Jobs for Young Canadians
December 30, 2010

Increased support for Canada Summer Jobs strengthens local economic recovery

The Government of Canada announced today a significant investment in the Canada Summer Jobs program that will create more job opportunities for students. This commitment will also support important community services and strengthen the economy. The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, made the announcement to launch this year’s program.

“The economy remains our government’s top priority,” said Lee Richardson, MP. “That’s why we are creating thousands of new jobs for young Canadians, so they can find employment and gain the skills and experience they need to succeed. Our government’s investment in the Canada Summer Jobs program will create as many as 3 500 additional jobs for students next summer, strengthening the local economies of communities right across Canada.”

Funding will be available to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses to create high-quality summer job opportunities for young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time students and intend to return to school in the next school year.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Harper, our government will continue to deliver the stability needed to support and protect the economic well-being and financial security of Canadian workers and businesses,” added Minister Finley.

The total budget for Canada Summer Jobs will be distributed across the 308 federal constituencies, with Members of Parliament consulted and encouraged to provide input to determine specific priorities in their communities.

The Economic Action Plan is supporting Canada’s economic recovery. Since July of last year, Canada has created over 441 000 new jobs; however, the global recovery is still fragile. That’s why jobs and the economy remain the Government of Canada’s top priority as it continues to implement its job-creating, low-tax plan.

Applications will be available on February 1, 2011 and must be submitted by February 28, 2011. Interested employers can apply online at www.servicecanada.gc.ca/csj2011 or at their local Service Canada Centre.

Canada Summer Jobs is an important part of the Government’s long-term Youth Employment Strategy, which helps young people get the tools, skills and work experience they need to make a successful transition to the workplace.


Canada Summer Jobs 2011:

Frequently Asked Questions


1.What is Canada Summer Jobs?

Canada Summer Jobs is a Government of Canada initiative that provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for students. It is designed to focus on local priorities while achieving tangible results for both students and their communities.

2.What are the objectives of Canada Summer Jobs?

Canada Summer Jobs has three main objectives:

1.provide work experiences for students;
2.support organizations, including those that provide important community services; and
3.recognize that local circumstances and community needs and priorities vary widely.

3.Who can apply for Canada Summer Jobs 2011?

Canadian not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees can apply for funding through Canada Summer Jobs.

4.When does the application period start?

Employers can begin to apply for Canada Summer Jobs on February 1, 2011.

5.When does the application period end?

The deadline for applications is February 28, 2011.

6.How will applications be assessed?

Applications will first be reviewed to ensure they meet the basic eligibility requirements. They will then be assessed, on a constituency-by-constituency basis, using the following criteria:

  • service to local communities;
  • jobs that support local priorities;
  • jobs that provide career-related experience or early work experience;
  • jobs with a salary that contributes to the student’s income;
  • employers who provide supervision and mentoring;
  • project activities that are directed toward members of, and support the vitality of, an official language minority community; and
  • employers who intend to hire priority students (students with disabilities, Aboriginal students and students who are members of visible minority groups).

Lists of locally defined priorities will be available as of February 1, 2011.

7.    What are the local priorities and where can employers find them?
The assessment of applications will be carried out on a constituency-by-constituency basis, ensuring that local priorities are reflected in the assessment.

For example, local priorities could be:

special events (sport, cultural or other events on a local, provincial/territorial, national or international scale);
locations (such as rural or remote areas or areas of high unemployment); or
sectors (such as not-for-profit, tourism or agriculture).

As of February 1, 2001, the lists of local priorities used in assessing applications will be available on our website, by calling 1-800-935-5555 and at any Service Canada Centre.

8.    How much funding are employers eligible to receive?
Not-for-profit employers are eligible for up to 100 percent of the provincial/territorial minimum hourly wage and mandatory employment-related costs.

Public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees are eligible for up to 50 percent of the provincial/territorial minimum hourly wage.

9.    Which students are eligible to participate in Canada Summer Jobs?

Eligible students:

  • are between 15 and 30 years of age;
  • have been registered as a full-time student in the previous academic year and intend to return to school on a full-time basis in the next academic year;
  • are Canadian citizens or permanent residents or have official refugee protection status under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (foreign students are not eligible); and
  • are legally entitled to work in Canada, according to relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations.
10.    Are there other programs that provide summer work opportunities for students?
Canada Summer Jobs is part of the Summer Work Experience program which includes initiatives aimed at providing secondary and post-secondary students with summer employment opportunities. The Summer Work Experience program also supports services delivered by the Service Canada Centres for Youth and is part of the Youth Employment Strategy.

The Youth Employment Strategy, which includes programs such as Skills Link and Career Focus, aims to help young people, particularly those facing barriers to employment, get the information, skills and work experiences they need to make a successful transition to the workplace.

This broad range of youth employment initiatives is offered in partnership with 11 federal departments.


To learn more about youth employment opportunities: