Funding for Employers

Nova Scotia Funding Programs

Co-operative Education Incentive
This program assists private sector, government-funded, and non-profit organizations representing all industries hire domestic and international co-op students for fall, winter, and summer terms. There is a wage subsidy of $7.50/hour of a required minimum hourly wage of $15.00. Despite $15.00/hour being the minimum hourly wage accepted under this program, paying a higher wage will increase the likelihood of receiving funding approval. An additional $1.50/hour, for a total per-hour subsidy of $9.00, is available if hiring students from a designated diversity group. Eligible organizations approved for CEI funding may also apply for relocation assistance of up to $1,000 to be given to the student they are hiring that will be travelling or relocating from more than 100km away. Learn more at https://novascotia.ca/programs/co-op-education-incentive/

Student Summer Skills – Co-op Stream
This program assists non-profit organizations hire domestic and international co-op students for the summer term. There is a wage subsidy of $10.10/hour of a required minimum hourly wage of $13.95. An additional $1.00/hour, for a total per-hour subsidy of $11.10, is available if hiring students from a designated diversity group. Learn more at https://novascotia.ca/programs/student-summer-skills-incentive/

Student Summer Skills – Regular Stream
This program assists non-profit organizations hire domestic and international co-op students for the summer term. There is a wage subsidy of $9.10/hour. Students must be paid minimum wage or more. An additional $1.00/hour, for a total per-hour subsidy of $10.10, is available if hiring students from a designated diversity group. Learn more at https://novascotia.ca/programs/student-summer-skills-incentive/

Nova Scotia Energy Training Program
This program assists small to medium-sized private sector organizations operating in the energy sector hire domestic and international co-op students for the summer term. There is a  wage subsidy of 50%, to a maximum of $7.50/hour. An additional $1.50/hour, for a maximum total per-hour subsidy of $9.00, is available if hiring students from a designated diversity group . Learn more at https://energy.novascotia.ca/industry-development/energy-training-program

Federal Funding Programs

ICTC - WIL Digital
This program assists private sector (excluding financial institutions) and non-profit organizations hire domestic co-op students for fall, winter, and summer terms. Positions with a minimum of three digital skills students will learn as part of a work term may qualify. There is a wage subsidy of 50% to a maximum of $5,000 or 70% to a maximum of $7,000, if hiring students from under-represented groups. It must be a 'net-new' position. Learn more at https://www.wil-ait.digital/en/

BioTalent Canada
This program assists biotechnology and healthcare organizations hire domestic co-op students for fall, winter, and summer terms. Other organizations (excluding federal government and post-secondary institutions) may be eligible if the position has a bio-economy focus. There is a wage subsidy of 50% to a maximum of $5,000 or 70% to a maximum of $7,000, if hiring students from under-represented groups. It must be a 'net-new' position. Learn more at https://www.biotalent.ca/programs/student-work-placement-program/

ECO Canada
This program assists private sector businesses, non-federal research institutions, and non-profit organizations hire domestic co-op students for fall, winter, and summer terms. Post-secondary institutions may be eligible. Positions must have a tie to the environment. There is a wage subsidy of 50% to a maximum of $5,000 or 70% to a maximum of $7,000, if hiring students from under-represented groups. It must be a 'net-new' position. Learn more at https://eco.ca/environmental-professionals/employment-funding-and-job-board/apply-for-job-funding/

Venture for Canada
This program assists small to medium-sized businesses and non-profit organizations in Atlantic and Western Canada hire domestic co-op students during fall, winter, and summer terms. Positions must involve innovation or new initiatives. There is a wage subsidy of 50% to a maximum of $5,000 or 70% to a maximum of $7,000, if hiring students from under-represented groups. The required minimum hourly wage is $15.00. It must be a 'net-new' position. Learn more at https://ventureforcanada.ca/

Technation - Career Ready Program
This program assists private sector and non-profit organizations hire domestic co-op students for fall, winter, and summer terms. Positions must be tech-immersive. There is a wage subsidy of 50% to a maximum of $5,000 or 70% to a maximum of $7,000, if hiring students from under-represented groups. It must be a 'net-new' placement. Learn more at https://technationcanada.ca/en/future-workforce-development/career-ready-program/  

Magnet
This program assists private sector and non-profit organizations representing all industries hire domestic co-op students for fall, winter, and summer terms. There is a wage subsidy of 50% to a maximum of $5,000 or 70% to a maximum of $7,000, if hiring students from under-represented groups. It must be a 'net new' placement. Learn more at https://swpp.magnet.today/

Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
This program assists businesses operating in manufacturing and related sectors hire domestic co-op students for fall, winter, and summer terms. There is a wage subsidy of 50% to a maximum of $5,000 or 70% to a maximum of $7,000, if hiring students from under-represented groups. It must be a 'net new' placement. Learn more at https://emccanada.org/emc-network/funded-programs/wilworks-swpp

MITACS – Accelerate
This program assists public sector, private sector, and non-profit organizations in Canada, as well as for-profit businesses operating outside of Canada, hire domestic and international co-op students to engage in research. Students are required to spend approximately half of the time on-site with the industry partner and the remainder spent at the university advancing the research under the guidance of a faculty supervisor. There is a wage subsidy of $7,500 which is 50% of the student wage over a period of four months. Learn more at https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/accelerate

Canada Summer Jobs
This program assists public sector, private sector (no more than 50 employees), and non-profit organizations hire domestic co-op students for the summer term. There is a wage subsidy of 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for public and private sector employers. Non-profit organizations are eligible to receive funding for up to 100% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage. Learn more at https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs.html

Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations
This program assists non-profit organizations with a heritage mandate, educational or cultural institution with distinct objectives related to heritage, and Aboriginal governing bodies and organizations hire domestic co-op students for the summer term. There is a wage subsidy of up to 75% of the student’s employment costs to a maximum of $10,000. Learn more at https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/young-canada-works/employers/heritage-organizations-employers.html

Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages
This program assists public sector, private sector, municipality, and non-profit organizations conducting activities in both official languages hire domestic co-op students for the summer term. There is a wage subsidy of 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. Learn more at https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/funding/young-canada-works/employers/official-languages-employers.html

NSERC Alliance Grant Program
This program assists university researchers who have at least one partner organization (private, public, or non-profit) that they are working with on projects aimed at addressing a company-specific problem. One-time grants will cover all eligible costs associated with the research. Grants can be used to hire domestic co-op students. Learn more at https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Innovate-Innover/alliance-alliance/index_eng.asp

NB & PE Funding Programs

Student Employment Experience Development (SEED) Program - NB
This program assists municipalities, non-profit organizations, and First Nations communities in New Brunswick hire co-op students for the summer term. Students must be from NB. A wage subsidy is provided upfront and varies depending on organizational type. Learn more at https://www.workingnb.ca/seed/?preview&_ga=2.35997860.526628379.1637161644-53074905.1637161644#eligibility

Jobs for Youth Program - PE
This program assists private and public sector, municipalities, and non-profit organizations hire co-op students for the summer term. Students must be from PE. A wage subsidy of 50% of the provincial minimum wage is provided for private sector organizations, while a subsidy of 100% of the provincial minimum wage is provided for public sector and non-profit organizations. Learn more at https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/service/jobs-for-youth-program

SkillsPEI Post Secondary Program - PE
This program assists private sector, public sector, and non-profit organizations hire co-op students for the summer term. Students must be from PE. A wage subsidy of 50% of the approved hourly wage is provided for private sector organizations, while a subsidy of 100% of the approved hourly wage is provided for public sector and non-profit organizations. Learn more at https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/service/post-secondary-student-program