Not-for-profit organizations are established for purposes other than financial gain for their members. They primarily receive provincial/federal funding (supplemented by fundraising and fees), often rely on volunteers to deliver programs, and are often governed by a Board of Directors or a Committee. This category includes:

• Community, charitable or voluntary organizations, including faith-based organizations (for example, churches, synagogues, temples, mosques)
• Associations of workers or employers as well as professional and industrial organizations
• Indigenous not-for-profit organizations
• Non-governmental organizations
• Unions
• Sector councils
• Not-for-profit Band Councils

Organizations are considered part of the public sector when 50% or more of their operating revenue comes from government appropriations (voted through parliament or annual legislation) and when they must account for their activities to the government that provided their operating revenue.

Public sector organizations include public health and public educational institutions, municipal governments, and other publicly funded organizations. Among others, this category includes:

• Public community colleges and vocational schools
• Public health, including: public hospitals, nursing homes, senior citizen homes, rehabilitation homes, and public libraries
• Public degree-granting universities and colleges
• Municipal governments and agencies, including regional legislative bodies and departments
• School boards and elementary and secondary institutions
• Territorial governments

Private sector organizations are established in order to generate a profit or to provide an economic advantage to their proprietors, members or shareholders. Private sector employers must have 50 or fewer full-time employees across Canada at the time of application to be eligible for CSJ funding. Full-time employees are those working 30 hours or more per week.

This category includes:

• Bodies, incorporated or unincorporated, including partnerships and sole proprietorships
• Financial institutions
• Business, incorporated or unincorporated bodies, which include:
  • federal Crown corporations operating in a competitive environment and not ordinarily dependent on appropriations for operating purposes as indicated in Schedule III, Part II of the Financial Administration Act
  • provincial and territorial Crown corporations recognized as operating in a competitive environment and not ordinarily dependent on appropriations for operating purposes
  • private health and educational institutions
  • independent owners of franchises (franchise operators are eligible if there are 50 or fewer full-time employees working full-time in the franchise owner's operations across Canada, regardless of the number of business numbers involved)
• Indian Band corporations
• Private Band Councils
• Private universities or colleges

• Members of the House of Commons and the Senate or members of their immediate family
• Federal Government Departments and Agencies
• Provincial Departments and Agencies
• Organizations that engage in partisan political activities
• Organizations that engage in activities that directly or indirectly infringe, undermine, weaken, or restrict the exercise of human rights legally protected in Canada

• Provide full-time work experience in Canada between April 21, 2025 and August 30, 2025 for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 16 weeks and
• Provide a work experience in an inclusive non-discriminatory work environment that respects the rights of all Canadians

• The duration of the CSJ-funded portion of the job must be between 6 and 16 consecutive weeks
  • Employment of less than the minimum 6 weeks in duration may be deemed ineligible. In this case, any incurred costs would not be reimbursed
• Jobs must be full-time (minimum of 30 to a maximum of 40 hours per week)
  • If a youth is provided less than 30 hours of work for any week, their wages may be deemed ineligible for reimbursement unless consent has been granted from Service Canada for exceptional circumstances
    • For example, to accommodate youth with disabilities or due to provincial laws that prohibit youth from working full-time hours
  • If a youth works over 40 hours per week, incurred costs for hours worked over 40 hours per week are not eligible for reimbursement

• Activities that take place outside of Canada, including youth teleworking outside of Canada
• Activities that contribute to the provision of a personal service to the employer
• Partisan political activities
• Fundraising activities to cover salary costs for the youth participant
• Projects or job activities that:
  • Restrict access to programs, services, or employment, or otherwise discriminate, contrary to applicable laws, on the basis of prohibited grounds, including sex, genetic characteristics, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression
  • Advocate intolerance, discrimination and/or prejudice, or
  • Actively work to undermine or restrict a woman's access to sexual and reproductive health services

Please note the following definitions:

• As per subsection 2.1 of the CSJ Articles of Agreement, "project" means the hiring, administration of, and job activities, and organization's activities as described in the Application/Agreement, including any activities which the job supports, directly or indirectly
• To "advocate" means to promote, foster, or actively support intolerance, discrimination, and/or prejudice
• To "undermine or restrict" means to weaken or limit a woman's ability to access sexual and reproductive health services. The Government of Canada defines sexual and reproductive health services as including comprehensive sexuality education, family planning, prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, safe and legal abortion, and post-abortion care

