Funding Resources for Co-op Employers

3 female U of T Scarborough co-op students walking up the stairs

Need funding? We can help.

Due to the impact of COVID19 on the economy, new funding and flexibility is anticipated from funding partners of all levels. We're in regular contact with these funding partners and would be happy to make recommendations based on your organization's evolving needs.

Connect with us for an individualized consultation. Reach us by email cooppartner.utsc@utoronto.ca or clicking below.

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Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

The Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) supports the hiring of post-secondary students by providing wage subsidies to employers that offer quality work integrated learning opportunities. Qualifying employers may be eligible to offset 50%-70% of student wages up to a maximum of $7,000 for each eligible student.

Canada Summer Jobs

Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees. This funding is designed to create summer jobs for young people aged 15 to 30 who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in the next school year. 

For CSJ 2022 - Applications are due by January 25, 2022  

Youth Requirements: 

  • Be between 15 to 30 years of age at the beginning of the employer period
  • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment
  • Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada 

Employment period: 

Full-time work experience in Canada between April 25, 2022, and September 3, 2022 

  • a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 16 weeks 
  • a minimum of 30 hours and a maximum of 40 hours a week 

Wage subsidies: 

Funded non-profit employers can receive funding for up to 100% for provincial or territorial adult minimum hourly wage and all associated Mandatory Employment Related Costs (MERCs).  

Funded 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. 

CanExport SMEs

CanExport SMEs is looking to help small and medium-size enterprises located in Ontario increase their access to global markets. Companies with a maximum of 500 full-time equivalent employees and who have declared between $100K to $100M in annual revenue during the last 12 months in Canada may qualify. Eligible applicants may receive up to $75,000 in CanExport SMEs funding to cover up to 75% of international market development activities. Applications are accepted year-round and assessed on a first-come, first-served basis, and most applications are approved within 60 business days.

Co-operative Education Tax Credit

The Co-operative Education Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit for Ontario-based co-op employers who hire students enrolled in a co-operative education program at an Ontario university or college. Corporations can claim 25% of eligible expenditures (30% for small businesses), for up to a maximum credit of $3,000 per co-op term. Most co-op terms range from a minimum period of ten weeks up to a maximum of four months. Eligible corporations can claim the tax credit on Schedule T2SCH550 of their T2 Corporation Income Tax Return.

Green Jobs Science & Technology Internship Program 

Green Jobs Science & Technology Internship Program (STIP) is funded by Natural Resource Canada. Green Jobs STIP provides wage subsidies for hiring organizations in the natural resource sectors to host eligible interns for six to 12-month internships. Eligible employers will be provided with salary support of up to 80% of an intern’s salary, to a maximum of $10,000. The application deadline to submit a proposal is typically in mid-April. 

National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)

The NRC IRAP Youth Employment Program offers financial assistance to offset the cost of hiring youth to work on projects with R&D, engineering, multimedia or market analysis components as well as to help develop new products or processes. Eligible businesses must be small or medium size, have 500 or fewer full time equivalents and be incorporated of for profit. The internship will last a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 12 months, and the candidate must work a minimum of 30 hours per week. The candidate must also be 15-30 years of age, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person granted refugee status and a post-secondary graduate.

National Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada Experience Award

The National Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Experience Award offers companies access to talented natural sciences and engineering undergraduate students for a work term. This cost-shared program allows students to address company-specific research and development challenges while gaining valuable industrial experience. 

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation provides program funding for existing and growing sectors in Northern Ontario. There are 13 different programs, each with unique funding and eligibility requirements. Please refer to the website for application deadlines.

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit

Ontario Innovation Tax Credit provides a refundable tax credit for Ontario corporations working in scientific research and experimental development areas. Qualifying corporations can claim 8% up to a maximum of $240,000 per year.

Project Learning Tree Canada

Project Learning Tree Canada offers a 50% wage match (up to a maximum of $5,712 per youth) to employers hiring youth aged 15-30 into forest, conservation and parks jobs. The duration of the work experience must be from a minimum of 4 weeks to a maximum of 16 weeks, and the work experience must take place in Canada. To be eligible for the wage matching, employers must first register as a Green Jobs employer. Once an employer is registered and positions are added, it may take up to 72 hours to review them.

Scientific Research & Experimental Development Program 

The Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) program is a federal tax incentive program designed to encourage Canadian businesses to conduct research and development in Canada. Eligible companies may deduct SR&ED expenditures from their income for tax purposes and receive a SR&ED investment tax credit. A Canadian-controlled private corporation can earn a refundable ITC of 35% on qualified expenditures, up to a maximum of $3 million.

SMART Advanced Technologies for Global Growth

The SMART Advanced Technologies for Global Growth program assists small and mid- sized Southern Ontario manufacturers with between 15 and 1000 employees in adopting new technologies to improve productivity and increase global competitiveness. Advanced Technology Adaptation / Adoption Projects focus on improving productivity through the adaptation or adoption of new or upgraded advanced technologies. Projects will be eligible for funding of 35% of eligible costs to a maximum of $100,000.

SMART Productivity Assessments Initiative

The SMART Productivity Assessments Initiative assists and supports small and mid-sized Northern Ontario manufacturers to improve their operations. The SMART Program will contribute 50% to a maximum of $15,000 of costs for eligible companies with no more than 500 employees. Applications and project proposals submitted must be for future work and not for any assessments that have been previously completed.

SmartStart Seed Fund

The Ontario Centres of Excellence SmartStart Seed Fund is open to young entrepreneurs in Ontario aged 18-29 and entrepreneurs aged 30+ engaged with technology or innovation-based start-ups. The Fund provides seed funding of up to $60,000 for youth streams. Applications must be initiated at least seven days prior to the submission deadline, which is in early to mid-May.

Toronto Finance International (TFI)

Please note: TFI and ASPIRE do not offer wage subsidies for employers. 

TFI's program ASPIRE focuses on attracting the next generation of talent by uncovering the diverse, challenging of innovative nature of Financial Services for students, and supporting them to access opportunities in this sector. Though ASPIRE does not offer wage subsidies, it does provide resources to assist employers and students.

United Nations Association in Canada: Green Spaces

Canada Green Corps is an innovative programme created by the United Nations Association in Canada to launch the careers of talented but un- or underemployed Canadian youth. It is open to recent post-secondary graduates aged 18-30 at the time of intake who are eligible to work in STEM fields. Successful candidates will gain valuable professional experience from full-time six month Work-Integrated Learning internships with employer partners across Canada. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. 

Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages

Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages is a job program that allows eligible employers to benefit from wage subsidies and access to a pool of talented youth with innovative ideas and competitive skills. Positions last up to 16 weeks and students must work 30 to 40 hours per week. The program may contribute up to 50% of the student's employment costs for private and public sector organizations and up to 70% of the student's employment costs for non-profit organizations. The application deadline for summer work terms is typically due in mid-February.

Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations

Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations is a job program that allows eligible employers to benefit from wage subsidies and access to a pool of talented youth with innovative ideas and competitive skills. Positions last up to 16 weeks and students must work 30 to 40 hours per week. The program may contribute up to 75% of the student’s employment costs to a maximum of $8,000 per job and $50,000 per employer. The application deadline for summer work terms is typically due in early February.