What this program offers
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) is a program under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS). It helps youth aged 15 to 30 gain paid summer work experience and develop skills for the job market.
On this page
- Program overview
- Program objectives
- Key dates
- Wage subsidies available
- Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs)
- Workers' Compensation Premiums
- Accommodation costs for youth with disabilities
- Advances
Program overview
Employer Support
The program offers wage subsidies to support employers to create quality summer jobs.
Eligible Employers
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Public sector employers
- Private sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees
Funding Details
- Not-for-profits: Up to 100% of the minimum wage and all associated Mandatory Employment Related Costs
- Public and private sector: Up to 50% of the minimum wage
Job Requirements
- Must be full-time (30 to 40 hours per week)
- Exceptions (for example, for youth with disabilities) require Service Canada approval
- Must last 6 to 16 consecutive weeks
- Start date: No earlier than April 20, 2026
- End date: No later than August 29, 2026
Program objectives
The CSJ program objectives align with YESS and are as follows:
- provide quality work experiences for youth
- provide opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills
- respond to national and local priorities to improve access to the labour market for youth who face unique barriers
The Government of Canada aims to ensure that all CSJ-funded job opportunities take place in a safe, inclusive, and healthy work environment free from harassment and discrimination.
Key dates
Please note the following key dates:
- applications are due by December 11, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
- we will send funding confirmations to employers starting in April 2026 and we will continue into the summer months
- the earliest job start date is April 20, 2026
- the latest job start date is July 20, 2026
- the latest job end date is August 29, 2026
- the latest date to submit a payment claim is 30 days following the completion of the last CSJ-funded job
Wage subsidies available
Not-for-profit employers
Not-for-profit employers are eligible to receive funding for:
- up to 100% of the provincial or territorial adult minimum hourly wage
- the associated Mandatory Employment-Related Costs (MERCs)
Public and private sector employers
Public and private sector employers are eligible to receive funding for:
- up to 50% of the provincial or territorial adult minimum hourly wage
Note: MERCs are not eligible for reimbursement
CSJ encourages employers to provide quality job experiences by paying more than the minimum wage and hiring youth for longer than the funded period.
However, CSJ only reimburses up to the adult minimum hourly wage set by the province or territory at the time of the job.
Example:
If a private employer pays a youth $17.00 per hour in a province where the minimum wage is $16.00 per hour, CSJ will cover 50% of the minimum wage, which is $8.00 per hour.
| Organization Type | Minimum Wage | MERCs Reimbursed? | Hourly wage paid | Eligible for reimbursement | Employer's contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not-for-profit | $16.00 | Yes | $17.00 | $16.00/hour (+ MERCs) | $1.00/hour |
| Public or Private | $16.00 | No | $17.00 | $8.00/hour | $9.00/hour (+ MERCs) |
Minimum wage exemptions
Some provinces and territories allow exceptions to the minimum wage. If you request to pay a lower minimum wage, for example, a student wage, CSJ funding will be based on that lower amount.
Example: In Alberta, the adult minimum wage is $15.00, but students under 18 can be paid $13.00. If a private employer pays the student wage, CSJ will reimburse 50% of $13.00, which is $6.50.
Minimum wage in Canada
The table below provides the minimum wage for each province and territory at the time this Applicant Guide was published.
It is your responsibility to check the current minimum wage in your province or territory at the time of hiring.
If the minimum wage increases during the work period, CSJ will adjust the reimbursement based on the wage in effect for the hours worked.
| Province or Territory | Adult Minimum Hourly Wage |
|---|---|
| Alberta | $15.00 (as of October 1, 2018) |
| British Columbia | $17.85 (as of June 1, 2025) |
| Manitoba | $16.00 (as of October 1, 2025) |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 (as of April 1, 2025) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 (as of April 1, 2025) |
| Northwest Territories | $16.95 (as of September 1, 2025) |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 (as of October 1, 2025) |
| Nunavut | $19.75 (as of September 1, 2025) |
| Ontario | $17.60 (as of October 1, 2025) |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.00 (as of April 1, 2026) |
| Quebec | $16.10 (as of May 1, 2025) |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 (as of October 1, 2025) |
| Yukon | $17.94 (as of April 1, 2025) |
Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs)
The law requires employers to pay for their employees:
- Employment Insurance premiums
- Canada or Quebec Pension Plan contributions
- Vacation pay
- Workers' Compensation premiums or equivalent liability insurance (if applicable)
- Health Services Fund, Quebec parental insurance premiums, and Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) in Quebec
- Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Health and Post-Secondary Education Tax Levy in Manitoba
- Employer Health Tax in British Columbia and where applicable
You can find payroll deductions tables on the CRA website. Check with the appropriate provincial or territorial authorities to ensure that you have the most up-to-date rate information.
Workers' Compensation Premiums
Youth must be covered by Workers' Compensation or equivalent liability insurance at the start of their employment, as per Section 29 of the Articles of Agreement. It is your responsibility to verify with your insurer whether your existing equivalent liability insurance (and automobile insurance, if applicable) applies to all the activities to be undertaken by the youth and applies to all the locations where these activities will take place. Only not-for-profit employers are eligible to be reimbursed for Workers' Compensation or equivalent insurance costs as part of their final payment claim.
Accommodation costs for youth with disabilities
We recognize that persons with disabilities may face additional barriers to entering the workforce. You may be eligible for additional funding towards accommodation measures to support youth with disabilities and eliminate barriers they may face.
Accommodation measures can be:
- personal tools
- adaptations
- professional support services (for example, visual language interpreters)
These measures are to remove barriers in the workplace and to enable youth to accomplish tasks covered under your agreement.
Contact us before your project starts if you want to request additional funding towards accommodation measures. You will find Service Canada's contact information in your approval letter.
We will review accommodation requests on a case-by-case basis. We will let you know whether your request has been approved or denied.
For more information on hiring a youth with disabilities, visit Job Bank: Hire persons with disabilities.
Advances
All organizations can request an advance. The maximum advance allowable is:
- 75% of the total value of the agreement for projects $100,000 and under
- 50% of the total value of the agreement for projects $100,001 or more
We will send you the Employer and Employee Declaration form if your application is approved for funding. You will need to submit this form for each youth you will hire. We will issue an advance payment only after receipt of your Employer and Employee Declaration form.