• Youth hired under the program cannot displace or replace existing employees or volunteers, even if they are absent. Please see section 13.1(a) of the Articles of Agreement for more details.
• Youth hired due to nepotism are ineligible for reimbursement. Service Canada may agree, before the start of a job, that a family member of the employer can be an eligible participant after determining that the participant was not hired due to favouritism by result of nepotism. Please see subsection 20.1 of the Articles of Agreement for more details.
• Youth cannot be self-employed, as the employer must establish an employer-employee relationship with the youth participant. In other words, the youth participant is entered into the organization's records as an employee, and wages are paid which include all necessary payroll deductions in accordance with labour regulations in the province or territory where the employment is located as per Section 32 in the Articles of Agreement.
• Youth hired under the program should not be already employed full-time by the organization. However, a youth working part-time for an employer, or who has previously worked for an employer as part of a CO-OP placement is eligible for a CSJ-funded job.
• Youth should only be employed in one job per project. As the intention of the program is to provide job opportunities to as many youth as possible, employers are to hire the number of youth identified in their agreement.

If you have questions about youth eligibility, contact Service Canada for more information.

Not-for-profit employers can receive funding for up to 100% of the provincial or territorial adult minimum hourly wage and all associated Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs). Public and private sector employers are eligible to receive funding for up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage. Public or private sector employers are not eligible for reimbursement of MERCs.

To improve the quality of the work experience, employers are encouraged to pay more than the minimum wage and offer a paid position that is longer than the duration of the agreement. However, reimbursement will only apply to the applicable provincial or territorial adult minimum hourly wage in effect at the time of employment. For example, if a private sector employer pays a youth $17.00 per hour in a province where the minimum hourly wage is $16.00, the funding contribution provided will be 50% of the minimum wage of $16.00 ($8.00).

You may request less than the minimum wage as long as provincial or territorial legislation permits you to do so. Some provinces and territories have minimum wage exemptions. If an employer uses an exemption to pay a minimum wage lower than the applicable adult minimum wage, the reimbursement percentage remains the same. For example, as of September 2021, Alberta has an adult minimum wage of $15.00 and a minimum wage exemption for students under 18 years old of $13.00. If a private sector organization uses the lower student wage, the funding contribution will be 50% of the $13.00 minimum wage ($6.50).

It is the employer's responsibility to confirm the minimum wage at the time of employment. If the minimum wage increases during employment, each week will be reimbursed based on the applicable minimum wage for that week.

The following table provides the adult minimum hourly wage for each province and territory at the time this Applicant Guide was published.

Employers are required by law to pay:

• 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 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

Payroll deductions tables can be found on the CRA website. Check with the appropriate provincial or territorial authorities to ensure that you have the most up-to-date rate information.

Not-for-profit employers are eligible for up to 100% reimbursement of MERCs in relation to the minimum hourly wage of the province or territory where the activities take place. Public or private sector employers are not eligible for reimbursement of MERCs.

Service Canada recognizes that persons with disabilities may face additional barriers to entering the workforce. To help them obtain employment, and to encourage employers to hire youth with disabilities, you may be eligible for additional funding to accommodate the youth within the work environment.

Eligible overhead costs will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Personal tools, adaptations and professional support services (for example, visual language interpreters) to enable the youth to accomplish tasks covered under the agreement may be considered eligible.

If your application is approved and you want to request additional costs for accommodation measures, you can submit a request to add overhead costs to your agreement. To submit your request, contact Service Canada using the information provided in your approval letter as soon as, or before, your project starts. Note that Service Canada will request an invoice of the overhead cost, and that assets acquired using these costs are subject to Section 24.0 of the Articles of Agreement (Disposition of Capital Assets).

Find more information on hiring a youth with disabilities on Job Bank: Hire persons with disabilities.

The conditions for advances are outlined in Section 6 of the CSJ Articles of Agreement. The maximum advance allowable is 75% of the total value of the agreement for projects $100,000 and under, and 50% of the total value of the agreement for projects $100,001 or more, for all types of organizations.

