For Immediate Release

YORKTON - Cathay Wagantall, Member of Parliament for Yorkton-Melville, would like to advise organizations and businesses that applications for Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) funding are being accepted until Jan. 29, 2021. Canada Summer Jobs is an initiative of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to help all young Canadians develop the skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market.

“Despite the frustration experienced last year through repeated delays in notifying successful applicants, some employers unable to utilize funds allocated to them because it came so late and others who are year-over-year denied funding, $666,464 was allocated to Yorkton-Melville employers in 2020,” said Wagantall. “CSJ is far from a perfect program, but I would strongly encourage employers to consider submitting an application for 2021.”

CSJ provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years. Funded employers are not restricted to hiring students — all youth aged 15 to 30 years may be eligible participants. Adjustments to CSJ were made in 2020 due to COVID to provide more flexibility for employers and youth, and program officials have announced that these temporary flexibilities will remain in place for CSJ 2021. These measures are:

• Wage subsidies: Funded public and private sector employers will be eligible to receive a wage subsidy reimbursement of up to 75% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage. Under regular rules, private and public sector employers are only eligible to receive up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum wage.
• Part-time employment: All funded employers may offer part-time placements (for example, fewer than 30 hours per week). Under regular rules, all CSJ-funded employment has to be full time (a minimum of 30 hours per week).
• Employment period: All funded employers may offer job placements between April 26, 2021 and February 26, 2022. Under regular rules, all CSJ-funded positions have to be completed during the summer months.
• Changes to project and job activities: All funded employers may amend project and job activities if the proposed project is impacted by COVID-19 restrictions after an agreement is signed. In such cases, the employer should contact Service Canada to discuss potential amendments. All changes must be approved by Service Canada.

“The deadline for applications for funding is coming quickly,” said Wagantall. “In past years there has been a second call or deadline extension for applications, but I urge those who want to apply to ensure that they do so as soon as possible, because there is no guarantee that an extension will be granted for this year."

More information and the application process can be found at www.canada.ca/canada-summer-jobs.

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