Today, April 8, 2020, the federal government announced temporary changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program, intended to help employers hire summer staff and provide young Canadians access to the jobs they need during this unprecedented time.
The government declared this program upgrade will help create up to 70,000 jobs for those between the ages of 15 and 30 years of age.
The temporary changes to the program:
- an increase to the wage subsidy, so that private and public sector employers can also receive up to 100 per cent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee;
- an extension to the end date for employment to February 28, 2021;
- allowing employers to adapt their projects and job activities to support essential services; and
- allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis.
According to the government, these changes will help youth stay connected to the labour market, save money for their future, and find quality jobs in safe, inclusive, and healthy work environments.
Other measures have previously been announced to assist young Canadians during the crisis, including: [1] a six-month, interest-free moratorium on Canada Student Loans; and [2] a 75 per cent wage subsidy for businesses that will help more employers keep part-time employees and workers over the coming months.
The Canada Summer Jobs program provides opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills within the not-for-profit, small business, and public sectors, and supports the delivery of key community services.