All organizations can request an advance. If your application is approved for funding, we will send you the Employer and Employee Declaration form which must be submitted for each youth before Service Canada can issue an advance payment. This form must be submitted online or returned to Service Canada within seven days of the youth beginning employment.

As the Department is required to validate information submitted by applicants, Service Canada will also validate your CRA business number, postal address, and primary contact information prior to issuing a payment.

1. The job(s) provides a salary above the provincial or territorial minimum wage. (10 points)
   • Refer to Section 2 - What costs are eligible for reimbursement? for additional information on the minimum wage. Note that you will be required to report on the salary paid to the youth as part of the mandatory reporting process.
2. You intend to retain the youth as an employee following the end of the CSJ agreement. (5 points)
   • This additional work can be full-time or part-time. Note that you will be required to report on whether you retained the youth as part of the mandatory reporting process.
3. The youth will receive supervision (15 points)
   • Supervision plan: The supervision plan should be task-oriented and focused on the specific job activities contained in your application.
   • You must provide each of the following mandatory pieces of information:
     • Supervisor job title: provide the job title, not the name of a person, but their position, e.g. Manager, Executive Director, Owner, Director, Supervisor, etc.
     • Type of Supervision (On-site, Remote, or Combination)
     • Frequency of Supervision (Daily, Weekly, Less than once per week)
     • Amount of the supervisor's experience in a supervisory role (Less than one year, One to two years, or More than two years)
     • The type of feedback to be provided to the youth (Formal or Informal)
     • What the supervisor will provide (Job-specific training, Work instructions and tasks, Evaluation of work, Other)

     See Section 3 - How to answer the application questions for more detail.

1. The youth will receive mentoring (15 points)
   • Mentoring plan: Mentoring is a relationship between an experienced employee (the mentor) and a less experienced employee (the youth). Through regular meetings, the mentor will learn about career objectives of the youth and share their professional experience. The mentor will support skills development and facilitate professional development to help the youth enter the labour market.
   • You must provide each of the following mandatory pieces of information:
     • Mentor job title: provide the job title, not the name of a person, but their position (e.g. Manager, Executive Director, Owner, Director, Supervisor, etc.)
     • Type (One-on-one, Team)
     • Frequency of Mentoring (Weekly, Monthly, Less than once per month)
     • Amount of the mentor's experience in a mentoring role (Less than one year, One to two years, or More than two years)
     • Mentor-mentee relationship (Formal or Informal)
     • What the mentor will provide (Support for skills development, Career-related training, Access to learning materials, or Other)

     See Section 3 - How to answer the application questions for more detail.

2. Skills Development (30 points)
   • As quality job experiences support skills acquisition and development, you must identify the skills that will be developed during the work experience.
   • The application form lists the following skills:
     • Adaptability: the ability to achieve or adjust goals and behaviours when expected or unexpected change occurs, by planning, staying focused, persisting, and overcoming setbacks. For example, one uses this skill to change work plans to meet new deadlines, learn how to work with new tools and improve skills through feedback
     • Collaboration: the ability to contribute and support others to achieve a common goal. For example, at work we use this skill to provide meaningful support to team members while completing a project
     • Communication: the ability to receive, understand, consider, and share information and ideas through speaking, listening, and interacting with others. For example, we use this skill to listen to instructions, serve customers, and discuss ideas
     • Creativity and Innovation: the ability to imagine, develop, express, encourage, and apply ideas in ways that are novel, unexpected, or challenge existing methods and norms. For example, we use this skill to discover better ways of doing things, develop new products, and deliver services in a new way
     • Digital Skills: the ability to use digital technology and tools to find, manage, apply, create, and share information and content. For example, we use this skill to create spreadsheets, safely use social media, and securely make online purchases
     • Numeracy: the ability to find, understand, use, and report mathematical information presented through words, numbers, symbols, and graphics. For example, we use this skill to perform calculations, manage budgets, analyze, and model data and make estimations
     • Problem-solving: the ability to identify, analyze, propose solutions, and make decisions. Problem solving helps you to address issues, monitor success, and learn from the experience. For example, we use this skill to make hiring decisions, select courses of action and troubleshoot technical failures
     • Technical skills: the ability to develop capabilities that relate to the practical or mechanical side of an activity, the application of a set of technical processes and its required know-how
     • Reading and/or Writing: the ability to find, understand, use, or share information presented through written words, symbols, and images. For example, reading is used to locate information on forms and drawings, and to read items such as emails, reports, news articles, blog posts and instructions. Writing is used to fill out forms and applications, and write emails, reports and social media posts
     • Other: You may list and describe any additional skills that will be developed

