The Government of Canada announced additional information of interest to non-profits and charities today (April 8, 2020). The changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program will help small businesses hire and keep the workers they need so they can continue to deliver essential services. According to today’s press release:[1]
The temporary changes to the program for this year include:
- 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
- allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis
While the Canada Summer Jobs call for applications for the 2020 season closed on February 28, 2020, this is another example of the federal government making tweaks to existing social supports to roll out emergency relief in a time of crisis. As such, it will work with Members of Parliament to identify organizations that provide essential services in the community and could provide youth jobs but did not apply for the Canada Summer Jobs program in 2020.
We encourage you to get in touch with your MP if the Canada Summer Jobs program could help your organization hire youth employees and provide essential services. With the new, expanded program length, job placements could begin as early as May 11, 2020, and end as late as February 28, 2021.
Lex Klombies is a charity and non-profit lawyer at Drache Aptowitzer LLP. She can be reached at LKlombies@drache.ca.
[1] “Changes to Canada Summer Jobs program to help businesses and young Canadians affected by COVID-19”, April 8, 2020, online: https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/04/08/changes-canada-summer-jobs-program-help-businesses-and-young