Ontario Apprenticeship Grants: 57 Apprenticeship Grants, Wage Subsidies & Tax Credits for Ontario Businesses

If your organization is thinking about hiring an apprentice or intern, an apprenticeship grant might provide the incentive you need to make the leap. You’ll add extra capacity to your organization at less cost and get ambition, excitement, and new ideas in return. And if all works as it should, you’ll get a long-time, loyal employee in the end.

So read on to see what kind of funding is available to you, whether you’re a potential intern or apprentice or a potential host employer.

What is an Apprenticeship Grant?

The Government of Canada defines a grant as:

a transfer payment subject to pre-established eligibility and other entitlement criteria. A grant is not subject to being accounted for by a recipient nor normally subject to audit by the department. The recipient may be required to report on results achieved.

So, an apprenticeship grant is:

  • A non-repayable transfer payment that can be used to hire and train apprentices;
  • Subject to specific eligibility criteria; and
  • May or may not need to be reported on

What Can Ontario Apprenticeship Grants Be Used For?

Ontario apprenticeship grants can be used to pay for many aspects of hiring and training apprentices. Here are some of the uses that are covered by programs in our grants database:

  • Training employees (aka skills development) for your hired apprentices and interns
  • Hiring apprentices and interns as employees for your business

See the section below with a complete list of apprentice grants available.

How Much Apprenticeship Grant Money Can I Get for My Business?

In our database we currently have grants ranging from $4,000 to $52,500.

Am I Eligible for an Ontario Apprenticeship Grant? Common Eligibility Criteria

We analyzed the Ontario apprenticeship grants in our database, and these are the most common qualifications we identified:

  • Be for-profit organizations hiring apprentices or interns
  • Be registered Canadian businesses
  • Be Canadian employers hiring apprentices or interns
  • Be compliant with human rights and labour legislation, regulation, and laws in the respective province or region

Note: these are just the most common eligibility criteria – there are many grants with different requirements.

Apprenticeship Grants for Ontario Businesses: Current Grants Available

In the table below we list the apprenticeship grants currently available to Ontario businesses.

 To learn more about each program, just click the program name and you’ll be taken to a web page that provides detailed information on the program, including eligibility, the dollar amount of the program, and how to apply for the grant:

Ontario Apprenticeship Grants

Name of ProgramAmountType
FACTOR - Comprehensive Artist - Video no fixed amountGrant
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) - People & Talent Program: Workforce Development Stream $35000 Grant
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) - People & Talent Program: Indigenous Workforce Development Stream $52500 Grant
Kingston Economic Development Corporation - Queen's Career Apprenticeship$4000 Grant
Canadian Heritage – Local Journalism Initiativeno fixed amountGrant
CENGN and Ontario Centres of Innovation - Next Generation Network Program (NGNP) TalentEdge Internships $10000 Grant
FACTOR - Comprehensive Music Company - Video no fixed amountGrant
FACTOR - Marketing and Promotion for Non- FACTOR-Funded Sound Recordings - Video no fixed amountGrant
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development – Ontario Labour Market Partnerships (OLMP)No Fixed AmountGrant
Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC)- Business Technology Improvement Fund (BTIF)$25000Grant
Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) – TalentEdge Fellowship Program (TFP) Stream – Ontario Centers of Innovation (2022)$35000Grant
Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) – TalentEdge Internship Program (TIP) Stream – Ontario Centres of Innovation (2022)$10000Grant
ENCQOR 5G TalentEdge Internships – Ontario Centres of Innovation (2022)$10000Grant
Youth Internship – Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP) – FedNor (2022)$35000Grant
Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program – Department of National Defence (DND)No Fixed AmountCompensation
Government of Ontario, Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (formerly: Ministry of Colleges and Universities Ontario) – Achievement Incentive (AI)$17000Grant

How to Apply for Apprenticeship Grants: Follow These 6 Steps

The application process for grants can be complex, but you can increase your chances of getting your application approved by following a formula with a proven rate of success. Here are the steps to get the funds you need for your business:

  1. Compile a comprehensive list of all current grants. In Canada, hundreds of business grants are available for different industries, demographic groups, and purposes. Learn what is out there and cast a wide net when you apply to maximise your chances of securing funds.
  1. Focus on grants pertaining to your business industry. Review the application requirements to find out whether your business is eligible. When your business goals fit a particular type of grant, you have better chances of getting matched to it. You want to devote your time and energy to grants where you have the highest potential of winning.
  1. Reach out to the grant agencies directly. If you want to gain more understanding on what qualities the agencies are looking for in their grant applicants, there is no better way than to go right to the source. Ask the agency staff questions and look for areas where you can stand out from the rest.
  1. Formalise a plan for grant application. This plan should include a one-page draft of your grant application statement.
  1. Organise your documents. Grant organisations often ask their applicants to provide a business plan and other pertinent documents. If you organise your documents in advance, you will be ready to submit them when the grant agency requests them.
  1. Submit a well-thought-out application. If you follow the five steps above, your application will have a good chance of getting approved.

Bonus Tip:

  1. Don’t miss other kinds of funding. Grants represent just one type of funding, but there are many other types of funding suitable for Canadian business owners. These include wage subsidies, crowdfunding, low-interest loans, and many more.

Other Types of Funding for Ontario Businesses Hiring Apprentices

Our goal is for this guide to be a complete source of funding information for Ontario businesses hiring apprentices and interns. So, in this section you’ll find all the other money programs (besides grants) that are available to Ontario businesses hiring apprentices and interns.

  • Wage Subsidies for Ontario Businesses Hiring Apprentices

A subsidy is a type of financial assistance – usually provided by the government – to promote a social good or an economic policy. Wage subsidies are the most common subsidies.

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    In the table below you’ll find the wage subsidies currently available for Ontario businesses hiring apprentices:

    Wage Subsidies for Ontario Businesses Hiring Apprentices

    Name of ProgramAmountType
    Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada) Co-op Student Work Placement $5000 Wage Subsidy
    Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada) - Youth in Natural Resources $18000.00 Wage Subsidy
    Electricity Human Resources Canada - Welcoming Newcomers$10000 Subsidy
    Electricity Human Resources Canada - Discovering Potential Program$25000Subsidy
    Métis Nation of Ontario - Métis Wage Subsidy Programno fixed amountSubsidy
    TECHNATION - Career Ready Program$7000 Subsidy
    Clean Foundation - Green Jobs32000Subsidy
    Clean Foundation - Science Horizons$25000Subsidy
    MiHR Gearing Up – Student Work Placement Program (2022) $7000 Wage Subsidy
    Environmental Careers Organization of Canada – Science Horizons Internship Program $18000 Wage Subsidy
    Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada) Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) $18000 Wage Subsidy
    Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area (CDC of Sault Ste. Marie & Area) – Northeastern Ontario Youth Internship Program (NEOYIP) (2021)$31500Wage Subsidy
    Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) – ImpAct Internships$10000Wage Subsidy
    Career Launcher Digital Tech Internships (2022) $28000.00 Wage Subsidy
    Career Launcher Natural Resources Internships (2022)$32000Wage Subsidy
    Career Launcher Clean Tech Internships (2022)$ 30000.00Wage Subsidy
    Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities (2022) $5000 Grant
    BioTalent Canada – Career Starter Program (2022)$20000Wage Subsidy
    BioTalent Canada Science Horizons Youth Internship Program$30000Wage Subsidy
    BioTalent Canada Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) (2022) $7000 Subsidy
    The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) – Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital Subsidy (2022)$7500Subsidy
    Ontario Chamber of Commerce – Talent Opportunities Program (2022)$7500Wage Subsidy
    IRAP Youth Employment Program (2022)No Fixed AmountWage Subsidy
    North Claybelt Community Futures Development Corporation(North Claybelt CFDC) – Northeastern Ontario Youth Internship Program (2021)$31500Wage Subsidy
    Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) – Housing Internship Initiative for Indigenous Youth (HIIY)No Fixed AmountWage Subsidy
    Student Work Placement Program – Employment and Social Development Canada (2022)$7000Wage Subsidy
    Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) – Canada Summer Jobs Program (2022)No Fixed AmountWage Subsidy
    Tourism HR Canada – Propel Student Work Placement Program$7000Subsidy
    The United Nations Association (UNA) in Canada – Canada Green Corps: Science Horizons (SH)$20000Wage Subsidy
    The United Nations Association (UNA) in Canada – Canada Green Corps: Science and Technology Internship Programme (STIP)$32000Wage subsidy
    Relay – Green Careers Program$ 32000.00Wage Subsidy
    Project Learning Tree Canada (PLT Canada) – Green Jobs Program$32000Wage Subsidy
    Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) – Green Jobs Program$ 32000.00Wage Subsidy
    Magnet (Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network) – Magnet Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)$7000Subsidy
    Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) – WILWorks$7000Subsidy
    Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) – Empowering Futures Program$7000Subsidy
    Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace (CCAA) – Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)$7000Subsidy
    BioTalent Canada – Skilled Newcomer Internships for the Bio-economy$20000Wage Subsidy
    • Tax Credits for Ontario Businesses hiring Apprentices

    A tax credit reduces the tax that a business pays on its taxable income. There are a handful of tax credits available for apprentices:

    Tax Credits for Ontario Businesses Hiring Apprentices

    Best Ontario Apprenticeship Grants, Subsidies & More

    While there are lots of good programs available, below we highlight some of the best grants, subsidies, tax credits & more for Ontario Apprenticeship businesses:

    Best Government Apprenticeship Grants

    FedNor – Youth Internship under the Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP) and under Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation (REGI)

    If “FedNor” didn’t give it away right away, this 2-part funding program is only for those organizations located in Northern Ontario and whose projects result in either improving the economic development of Northern Ontario communities and businesses under NODP and the development and commercialization of innovative technologies, products, services and processes under REGI.

    Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development – Achievement Incentive (AI)

    The Achievement Incentive is a grant program that helps employers train apprentices by reducing some of the cost of training and that supports apprentice progression by giving grant payments to employers when their apprentices reach major milestones. The program offers up to $17,000 to eligible employers when apprentices meet training and certification milestones.

    Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) – People & Talent Program: Workforce Development Stream

    The intent of the Workforce Development Stream is to strengthen and develop Northern Ontario’s workforce through business partnerships by offering internships.

    Best Government Apprenticeship Subsidies

    Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) – Housing Internship for Indigenous Youth (HIIY)

    CMHC’s Housing Internship for Indigenous Youth (HIIY) program provides financial assistance to help businesses and organizations create housing-related internships for Indigenous youth.

    Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) – Student Work Placement Program

    The Student Work Placement Program provides wage subsidies to employers that offer quality student work placements. It gives post-secondary students across Canada paid work experience related to their field of study.

    National Research Council of Canada (NRC) – NRC IRAP Youth Employment Program (YEP)

    The NRC IRAP Youth Employment Program offers financial assistance to offset the cost of hiring young talent (ages 15-30) to work on projects with R&D, engineering, multimedia or market analysis components or to help develop a new product or process.

    Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) – Science and Technology Internship Program: Green Jobs

    The Science and Technology (S&T) Internship Program provides wage subsidies to encourage organizations to hire and mentor interns and invest in the workforce of tomorrow.

    It also provides opportunities for youth to gain relevant work experience and skill development in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields in the natural resources sectors: energy, forestry and mining, earth sciences, and clean technology.

    Best Apprenticeship Tax Credits

    Canada Revenue Agency – Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit

    Any business in Canada that hires a registered apprentice can claim this tax credit when they file their business taxes.

    You can hire and claim as many apprentices as you like, but they must be in the first 2 years of their contract and they must be working in one of the Red Seal Trades.

    If you’ve hired some apprentices that fit this description though, you’ll qualify to claim 10% of the wages/salaries of your apprentices to a maximum of $2,000/apprentice.

    Ministry of Finance – Co-operative Education Tax Credit (CETC)

    The Co-operative Education Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit available to employers who hire students enrolled in a co-operative education program at an Ontario university or college. Most work placements are for a minimum employment period of 10 weeks up to a maximum of four months.

    Best Non-Profit Apprenticeship Grants

    Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN) and Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) – Next Generation Network Program (NGNP) TalentEdge Internships

    Take special note Ontario SMEs: if you’re developing or implementing next generation network technologies in your products or services and have in-house research and development capacity within Ontario, this grant will be of interest to you. Hire an Ontario undergraduate, master’s, or PhD student (or any one of these who’ve graduated in the last 3 years) as an intern on your project and you could get $10,000 in funding to help with the cost of both the intern and your project.

    Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) – ENCQOR 5G TalentEdge Internships

    The ENCQOR 5G TalentEdge Internships provides support for current college and university students and recent undergraduate or Masters graduates, to work on industry-driven research and development projects related to 5G, wireless and digital technologies at Ontario-based SMEs, preferably using the 5G Innovation Platform as a Service (iPaaS) testbed.

    Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) – Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) – TalentEdge Internship Program (TIP) Stream

    The TalentEdge Internship Program (TIP) stream of Ontario’s Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) program provides support for current college and university students and recent undergraduate or Masters graduates, to work on industry-driven research and development projects related to automotive and smart mobility technology such as Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (C/AV) technologies, Electric Vehicles (EV), battery technologies, metallurgical (metal & mining) sector technologies and other related areas. 

    Best Non-Profit Apprenticeship Subsidies

    Some of the subsidies below are related to the government subsidies mentioned above. These non-profits are the government’s delivery partners for their programs. Businesses who want to apply, must check the specific eligibility criteria and apply to these non-profits. So, check their details and apply!

    BioTalent Canada – Career Starter Program

    The Career Starter Program will facilitate the transition of barriered youth into the labour market and increase their knowledge of the sector’s needs through recent and practical work experience.

    Career Starter provides bio-economy employers with 50% of a youth’s salary to a maximum of $20,000 in wage subsidies for a three to nine-month job placement. This will help the employer adopt a diverse and inclusive work culture while satisfying their need for skilled labour.

    Canadian Tooling and Machining Association (CTMA) – Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities

    The Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities program provides non-repayable contributions to eligible employers to subsidize the wages of new hires or the upskilling of existing employees that meet the program eligibility. Funding is 50% of wages paid to a maximum of $5,000 for each experiential work placement.

    Clean Foundation – Science Horizons

    The Science Horizons Internship Program, generously funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada, is a wage subsidy initiative that matches graduates, under the age of 30, with positions across Canada that help combat climate change.

    Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) – ImpAct Internships

    Through this program, Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) will contribute up to 100% of the salary or participation fees, to a maximum of $10,000, for youth to become Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) ambassadors.

    Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) – Discovering Potential Program

    The Discovering Potential Program supports employers who provide youth with green work experience through internships and on-the-job training. Positions in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and/or relating to electricity, renewable energy, environment, and natural resources can qualify.

    Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada) – Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y)

    The Digital Skills for Youth program allows you to leverage the knowledge of a tech-savvy, educated youth population to future-proof your business.

    The Digital Skills for Youth program is a wage subsidy provided to SMEs that covers 80% of wages up to $18,000 for environmental jobs that require digital abilities.

    Examples of eligible roles include: digital marketers, developers, GIS specialists, drone operators, data analysts or IT specialists with an environmental focused role.

    MAGNET (Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network) – Magnet Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

    The Magnet Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) provides employers with wage subsidies to hire post-secondary students for paid work experiences. Students in turn benefit with quality work experience so they can secure employment in their chosen fields of study.

    Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) – Métis Wage Subsidy Program

    MNO’s Métis Wage Subsidy Program is designed to help Métis individuals secure long-term employment through direct work experience opportunities by encouraging employers to hire Métis apprentices and other workers and provide on-the-job experience.

    Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) – Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Digital Subsidy

    ICTC’s WIL Digital is an innovative Work Integrated Learning program that helps employers grow their businesses by providing financial assistance for hiring post-secondary students.

    ICTC’s WIL Digital supports Canadian businesses that offer student work placements within the Digital Economy.

    Tourism HR Canada – Propel Student Work Placement Program

    Funded by the Government of Canada through the Student Work Placement Program, Propel offers registered Canadian businesses, startups, and not-for-profits related to the tourism and hospitality sector a subsidy on each qualifying student’s wages. The wage subsidy can be accessed by businesses from all facets of the visitor economy: accommodations, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services.

    The Bottom Line

    The bottom line here is loud and clear. It’s financially feasible to become an apprentice, and it’s both rewarding and financially smart to hire an apprentice.

    Trades are important, even integral, to our economy, and when you train to become one, you can make money at the same time. And working within a trade is satisfying, fulfilling, and a smart decision long term. Taking advantage of these funding programs will even take the sting out of starting out. Look closer at entering the trades. You’ll be glad you did, especially when you get your money from some of these programs.

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