For Immediate Release

YORKTON, SK - 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 January 10, 2024. 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.

"In 2023, the were approximately 49 CSJ grant recipients in Yorkton-Melville, and many, many more employers that were approved for funding, but there weren’t enough funds to go around," explained Wagantall.

"The budgeted amount for the program decreased across Canada in 2023, and I don’t expect that to change for 2024. CSJ is far from a perfect program, but I would strongly encourage employers to consider submitting an application for 2024.”

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. Public and private sector employers are eligible to receive funding for up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage. As in previous years, not-for-profit employers are eligible to receive up to 100% of the provincial-territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee.

Job placements will occur during the summer of 2024, starting in April 2024, and will need to be full time with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 40 hours per week, and a duration of 6 to 16 weeks.

Employers interested in applying for CSJ 2024 funding can submit their applications electronically using either the online fillable application or the Grants and Contributions Online Service. The online fillable application is the fastest way for employers to submit an application online, while the Grants and Contributions Online Service requires the user to create an account before submitting an application for CSJ.

"The deadline for applications for funding is earlier than it was in 2023," said Wagantall.

"I urge those who want to apply to ensure that they do so as soon as possible."

Additional information about the program and application information can be found at www.canada.ca/canada-summer-jobs.