Monday, December 21, 2020 | VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC
by Mary P Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
Canada Summer Jobs 2021 Funding Applications period opened today and will remain open until January 29, 2021. Applications are done online.
Last year, in response to the COVID-19 situation, flexibilities were introduced to respond to the needs of employers and youth. As a response to the ongoing pandemic, similar (but not identical) temporary flexibilities will be applied this year to help small businesses operate. These include:
- a wage subsidy, so that private and public-sector employers can receive up to 75 percent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee (not-for-profit organizations will continue to receive 100 percent) — note in 2020 the coverage was 100 percent for small business as well as non-profits.
- an extension to the end date for employment to February 26, 2022; and
- allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis (other than in 2020, all CSJ hiring has had to be full-time).
Alistair MacGregor, MP (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford) encourages all employers in the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding who are interested in applying for CSJ 2021 funding to prepare their applications and take advantage of application availability now.
Set up with a GCOS account:
Applicants who do not have an account on the secure Government Grants and Contributions Online Services portal are encouraged to create one prior to undertaking the application process. Registration is a one-time process that allows employers to submit their applications for CSJ funding and other funding opportunities offered through Employment and Social Development Canada.
“I am pleased to learn that Employment and Social Development Canada is renewing the flexibilities to the Canada Summer Jobs program that assisted employers as they navigated the COVID-19 pandemic last year,” said MP MacGregor. “While we all look forward to a less chaotic year ahead, it is vital that the government continue to assist employers through the culmination of this crisis.”
Program objectives:
The Canada Summer Jobs program objectives align with the redesigned Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and are as follows:
- Provide quality work experiences for youth (ages 15 to 30);
- Respond to national and local priorities to improve access to the labour market for youth who face unique barriers (these vary from year to year, but have included women, Indigenous, and people with disabilities); and
- Provide opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills (a training component is part of the commitment for employers).
Youth will be able to search for jobs available in their communities through the Job Bank website and app.
“Particularly during these extraordinary times, I realize the impacts small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and public sector employers have on our community. I encourage all interested local organizations to apply for Canada Summer Jobs 2021 funding,” stated MacGregor.
For more information, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2020/12/csj0.html
