First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy: Summer Work Experience Program (Canada)

Deadline: 7-Feb-23

The 2023 to 2024 call for proposals to support activities under the First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience program is now open.

The First Nations and Inuit Summer Work Experience Program is 1 of 2 programs that Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) administers under the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy (FNIYES).

Objectives

The objectives of the Summer Work Experience Program are:

• To help youth acquire skills by providing organizations with wage subsidies for their summer work experience.
• TO assist First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students prepare for the labour market by enabling them to obtain employment experience.
• To help students acquire employability skills.
• To support them in financing and furthering their education.
• To provide students with career and labour market information and assistance in finding summer or short-term employment.

Funding Information

• A maximum contribution of $3,000 per participant may be available, on an actual cost basis, for special equipment and facilities to accommodate the student’s needs.

Expected Results

Key expected results of the Summer Work Experience Program are:

• Increased awareness of the benefits of education.
• Enhanced employability skills for participating First Nations and Inuit youth.

Eligible Expenditures

The recipient will determine the wage rate for participants. It must be at or above the applicable provincial or territorial minimum wage.

• Eligible expenditures include:
  • Participant wages and mandatory employment-related costs including the gross employee share of CPP, QPP, EI, vacation pay, WCB/CSST (Quebec) and where applicable, health insurance premiums.
  • Wage costs per participant will meet or exceed the applicable minimum wage in the province or territory where the work placement occurs.
  • Other necessary costs directly related to a work placement up to a maximum of $300 per participant, such as:
    • A criminal record check.
    • Required uniforms.
    • Personal safety gear such as work boots, safety hat up to a maximum of $300 per participant.
  • Actual cost for special equipment and facilities to accommodate the needs of a disabled individual up to a maximum of $3,000, if applicable.
• Administration costs must not exceed 15% of the sub-total amount requested before administration costs. The data collection instrument (DCI) will automatically calculate the amount.
• Eligible administration costs include, but are not limited to:
  • Office or general expenses.
  • Materials.
  • Supplies.
  • Advertising.
  • Communication and printing costs.
  • Professional services.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Recipients
  • Eligible recipients are:
    • First Nations and Inuit communities.
    • Governments and organizations.
    • Not-for-profit associations.
    • Private sector employers.
  • Eligible recipients can enter into agreements with private sector and non-profit sector employers to access employment opportunities for youth.
• Eligible Participants.
  • Eligible participants include:
    • First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students aged 15 to 30 inclusive.
    • Ordinarily resident on reserve or in recognized communities or on community lands.
    • Legally entitled to work in Canada.
    • Registered as full-time students during the preceding academic year and who intend to go to school on a full-time basis in the next academic year.

For more information, visit ISC.