Career Focus Program in Agriculture and Agri-Food

These pages contain information you will need to:

• respond to enquiries about AAFC's participation in the Career Focus Program;
• administer project approval and evaluation;
• download forms.

Introduction

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is one of the science-based federal departments participating in the program.

At Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Career Focus Program will contribute $1.1 million to research projects that employ recent graduates in agri-food science and veterinary medicine. Each project will be eligible to receive up to $12,000 in matching funds.

The program will help create some 80 agri-science and veterinary internships for graduates across the country. Each internship may last up to 12 months. There is no minimum duration, but internships must last long enough to provide meaningful experience to the participant.

How the program works

Program administration

The program is administered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada but led by industry. Organizations that want to sponsor internships must submit project proposals to AAFC, recruit graduates and share the cost of each project.

Who can participate?

Sponsors

Organizations conducting research with commercial potential in agri-food science or veterinary medicine may apply to sponsor an internship. Applicants may be from industry, not-for-profit organizations, provincial and municipal governments, associations, boards, councils, and universities.

Graduates

The program is intended for young people who are unemployed or under-employed and who have studied in a science program in a university, college or CEGEP, or in a provincial program focussing on biological, agricultural and veterinary science, or applied technology. Participants must be Canadian citizens or have landed immigrant status.

The process

Graduates register

Interested graduates should first register with the National Graduate Register, a bilingual, searchable, database accessible on the Internet at http://www.workopoliscampus.com/

Sponsors propose projects

Prospective sponsors originate project proposals. Sponsors must complete and sign all forms necessary for an evaluation of the proposal. Sponsors must also meet all requirements of the program regarding the provision of documents such as the candidate's birth certificate, diploma (or as a first step, the most recent transcript) and immigration certificate if applicable. Sponsors must submit project proposals to the research centre responsible for the program's coordination for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Contact information is at the end of this document.

Projects must offer the graduate meaningful work that may last up to one year. There is no minimum duration, but a project must last long enough to give the participant significant experience and be likely to lead to long-term employment or self-employment.

AAFC evaluates project proposals

The director of the AAFC research centre will evaluate proposals to determine the scientific merit of projects. The director then approves or rejects the proposal. A proposed project is not required to follow a research centre's specific mandate. For projects outside the scope of a particular research centre, the director may request advice from another research centre.

Sponsor administers project

The sponsor is responsible for hiring the participant, administering the project, presenting AAFC with a project report upon completion and ensuring that the participant completes an evaluation form.

Hiring the participant

Once the project description is completed, the sponsor must recruit a competent candidate, who has graduated within the last three years, to fill the position.

Candidates must be no more than 30 years of age.

Sponsors may use the National Graduate Register to find suitable candidates, or hire the candidate of their choice. The participants must be chosen before funds are granted. The terms of the participant's contribution towards the project and the responsibilities of the sponsor and of AAFC will be spelled out in the Career Focus Contribution Agreement document.

Although a project may last for two years, participants may work for one year only. The sponsor must find a second graduate for the second year.

Administering federal funding

AAFC will issue 50 per cent of funds after the first six months of the internship only upon reception of the Financial Engagement form and proof of salary payment to the candidate. Career Focus Program funds may only be allocated for salaries. The sponsor is responsible for paying the participant. The payment of the last 50 per cent is made at the end of the internship, upon reception of the final report, proof of salary payment to the candidate, and Financial Engagement form.

Reporting information

AAFC is responsible for conducting program evaluation after 12 months and 36 months.

Service standards for sponsors

• Sponsors will advertise their work-placement opportunities (e.g., project description, application procedure for participants, recruitment, selection, wages, etc.) through various communications tools.
• Sponsors will ensure that the program coordinator receives all necessary forms related to the subsidy request.
• Sponsors must ensure that the candidate's diploma is sent to the program coordinator. The agreement could be nullified should this document be missing.
• Sponsors will pay participants in a timely manner according to the agreement reached upon the signature of documents.
• Sponsors will ensure that visibility is given to the Government of Canada in various promotional and media activities.
• Sponsors will respond to all youth enquiries in a timely manner.

The Career Focus Program is not a summer employment program.

Forward your request to:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
National coordinator
Jocelyne Martineau
430, Gouin blvd
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
J3B 3E6

Forms and contracts

You may now use the online forms to fill-in the required information but, you MUST print and send the forms by mail.

* What is PDF?

Contact

For more information or to order a hard copy of these documents, contact:

Jocelyne Martineau
National Officer
Career Focus Program
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Telephone: (450) 346-4494, ext. 182
Facsimile: (450) 346-7740
430, Gouin Blvd.
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
J3B 3E6

Email:  martineauj@agr.gc.ca