Applications accepted until mid-December
Ottawa has officially opened the application period for the 2026 Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program, inviting employers across the country to submit their proposals to provide summer work experiences for young Canadians while also looking to address labour shortages.
Applications are being accepted from Nov. 4, 2025, until Dec. 11, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
“We will not consider applications received or postmarked after the deadline date,” the government states in its official applicant guide.
HR professionals are urged to carefully review the “Before You Start” section and the Articles of Agreement before beginning the application process. “These resources explain what information and supporting documents are required for your application. When you apply, you will need to confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to follow the Articles of Agreement,” the federal government says.
The government advises applicants not to submit multiple copies or use different methods to submit the same application, as this can delay processing. If changes are needed after submission, applicants must contact Service Canada directly rather than submitting a new application.
How to apply for CSJ
Amid the disruptions brought on by conflicts—including those affecting Canada Post—the government strongly recommends using the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) platform for submitting applications. GCOS allows organisations to create an account using their Canada Revenue Agency payroll deductions (RP) business number and offers features such as saving drafts, tracking application status, signing agreements, and managing active or past projects.
“Creating an account is quick and only needs to be done once,” the guide notes. “We strongly recommend setting up your GCOS account before the application deadline to avoid delays or missed opportunities.”
Once an application is submitted through GCOS, applicants will immediately receive a tracking number and an acknowledgement email. The government emphasises, “If you do not receive a confirmation number or a confirmation email, your application has not been submitted.”
Employers may also apply using an online fillable application form, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada office. However, the government cautions that office closures or disruptions—such as those affecting Canada Post—may impact the ability to submit applications by mail or in person. Applications sent by fax or email will not be accepted.
If required information is missing from an application, the government will notify the applicant by email.
In 2024, the federal government made available over 70,000 job opportunities for youth across Canada under the CSJ program.
Who is eligible to apply for Canada Summer Jobs?
The CSJ provides wage subsidies to support employers in creating quality summer work experiences for youth aged 15 to 30 years.
Application is open to:
- Not-for-profit organizations
- Public sector employers
- Private sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees
Not-for-profits can receive funding for up to 100% of the minimum wage and all associated Mandatory Employment Related Costs. Meanwhile, public and private sector employers can receive funding for up to 50% of the minimum wage.
Jobs offered through CSJ funding must be full-time, requiring 30- to 40-hour work weeks—with some exceptions, such as for youth with disabilities—and must last from between 6 and 16 consecutive weeks.
These jobs must start no earlier than April 20, 2026, and end no later than Aug. 29, 2026.
Previously, the federal and Manitoba governments teamed up to help employers and workers in the area of skills development, opening the intake for the 2025-26 Canada-Manitoba Job Grant, which will provide $3.5 million this year to Manitoba businesses to train and enhance job skills for new and current workers.
To be eligible for funding under CSJ, organisations must meet the following requirements, according to the federal government:
- you must submit your application before the deadline
- you must check the attestation box
- you must provide a complete application
- you must be an eligible employer
- the project activities must be eligible
- the job duration must be between 6 and 16 consecutive weeks
- the job hours must be full-time (30 to 40 hours per week)
- you must declare whether you have applied, will apply, or have received funding from other sources to pay for part of the wages for the jobs you are requesting funding for
- the job salary must respect minimum wage requirements in your province or territory
- your organisation must declare any money owing to the Government of Canada and a payment plan must be in place before a funding agreement can be established
- you must demonstrate that you have implemented adequate health and safety practices in the work environment
- safety measures must relate to the type of work environment and specific job type and activities
- you must demonstrate that you have implemented adequate measures to ensure that hiring practices and the work environment are free of harassment and discrimination
- you must outline the supervision plan for the youth and proposed job activities
- you must outline the mentoring plan for the youth
The CSJ program objectives align with YESS and are as follows, according to the federal government:
- provide quality work experiences for youth
- provide opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills
- respond to national and local priorities to improve access to the labour market for youth who face unique barriers
Recently, Amazon Canada launched a major seasonal hiring campaign, aiming to recruit more than 7,000 employees for its operations network as the company gears up for the busy holiday period.
