For Immediate Release
January 29, 2021
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on young Canadians who are trying to find work. Employers are also facing challenges when recruiting and hiring workers while adapting to the realities of the pandemic. That’s why the Government of Canada continues to take action to provide good job opportunities for youth and to support employers across Canada.
Today, Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, on behalf of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced that the employer application period for Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2021 is EXTENDED until February 3, 2021.This year, up to 120,000 job opportunities will be available to young Canadians. This represents a 50 percent increase from the 80,000 CSJ opportunities approved in 2020. With this significant increase, more employers and youth will be able to apply and benefit from the program.
Not-for-profit organizations and public- and private-sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees in Sault Ste. Marie, Prince Township, Goulais River, Batchewana First Nation, Garden River First Nation can now apply funding to hire a young Canadian.
Similar temporary flexibilities introduced for CSJ 2020 will be applied this year to help small businesses operate. These include:
o a wage subsidy, so that private and public sector employers can receive up to 75 percent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee (not-for-profit organizations will continue to receive 100 percent);
o an extension to the end date for employment to February 26, 2022; and
o allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis.
Employers interested in applying for CSJ 2021 funding are encouraged to open an account on the secure Government Grants and Contributions Online Services portal, a one-time process that will allow them to apply for this and other funding opportunities across Employment and Social Development Canada.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the Government of Canada will continue to work to protect Canadians’ jobs and to help businesses stay strong.
“This program has helped so many young people in the riding of Sault Ste. Marie over the years. Small businesses, the not-for-profit sector and public sector employers continue to play a crucial role in the success of this program. Creating more job opportunities for young Canadians has never been more important than now. By working together, we will make a difference for young people everywhere and work toward building a stronger Canada.”
Terry Sheehan, MP, Sault Ste. Marie
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Media Contact:
Jennifer MacNab
613-406-1280 [email protected]