ENVIRONMENT CANADA'S
SCIENCE HORIZONS YOUTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

All 2006/2007 placements are filled. No additional funding available until 2007/08. Please check back in December 2006.

Environment Canada is inviting universities, private businesses, and non-government organizations to submit project proposals for the 2006/07 Science Horizons Youth Internship Program.

The program offers promising young scientists and post-secondary graduates hands-on experience working on environmental projects under the mentorship and coaching of experienced scientists and program managers.

Detailed information on how to apply is listed below. The deadline for all applications is February 3, 2006.

Background:

The federal government announced a Youth Employment Strategy (YES) in February 1997. Environment Canada participates in the YES through the International Youth Internship Program and the Science Horizons Youth Internship Program.

Four federal departments, besides Environment Canada, deliver Science Horizons programs including: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Heritage Canada, and the National Research Council. To avoid the possibility of duplication or overlap of Science Horizons Programs, each department only approves projects which respond to the mandate of their department.

In the past nine years, Environment Canada's Science Horizons Program has helped over 900 youth across Canada obtain practical work experience in environmental projects in areas such as climate and ecosystem research, wildlife research and management, ecological monitoring and assessment and the development of scientific tools such as standards and guidelines of environmental quality.

What is Environment Canada's Science Horizons Youth Internship Program?

Environment Canada's Science Horizons Program is a collaborative effort with Canadian universities, the private sector and other non-government organizations which offer promising young scientists and post-secondary graduates hands-on experience working on environmental projects under the mentorship and coaching of experienced scientists and program managers.

How many placements will Environment Canada allocate in 2006-2007?

Approximately one hundred youth placements, lasting from 6 months to 1 year, will be awarded across Canada.

What is the timeframe for the 2006-2007 Program?

The 2006/07 Science Horizons program begins on April 1, 2006 and finishes on March 31, 2007.

When do the Employer Project Proposals have to be submitted?

Proposals must be received by the appropriate Environment Canada offices no later than Friday, February 3, 2006 (see Schedule B for addresses).

What funding is available for projects?

A maximum of $12,000 per placement. Employers must provide a minimum of 30% of the eligible cost of the project. Project costs must be only those costs associated with the Youth's involvement in the project.

Eligible Costs

Eligible costs may include any of the following:

• salaries, wages and related expenses of interns such as statutory employee benefits;
  
  
• operating expenses such as travel, training, utilities, materials and supplies, rental of premises, disbursement for research and technical studies.

It is expected the major cost of any project would be the salary or wages paid to the interns. Central administrative costs are NOT eligible costs.

How do employers participate in the program?

Potential employers should submit an application form electronically, by mail or fax (see schedule A) for project approval to the appropriate Environment Canada addresses listed under Schedule B.

Environment Canada will assess the projects against the following criteria:

• the degree of congruence and relevancy of the proposed project activities to the Science Horizons Youth Internship program objectives and the mandate of Environment Canada
• the project must provide meaningful work experience for the youth
• the duration of projects must be from 6 months to 1 year.
• all projects must start on or after April 1, 2006 and terminate by March 31, 2007
• the employer must provide a minimum of 30% of the project costs
• a mentor must be identified for each project

Environment Canada will negotiate approved project proposals directly with successful employers. Successful employers will recruit and match youth to projects. The salary of the youth will be negotiated with the employer.

Employers are encouraged to recruit youth from employment equity groups.

All employers will be notified whether their project was approved or unsuccessful.

What are the Employer Obligations to the Science Horizons Program?

Employers will:

• recruit and match youth who must be 30 years of age or under and eligible to work in Canada
• match youth with mentor/coaches (experienced scientists or program managers in the private or public sector)
• try to select youth from employment equity groups.
• assume responsibility of hiring the youth, negotiating the salary, paying the wages and any other approved costs subject to the cost-sharing agreement with Environment Canada
• ensure that the consent of the youth is obtained to participate in the evaluation/assessment of the program
• ensure the achievement of project objectives and compliance with the financial requirements of the project
• disclose to ENVIRONMENT CANADA all technical information, inventions, designs, methods and processes and other intellectual property rights related to the Project that are conceived, developed or first reduced to practice in the carrying out of the Project (collectively, the "Intellectual Property"). All Intellectual Property shall be the property of the EMPLOYER or the YOUTH as appropriate. ENVIRONMENT CANADA shall have a non-exclusive, unconditional, irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free right to use the Intellectual Property.
• make available to Environment Canada any models developed and data gathered in undertaking the project
• ensure submission of a statement of expenditures for the project
• ensure submission of a final project report by the Employer and the Youth to Environment Canada by the termination date of the project, and
• assist in securing longer term employment for the Youth in the Canadian labour market

How do youth participate in the program?