1. National Priorities (15 points)

National priorities are established to improve labour market outcomes for youth, including those facing unique barriers to employment. National priorities do this by prioritizing specific youth groups that are underrepresented in the labour market and by identifying sectors where there are current needs and future job opportunities.

Please indicate which national priorities your project supports. Points will be awarded to projects that support national priorities. If your application demonstrates that it meets more than one national priority, you will be awarded additional points. Note that you will be required to report on the national priorities supported as part of the mandatory reporting process.

In 2025, CSJ will address the following five national priorities:

1. Opportunities for youth with disabilities or with organizations that provide services to persons with disabilities
   • The purpose of this priority is to provide job opportunities for youth with disabilities, or job opportunities with organizations that provide services to persons with disabilities.
   • As outlined in Section 2 - Overhead costs for youth with disabilities, organizations providing opportunities to youth with disabilities may be eligible for certain overhead costs and flexibilities around hours of work. These flexibilities are meant to accommodate the needs of some youth with disabilities by allowing for part-time hours.
   • Find more information on hiring a youth with disabilities on Job Bank: Hire persons with disabilities.

     Important: If your organization expresses the intent to hire a youth with disabilities under this national priority, you will be expected to make all reasonable recruitment efforts to hire a youth with disabilities and to document these efforts. Should your application be approved, recruitment and hiring plans may be monitored to determine whether they reflect what was indicated in your application.

2. Opportunities for youth that are underrepresented in the labour market, including:
   • Black and other racialized youth
   • Indigenous youth
   • 2SLGBTQI+ youth

   The purpose of this priority is to provide job opportunities for youth that are underrepresented in the labour market, particularly Black and other racialized youth, Indigenous youth, and 2SLGBTQI+ youth.

   Important: If your organization expresses the intent to hire a youth under this national priority, you will be expected to undertake all reasonable recruitment efforts to hire a youth underrepresented in the labour market and to document these efforts. Should your application be approved, recruitment and hiring plans may be monitored to determine whether they reflect what was indicated in your application.

3. Opportunities for youth in rural areas, remote communities, or Official Language Minority Communities
   • Rural area: As per Statistics Canada, a rural area is a community with a population of less than 1,000 and a population density below 400 inhabitants per square kilometer. If you are uncertain if your community is rural or remote, please contact Service Canada.
   • Remote communities: Remote communities are generally geographically isolated from service and population centres. They often include Northern and/or fly-in communities, and include nearly all municipalities within the three territories. If you are uncertain if your community is rural or remote, please contact Service Canada.
   • Official Language Minority Community (OLMC): Official language minorities are English-language communities in Quebec and French-language communities outside of Quebec.
4. Opportunities with organizations in the housing construction sector
   • For the purpose of this priority, the housing construction sector is defined as the industry engaged in the construction, remodelling and renovation of single-family and multi-family residential buildings.
   • This sector may include residential housing general contractors, operative builders and remodellers of residential structures, residential project construction management firms, and residential design-build firms. It can also include organizations engaged in green construction, retrofitting, and low-carbon construction.
5. Opportunities related to sustainable jobs that support climate change mitigation and/or adaptation or protect the natural environment
   • For the purpose of this priority, the focus is on opportunities that are linked to protecting and conserving the environment. For example, opportunities related to conservation, climate change mitigation, adaptation, green jobs, and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

2. Local Priorities (10 points)

Local priorities are established for each constituency by Members of Parliament throughout the country taking into account local labour market information.

Indicate which local priorities your project supports. The local priorities for your constituency are available on the CSJ webpage for local priorities by province and constituency. If your application demonstrates that it meets more than one local priority, you will be awarded additional points.