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Targeted Wage Subsidies
Targeted Wage Subsidies is an employment program of Human Resources and Social Development Canada that provides funding to employers to encourage them to hire individuals whom they would not normally hire in the absence of a subsidy.
Program Information
Program objective
Targeted Wage Subsidies assist unemployed eligible individuals enhance their skills and improve their employability. Targeted Wage Subsidies provide employers with financial assistance towards wages of eligible individuals whom they hire.
Who delivers Targeted Wage Subsidies?
- Human Resources and Social Development Canada has Labour Market Development Agreements with all provinces and territories that define how its employment programs known as Employment Benefits and Support Measures are to be delivered by each province or territory.
- Service Canada delivers Targeted Wage Subsidies and other Employment Benefits and Support Measures in Newfoundland and Labrador , Nova Scotia , Prince-Edward-Island , British Columbia and the Yukon.
- In New Brunswick
, Québec , Ontario , Manitoba , Saskatchewan , Alberta , the Northwest Territories and Nunavut , provincial and territorial governments deliver similar employment programs. By clicking on the name of the province or territory, you can obtain information about its employment programs.
Eligibility Information
Individuals
Am I eligible for participation in Targeted Wage Subsidies?
- To be eligible for participation in Targeted Wage Subsidies, you must be an unemployed individual ("insured participant") as defined by Section 58 of the Employment Insurance Act. This means that you are an individual for whom:
a) an unemployment benefit period has been established or has ended within the 36 months (3 years) prior to the date of requesting assistance; or
b) a benefit period that included a maternity or parental claim has been established within the 60 months (5 years) prior to the date of requesting assistance, after which you remained out of the labour market in order to care for a newborn or newly adopted child and are now seeking to re-enter the labour force.
- Other criteria may apply.
What else do I need to know?
- The date your completed application is received by Service Canada is the date when you are considered to have requested assistance. This date is used to determine whether you qualify as an "insured participant" within the timeframes outlined above.
- Financial assistance in the form of a subsidy is provided to employers to cover the costs of wages paid to the participant. Financial assistance may also be provided to cover all or a portion of the costs related to the special needs of persons with disabilities.
- Temporary financial assistance may be provided in exceptional circumstances to cover all or part of the following costs related to participation (e.g., dependant care, disability needs and transportation).
- Your application must be approved by Service Canada before you begin activities with the employer.
- The maximum duration of an agreement with an employer or a participant is 78 consecutive weeks.
Organizations
- Businesses, organizations, municipalities, band/tribal councils, public health and educational institutions, and provincial/territorial governments* are eligible to receive funding as employers/community coordinators.
- *Special conditions apply.
Application Information
How do I apply?
Individuals
- "Complete the application form Job Creation Partnerships/Targeted Wage Subsidies (EMP5335) and submit it to the nearest Service Canada Centre.
- As part of the application process, it is necessary for you to receive an employment assessment and develop a Return to Work Action Plan with a case manager. The case manager's decision is required before Service Canada can assess your application. Please contact your Service Canada Centre for information on where you can receive this service.
Employers/Community Coordinators
- Employers seeking funding under Targeted Wage Subsidies should complete the application form Targeted Wage Subsidies - Employer Application for Funding (EMP5253) and submit it to the nearest Service Canada Centre.
- Community coordinators seeking funding under Targeted Wage Subsidies should complete the application form Employment Programs - Application for Funding (EMP5209) and submit it to the nearest Service Canada Centre.
- All projects valued at or above $500,000 per annum are awarded through a call for proposal process. For more information about the process in your province or territory consult the Call for Proposals for Employment Programs page on the Service Canada web site.
Contact Information
- Service Canada Centre
- Service Canada Web Site (www.servicecanada.gc.ca)
- General enquiries: 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622 6232)
- Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-888-576-8502