Science Horizons youth participants will at the commencement of the internship:

• have graduated from a recognized post-secondary academic institution in one of the environmental or related disciplines
• be out of school (fulltime studies)
• be unemployed or under-employed young scientists or post-secondary graduates in the sciences who are 30 years of age or under
• be legally entitled to work in Canada (This includes permanent residents of Canada but does not include 1) those awaiting permanent status, 2) persons with temporary work visas, such as students who have graduated and have temporary work visas)
• not have participated in Science Horizons or any other federal Youth Employment Strategy program except where (1) the work experience was terminated early due to employer business failure, participant became ill or incompatibility between employer/youth or (2) the component of the Youth Employment Strategy the youth participated under was for summer employment.
• consent to participate in the assessment of the program and may be required to provide their Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Interested youth who meet the criteria can e-mail or fax their résumé along with a covering letter to the desired Environment Canada offices (see Schedule B). Environment Canada regional managers will provide employers who are awarded projects with résumés of youth who match the requirements of those projects. Résumés from other regions may be requested in the event that a suitable youth cannot be found within their own area. Only youth being considered for employment in a project will be notified.

What are the Youth's Obligations?

Youth will:

• demonstrate motivation, shared responsibility and commitment to achieving project goals
• make available to Environment Canada any models developed and data gathered in undertaking the project
• submit a final project report to the employer by the completion of the project
• provide their consent to participate in the evaluation/assessment of the project and may be required to provide their Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• complete and submit the Performance Identification Form (PIF) and
• not be in receipt of Employment Insurance
  

For more information:

Call the Government of Canada Youth Info Line at 1 800 935-5555, or the Environment Canada Inquiry Centre at 1 800 668-6767 or visit the following web site:

Youth Employment Programs

SCHEDULE A

Download SCHEDULE A  "Employer Application" in Word format

To file applications electronically, click on the link found under each of the organizations listed below. A separate application will be required for each desired organization.

SCHEDULE B

ATLANTIC REGION

QUEBEC REGION

ONTARIO REGION

PRAIRIE AND NORTHERN REGION

PACIFIC AND YUKON REGION

NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTRE

NATIONAL WATER RESEARCH INSTITUTE

ECOLOGICAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT NETWORK (EMAN)

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE

List of YES Programs

Agriculture Canada/Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Science Horizons
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation - Housing Internship Initiative for First Nations and Inuit Youth
Canadian Heritage - Arts Development
Canadian Heritage - Canadian Heritage Information Network
Canadian Heritage- Heritage Development
Canadian Heritage- Information Network
Canadian Heritage - Multiculturalism
Canadian Heritage - Official Languages
Canadian Heritage - S&T Connections in Heritage
Canadian Heritage - Science Horizons - Arts Development
Canadian Heritage - Science Horizons - Canadian Conservation Institute
Canadian Heritage - Young Canada Works Internationally
Canadian International Development Agency - International Youth Internship Program
Environment Canada - International Environmental Youth Corps
Environment Canada - Science Horizons
Foreign Affairs and International Trade - Youth International Internship Program
Human Resources Development Canada - International
Human Resources Development Canada National Sector Councils
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - First Nations and Inuit Youth Work Experience Program
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - First Nations and Inuit Youth Business Program
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - First Nations Schools Co-Operative Education Program
Industry Canada - Computer for Schools Program
Industry Canada - Information Highway Initiative - Community Access Program
Netcorps Canada - The Community Access Program's Youth Employment Project
Industry Canada - Netcorps Canada International
Industry Canada - SchoolNet Youth Employment Project
Industry Canada - Science Horizons - Information Highway Science and Entrepreneurship Camps (ISE Camps)
National Research Council - Science Horizons - Science collaborative research internships
National Research Council - SMEs
Natural Resources Canada Science Horizons