Helping Small Business, Helping Students

February 01, 2011
Canada Summer Jobs helps small businesses create job opportunities for students. The initiative focuses on local priorities, while achieving tangible results for both students and their communities. This is a great opportunity for employers to offset costs during the summer months.

The program provides work experiences for students, recognizing that local circumstances, community needs and priorities vary widely. Our Federal Conservative Government has increased the budget for Canada Summer Jobs by $10 million, to total $107.5 million.

Funding is provided to small private sector for-profit employers with 50 or fewer employees, not-for-profit and public-sector employers to create summer job opportunities for full-time students aged 15 to 30 who are intending to return to their studies in the next school year. Employers who wish to take part in this year’s program must apply by February 28.

Proposals will be assessed using the following guidelines: 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 (those with disabilities, Aboriginals and members of visible minority groups).

Small private sector for-profit businesses with 50 or fewer employees and public-sector employers are eligible for up to 50 percent of the provincial minimum hourly wage. Not-for-profit employers are eligible for up to 100 percent of the provincial minimum $8.80 hourly wage and mandatory employment-related costs.

Employers looking for more information may contact the Service Canada Centre at Canada Place on Jasper Avenue, go online at www.servicecanada.gc.ca or call 1-800-935-5555.

I think the Canada Summer Jobs Program is a win-win for employers, students and all Canadians.

What do you think?