Wages shall be agreed upon with the employers prior to the approval of Wage Subsidy. Education and Training will pay a maximum of 75% of the wages up to $16.00/hour
Generally, Education and Training will only subsidize 50% of the negotiated employment duration. Twelve (12) weeks is the maximum employment duration allowed. Education and Training will not pay the twelve (12 weeks) consecutively. The Employer and Education and Training will agree upon a payment schedule. Employers cannot hire immediate family.
Click Here to view the Wage Subsidy Program application
The Wage Subsidy Program can assist aboriginal Indigenous people to prepare for, obtain and maintain full time new employment. Education and Training offers both regular Wage Subsidy and Seasonal Wage Subsidy programs.
The purpose of this program is to provide employer’s with an incentive to hire aboriginal Indigenous employee’s whom they would not have normally hired in the absence of a subsidy.
Aboriginal Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Non-Aboriginal businesses or organizations are eligible applicants. The employee; however, must be an aboriginal Indigenous person and must not already be an employee of the employer applying for wage subsidy.
Guidelines:
- Wages agreements must be agreed upon with the employer prior to the approval of the wage subsidy
- The programs will pay a maximum of 75% of the wages up to $16.00/hour
- The program will only subsidize 50% of the negotiate employment duration to a maximum of 26 weeks and will not pay the weeks consecutively
- The employer must maintain employment of the subsidized individual for 10 weeks immediately following the wage subsidy contract with no lapse in employment weeks. If all terms are not properly fulfilled, the employer will be responsible for paying back 50% of the entire contract
- Employers cannot hire immediate family
Click Here to view the Wage Subsidy Program Application
The Self-Employment Assistance Program provides financial support to Indigenous individuals who wish to start their own business. Through this program, eligible clients may receive up to $10,000.00 to help cover living expenses and other personal costs during the early stages of opening the business. These funds are intended solely for personal support and cannot be used as direct investment in the business.
In addition, Education and Training may provide funding to engage consultants or technical experts to assess business opportunities and/or assist with the preparation of a business plan.
To be eligible, applicants must be Indigenous and committed to developing their business on a full-time basis. Client cannot be employed elsewhere while participating in the program, as the intent is to allow them to focus their time and efforts on establishing and growing their business.
Please note that home-based businesses are not eligible for support under this program.
Applications must include a completed application, resume, relevant business documentation (such as a business number, permits, and leases were applicable), proof of Indigenous ancestry, and either a business plan (for living allowance support) or a consultant quote (for lump-sum business plan assistance).
Business plans must be complete and include, at minimum, the following sections:
- Executive Summary
- Business Description
- Market Analysis
- Marketing Plan
- Sales Strategy
- Competitive Analysis
- Management and Organization
- Products and Services
- Operating Plan
Applications must be submitted before the business begins operating. The following documentation must also be included with the application:
- Business Number
- Required Permits
- Copy of Lease or Rental Agreement (if applicable)
- Copy of Insurance Policy
- Articles of Incorporation
Additional documentation may be required by Education and Training prior to a final decision.
The Graduate Incentive Program provides financial assistance to graduates looking for employment. Incentives for graduates and employers include:
- employment counseling and job search
- income support for job shadowing
- a lump sum bonus to the graduates upon hiring
- wage subsidy program (guarantees full time employment for at least 6 weeks following the wage subsidy)
Qualified graduates must:
- have completed training no longer than two years prior to the application date
- not have worked in the field of study for more than four consecutive weeks since graduation
Click Here to view the Grad Incentive Program application