accommodations
- Travel Services
- Transportation
- Recreation and Entertainment
- Food and Beverage Services
These also include businesses and organizations related to events, concerts, conventions, museums and galleries, destination marketing, tour operators, and cultural heritage sites.
- Trucking HR Canada
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The Trucking HR Canada Student Work Placement Program is open to Canadian businesses in the trucking and logistics sector, including businesses with a large logistics component or those providing logistics solutions.
- Venture for Canada - Internship Program
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The Internship Program is available to small or medium-sized businesses, start-ups, social enterprises, and charities that employ fewer than 500 people. Employers must be registered in the following Canadian provinces: Northern Territories, BC, AB, SK, MB, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL.
Questions About SWPP Funding?
Reach out to us at coop@trentu.ca to learn more.
Summer Funding Opportunities
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)
Canada Summer Jobs provides wage subsidies to not-for-profit organizations, public sector organizations, and private sector employers with less than 50 employees to hire youth aged 15 - 30 in the summer months. The funding is available to employers across Canada.
Not-for-profits can receive up to 100% of the of the provincial or territorial adult minimum hourly wage and all associated Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs). Public and private sector organizations can receive up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage.
Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations (YCWHO)
Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations is an employment program offering wage subsidies to employers who hire students for work placements in the heritage sector. YCWHO typically contributes 50% of total eligible employment costs, and if justified, may contribute up to 75% of eligible employment costs. The maximum YCWHO contribution is $10,000 per job.
Applications are submitted through the Young Canada Works website to Delivery Organizations targeting specific groups of Heritage organizations.
Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages (YCWBOL)
Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages is an employment program offering wage subsidies to employers conducting activities in both official languages to hire students. Employers can hire students from across Canada. YCWBOL will cover some costs associated with transportation and housing in addition to wages. YCWBOL may contribute up to 50% of the employment costs for youth hired by private and public sector organizations, and up to 70% for not-for-profit organizations.
Applications are submitted through the Young Canada Works website to Delivery Organizations targeting specific regions of Canada.
Specialized Funding Opportunities
Environmental Jobs Growth Program – ECO Canada
The Environmental Jobs Growth Program offers employment support to job seekers who want to enter or advance their careers in the clean economy.
Eligible employers may receive 50% up to $15,000 in funding towards a participant’s salary or up to $18,750 for equity deserving participants. The funding will cover work placements that are 6 – 12 months long, making them ideal for co-op opportunities with consecutive work terms.
Community Advancement Program (CAP)
Community Advancement Program (CAP) is an initiative of Community Futures Peterborough. CAP aims to boost business attraction, investment, retention and employment in the City and County of Peterborough. It provides up to $5000 to applicants to support special projects, including the creation of co-op jobs, to complete the projects.
What kinds of projects does CAP support?
- CAP seeks projects in areas like local tourism, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities that:
- Create jobs including co-op roles to foster inclusiveness for specific client groups (e.g., women, youth, Indigenous people, etc.)
- Help small businesses adapt to changing economies and technologies;
- Create partnerships with local governments, Indigenous groups, educational institutions and community organizations;
- Boost economic impact by strengthening and expanding tourism markets;
- Support organizations promoting regional economic development.
Application Period: Opens in January and closes in March (dates vary by year).
For more information and the application visit Community Futures Peterborough.
Tax Credits & Incentives
There are provincial and federal tax credits that can be claimed on the portion of a co-op student’s wages that are not covered by other funding sources.
Ontario Provincial Tax Credits & Incentives
Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit
The Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit is available to organizations that provided a qualifying work placement in Ontario for a student enrolled in a post-secondary co-op program.
The tax credit is equivalent to a percentage of 25% to 30% of the eligible expenditures, including wages, for the work placement to a maximum of $3,000.
This credit can be combined with other forms of funding like the Student Work Placement Program, for the portion of wages not covered by the funding source.
Ontario Digital Media Tax Credit
The Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC) is a refundable tax credit based on labour expenditures and eligible marketing and distribution expenses claimed by a an eligible corporation with respect to interactive digital media products.
A qualifying corporation is a Canadian corporation that develops an eligible product at a permanent establishment in Ontario operated by it. This includes Canada or foreign-owned corporations.
Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit
The Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit based on the qualifying labour expenditures incurred by an eligible production company for certain Ontario productions. To qualify, the corporation must be Canadian controlled.
The credit amount depends on whether the production is a first-time production, a small first-time production, or other than a first-time production.
Ontario Innovation Tax Credit
Qualifying corporations can claim the refundable Ontario Innovation Tax Credit for eligible expenditures on scientific research and experimental development performed in Ontario. This can include costs associated with hiring a co-op student.
Federal Tax Credits & Incentives
Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentives
The SR&ED program is designed to encourage businesses to conduct scientific research and experimental development activities in Canada. There are 2 tax incentives available to corporations, individuals, trusts, and partnerships that conduct SR&ED work in Canada:
- Claim a deduction against income
- Earn an Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
Additional Funding
Is none of the funding described here a match? Contact us at coop@trentu.ca to discuss your needs and other options that might be a fit for your organization.