COBSC Small Business Info-Guides
Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Info-Guide
Content provided by
Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre
Introduction
This Info-Guide provides information on a variety of resources for young entrepreneurs; including tax information, hiring, financing, as well as on various associations and online publications.
Programs and Services
Employment and Training Assistance Programs Info-Guide
This document is designed to help you navigate through
the federal and provincial government programs and services available to
businesses in Ontario that are seeking assistance to hire employees.
For further information:
see the document
Employment and Training Assistance Programs Info-Guide
Special Incentives to Hire Youth
Youth Opportunities Ontario
Youth Opportunities Ontario has several program components which can help employers hire and train youths:
- Job Connect: Employers who operate a business in Ontario, who are looking to hire staff, are ready to provide on-the-job training and/or who are seeking people who want to work, may benefit from Job Connect. Employers may be able to reduce costs associated with training a new employee. Job Connect will register job vacancies and help employers find the right person for the job.
- Summer Jobs Service: Employers (including farm businesses), and community organizations may receive $2.00/hour wage subsidies as a special incentive to hire students for jobs that can last up to 16 weeks, beginning in April and ending by September 30.
- Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program: Employers expanding their workforce in skilled trades, and able to provide structured training and supervision, can be matched with pre-qualified apprenticeship candidates. Participating students must be at least 16 years old and entering Grade 11.
For further information:
please call 416-326-5656 or 1-800-387-5656
visit the website:
Youth Opportunities Ontario
see the documents:
Youth Opportunities Ontario - Job Connect
Youth Opportunities Ontario - Summer Jobs Service
Youth Opportunities Ontario - Youth Apprenticeship Program
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)
Canada Summer Jobs provides funding for small businesses
with 50 or fewer employees, public-sector employers, and not-for-profit
organizations to create high-quality summer job opportunities.
For further information:
vist the website:
Canada Summer Jobs
see the document
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)
Internship Program with Innovative Small and Medium Enterprises
The Internship Program with Innovative Small and Medium
Enterprises provides financial assistance to innovative Canadian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for the hiring of post-secondary graduates to work on innovation projects in these companies.
For further information:
please call 1-877-994-4727
visit the website:
Internship Program with Innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
see the document
Internship Program with Innovative Small and Medium Enterprises
Career Focus Program
The Career Focus Program (CFP), part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy, provides recent graduates with career-related work opportunities to help them acquire advanced skills and become leaders in their fields. The objectives of the CFP are to facilitate the transition of skilled young people to a rapidly changing labour market and to increase the supply of qualified people in the workplace. Candidates should:
-
be a Canadian citizen;
-
be a recent science graduate (within the last three years) from a Canadian University with a degree in biological, chemical, agricultural or veterinary science, or applied technology;
-
be under the age of 31;
-
be currently unemployed or under-employed;
-
not be in receipt of Employment Insurance benefits; and
-
not be a previous participant in any internship program funded by the Youth Employment Strategy of the federal government.
Note: Post-secondary graduates are limited to participation in one Career Focus project.
For further information:
see the document
Career Focus Program
Sectoral Career Focus Program
The Sectoral Career Focus Program is a national initiative between the Government of Canada and sector councils and cross-sectoral organizations. Sector councils are well positioned to develop projects that assist youth in finding quality employment and are well qualified to act as project managers, assessing and matching employers and participants based on program eligibility requirements and assuming responsibility for the overall financial management of projects. As project managers and recipient sponsors, sector councils assess potential employers and participants to ensure they meet program eligibility requirements and assume responsibility for the overall financial management of projects.
Young Canada Works
Young Canada Works (YCW) provides wage subsidies to help secondary and post-secondary students access summer work experiences in key cultural and heritage sectors. Young Canada Works sponsors the following summer work opportunities:
- Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages;
- Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations;
- Young Canada Works at Building Careers in English and
French;
- Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage;
and
- Young Canada Works for Aboriginal Urban Youth.
For further information:
visit the website:
HRSDC-Our Offices
see the document
Young Canada Works
Government Support Services for Young Entrepreneurs and Employees
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) Offices for Students
Employers can get quick access to enthusiastic workers by contacting one of over Human Resources Centres of Canada for Students (HRCC-S) open across Canada through the summer months. They can also get information on wage levels, labour laws, health and safety in the workplace and other federal and provincial youth employment programs.
For further information:
please call 1-800-935-5555
visit the website:
Human Resource Centres of Canada for Students (HRCC-S)
Young Entrepreneur Awards - Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
Every year, the BDC presents the Young Entrepreneur Awards (YEA). Thirteen young Canadian entrepreneurs aged between 19 and 35 years old - one from each province and territory - will receive these awards to recognize their accomplishments. To be eligible, candidates must have at least two years of experience as entrepreneurs and must be Canadian citizens. Winners are also eligible for two other prizes: the Export Achievement Award, consisting of a $15,000 grant, and the WestJet Creative Mind Award, which also consists of a $15,000 grant. These grants are intended to help companies in their efforts to achieve growth objectives; therefore, they must be invested in the business.
For further information:
please call 1-877-232-2269
visit the website:
Business Development Bank of Canada - Young entrepreneur
see the document
Young Entrepreneur Awards
Environmental Youth Corp. - EYC
The Environmental Youth Corp. (EYC) is
designed to create a six to twelve month window-of-opportunity for
post-secondary graduates under the age of 30. These individuals are either
unemployed or underemployed and are seeking to gain experience in either a
national or international environmental project. Matching youth with growing
Canadian organizations, the Canadian Council for Human Resources in the
Environment Industry (CCHREI) through Environmental Careers
Organization Canada (ECO) not only supplies companies with a database of hundreds of pre-screened, work-ready young professionals, they also supply a wage subsidy of up to $12 000 (depending on the length and type of project your company is undertaking).
For further information:
visit the website:
ECO Canada - Apply for Internships
see the document
Environmental Youth Corp. (EYC) and International Environmental Youth Corps (IEYC)
Employer Sponsored Training - EST
The Employer Sponsored Training (EST) is a Government of Canada initiative to help employers avoid laying people off as a result of changes in their workplace. Training activities supported under EST must be clearly linked to prevention of job loss for targeted employees or the provision of skills that will shorten the duration of unemployment. The maximum duration of an EST project is normally one year.
For further information:
please call 1-800-622- 6232
visit the website:
Service Canada - Employer Sponsored Training
see the document
Employer Sponsored Training Fact Sheet
( PDF - 32.7 KB )
Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit
The Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit (AJCTC) is a non-refundable tax credit equal to 10% of the eligible salaries and wages payable to eligible apprentices in respect of employment after May 1, 2006.
For further information:
please call 1-800-959-5525
visit the website:
Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit
see the document
Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit
Financing
Access to capital is one of the most challenging aspects of business ownership. There are various programs and resources for entrepreneurs in obtaining financing; listed below are some of the tools and resources available to entrepreneurs in Ontario.
For further information:
Summer Company
The Summer Company program provides hands-on business training and mentoring together with awards of up to $3,000 to help enterprising young people start up and run their own summer businesses. Summer Company is coordinated and delivered at the community level through the Small Business Enterprise Centres by way of community mentoring groups. Community mentoring groups consist of volunteer business advisors from the local community.
For further information:
please call 1-800-387-5656
visit the website:
Summer Company
see the document
Summer Company
Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) Loan Program
This organization provides loans and mentoring to young entrepreneurs (aged 18 to 34) who are eligible to work in Canada, have written a comprehensive business plan and are not able to raise the necessary financing from other sources.
For further information:
please call 416-408-2923 or 1-800-464-2923
visit the website:
Canadian Youth Business Foundation
see the documents:
Mentors for Young Entrepreneurs
Start-up Financing for Youth
Succession Financing for Youth
Expansion Financing for Youth
Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur
The NOHFC Young Entrepreneur program aims to mobilize a
new generation of entrepreneurs and community builders in the North, securing a
more prosperous future for tomorrow’s northern families and workers.
For further information:
visit the website:
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
see the document
Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur
Youth Internship and Co-op
Through this program, young northerners will have access
to work placements and internships that will serve as a springboard to rewarding
and successful careers.
For further information:
visit the website:
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
see the document
Youth Internship and Co-op
Regulations
For regulatory or legal questions, it may be useful to contact a lawyer through the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Lawyer Referral Service.
For further information:
please call 416-947-3300 or 1-800-668-7380
visit the website:
The Law Society of Upper Canada
see the document
Selecting Professional Services
Business Start-Up Info-Guide
The Business Start-Up Info-Guide is designed to help you
navigate through the federal and provincial government programs, services and
regulations that may apply to individuals starting a business in Ontario.
For further information:
see the document
Business Start-Up Info-Guide
Ontario Human Rights Code
All employers in Ontario must adhere to the Ontario Human Rights Code. The code states that all Employment decisions should be based on the applicant’s ability to do the job and not on factors that are unrelated to the job.
For further information:
please call 1-800-387-9080
visit the website:
Ontario Human Rights Commission
Employment Standards Act
The Employment Standards Branch of the Ontario Ministry
of Labour is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the
Employment Standards Act, which provides for minimum terms and conditions of employment in most industries.
For further information:
please call 416-326-7160 or 1-800-531-5551
visit these websites:
What You Should Know About The Ontario Employment Standards Act
What Young Workers Should Know
Employment Standards Claim
Employee Self Help Kit
see the documents:
Employment Regulations Info-Guide
Employment and Training Assistance Programs Info-Guide
Employee or Self-Employed?
Business Taxes
All businesses must be aware of the various taxes that may apply to their product or service. Depending on the type and location of products or services being offered, federal, provincial and/or municipal business taxes may apply.
Taxation Info-Guide
The Taxation Info-Guide is designed to help you navigate through the federal and provincial government programs, services and regulations related to taxation that may apply to individuals starting or operating a business in Ontario.
For further information:
see the document
Taxation Info-Guide
Other Resources
Youth Business Associations
Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF)
In addition to its financing programs (listed in section 1), the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) takes a proactive role in assisting young people who want to forge their own career paths in the spirit of entrepreneurship. Funded solely by the private sector, the CYBF provides three key areas of support: a Loan Program, a Mentor program, and online business support.
For further information:
please call 416-408-2923
visit the website:
Canadian Youth Business Foundation
Websites of Interest
Employment Ontario, Ontario’s Employment and Training Network - Ministry of Education and the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
Employment Ontario wants to help you get the training, education, skills and experience to achieve your goals and to connect people looking for work with employers looking for workers. By using the website Employment Ontario Online, you will be able to learn about employment and training services offered in Ontario and find services offered in your area.
For further information:
visit the website:
Employment Ontario
Youth.gc.ca
Youth.gc.ca contains information on the employment world, and will help you plan your career, find out about training, education and other services, learn about available youth employment programs and understand how to find a job. The Youth Path website is an initiative of the Youth Employment Strategy (YES) which is the Government of Canada’s commitment to help Canadian youth get the work experience, knowledge, skills and information they need to prepare for, and participate in, the world of work.
For further information:
visit the website:
youth.gc.ca
Youth Link
Youth Link is a guide to Government of Canada programs and services for youth. Young people can access information on work experience and learning opportunities, entrepreneurship, international work and travel experience, student loans, scholarships and much more.
For further information:
visit the website:
Youth Link
Youth - Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The website Youth - Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade offers several types of programs. The international exchanges and internship programs encourage young Canadians to learn new skills that will help them compete in Canada and in the global economy. Whether you are interested in travelling or studying in a foreign country, Canada offers various programs aimed for youth.
For further information:
visit the website:
Youth - Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
ACE-Canada
ACE-Canada (Advanced Canadian Entrepreneurship Inc.) is a national not-for profit, campus-based organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in Canadians. The organization achieves this through the partnership of experience and outreach driven entrepreneurship programs.
For further information:
visit the website:
Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship Inc
Mazemaster
The Mazemaster is unique career and job exploration tool designed to help youth
ages 14-29. Developed through a partnership between the
Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) and Human Resources
Development Canada (HRDC) Mazemaster is a portal that provides Canada’s youth with the
means to access relevant employment and training information on the
Internet.
Youthabilities, a module of Mazemaster offers a wealth of information
on employment, training and networking opportunities specifically for youth with
disabilities.
For further information:
visit the websites:
Mazemaster
Mazemaster Youthabilities
Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement (JA) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to educating and inspiring young people about business and economics. The JA experience helps young people discover leadership, entrepreneurial and workforce readiness skills so they can achieve their highest potential and future successes as citizens in the global community.
For further information:
visit the website:
Junior Achievement (JA)
Canadian Outstanding Young Farmers' Program
The Canadian Outstanding Young Farmer’s Program (COYFP)
provides a positive platform to celebrate and recognize progress and excellence
in agriculture in Canada. This involves a number of annual activities, including
competitions across the country and a National Recognition Event, in an effort
to increase awareness of the importance of agriculture in this country and to
celebrate producer achievements.
For further information:
visit the website:
Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program (OYF)
Canadian Young Farmers Forum (CYFF)
Canadian Young Farmers Forum (CYFF) provides a
multi-faceted development opportunity for young farmers (aged 18 - 40) that
serves to inform participants, consolidate young farmer opinion, and offer
leadership training and advice.
For further information:
visit the website:
Canadian Farmers' Forum
Global Edge
Global Edge is a pilot initiative for enterprising post-secondary students who are 19 to 29 years old. It will help students develop a broader understanding of the global economy. Over the summer, participants will work for reputable international corporations, complete challenging work assignments and learn more about how international business operates. Partner companies include Canadian and international banks, information and communication technology (ICT) operations, as well as companies operating within the construction, transportation and aerospace sectors.
For further information:
visit the website:
Global Edge
Career Edge
Career Edge is a private sector, not-for-profit organization. The Carreer
Edge’s internship programs offer six-, nine- or 12-month paid internships for
university, college, and high school graduates to established Canadian
companies in Canada’s business community who are looking for safe,
cost-effective means to hire recent graduates.
Career Edge offers the following three internship
programs:
-
Career Edge for recent
graduates
-
Ability Edge for graduates with
disabilities
-
Career Bridge for internationally qualified
professionals
For further information:
visit the website:
Career Edge - For Recent Graduates
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)- Young Canadian Leaders for a Sustainable Future program (YCLSF)
The project is run by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and is one of the Youth International Internship projects funded jointly by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (FAITC) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) as part of the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy.
For further information:
visit the website :
IISD - YCLSF Internships Program
see the document
International Institute for Sustainable Development
DECA Ontario
DECA Ontario is part of an international organization
which works to enhance the experience of students with an interest in business,
marketing and entrepreneurship through group activities at its many chapters at
high schools across the province.
For further information:
visit the website :
DECA Ontario
Junior Chamber International Canada (JCI)
Through membership in local chapters, young
professionals and entrepreneurs who join JCI Canada get involved in developing
projects around four keys areas, including business development.
For further information:
visit the website :
Junior Chamber International Canada (JCI)
Youth Science Foundation (YSF) Canada
The Youth Science Foundation (YSF) Canada helps young
Canadians develop the skills to achieve excellence in a knowledge-based economy.
Among its many initiatives and programs aimed at encouraging the youth of Canada
to participate in scientific and technology projects, and in innovation in
general, is its showcase event, the annual Canada-Wide Science Fair, which
attracts the best young scientists from across the country.
For further information:
visit the website :
Youth Science Foundation (YSF)
Youth Science and Technology Outreach Program
The Youth Science and Technology Outreach Program will
provide youth with greater interactions with Ontario’s leading-edge researchers
and technologists by funding the activities of the following kinds of
organizations, among others:
-
non-profit research institutions
-
science awareness organizations
-
industry or professional associations
-
non-profit community organizations supporting youth
at-risk
For further information:
visit the website :
Youth Science and Technology Outreach Program
Need more information?
Click:
Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre
Call: 1-888-576-4444
Visit: our
Regional Access Program Locations page
to locate an office near you
Some of the organizations listed above are not subject to the federal
Official Languages Act
or the
French Language Services Act
of Ontario. Their services may not be available in both official languages.
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