COVID-19: Government announces changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program
On Wednesday, April 8th, the Government of Canada announced temporary changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program to help businesses and young Canadians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is expected that the changes will help create up to 70,000 jobs for youth between 15 and 30 years of age.
The Canada Summer Jobs program aims to provide paid skills development and experience for young Canadians to allow them to successfully transition into the labour market. It is an initiative of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.
The changes to this year’s program include:
- An increase to the wage subsidy so that employers can receive up to 100 percent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee;
- An extension of the employment end date to February 28, 2021;
- Allowing employers to adapt their projects and job activities to support essential services; and
- Allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis.