Employers in Delta can now apply for federal funding to help create summer employment opportunities for young people through the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2027 program.

The program provides wage subsidies to eligible employers hiring youth aged 15 to 30, helping local businesses and non-profit organizations bring on additional staff while giving young people valuable work experience and opportunities to develop their skills.

Applications are open until December 3, 2026.

What is Canada Summer Jobs?

Canada Summer Jobs is a federal program that supports employers in creating quality summer jobs for young people aged 15 to 30.

Through the program, eligible employers can receive funding to offset a portion of the wages paid to summer employees. This can help organizations manage staffing costs while providing young people with meaningful opportunities to gain workplace experience, develop new skills and explore potential career paths.

Who can apply?

Eligible employers include:

• Not-for-profit organizations: Eligible to receive funding for up to 100% of the provincial adult minimum hourly wage, plus associated mandatory employment-related costs.
• Public sector employers: Eligible to receive funding for up to 50% of the provincial adult minimum hourly wage.
• Private sector businesses: Businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees across Canada are eligible to receive funding for up to 50% of the provincial adult minimum hourly wage.

For the 2027 program, organizations must generally have been operating for at least two years by December 31, 2026. Some exemptions apply to returning Canada Summer Jobs employers.

Important dates for 2027

• Application period: October 27 to December 3, 2026
• Application deadline: December 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time
• Eligible employment period: April 19 to August 28, 2027

Approved positions must generally provide between 30 and 40 hours of work per week for a minimum of six consecutive weeks and a maximum of 16 consecutive weeks.

Delta's local priorities

According to information shared by the Office of Delta MP Jill McKnight, the following local priorities have been identified for the 2027 application period:

1. Supporting children or youth as a priority group.
2. Supporting not-for-profit organizations.
3. Supporting small businesses.
4. Supporting the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors.
5. Supporting businesses impacted by tariffs or restrictions resulting from recent trade conflicts.

Applicants should review the program's assessment criteria and local priorities when preparing their applications.

How to apply

Employers can review the eligibility requirements, funding details and application instructions through the Government of Canada's Canada Summer Jobs Applicant Guide.

Applications can be submitted online through Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS), using the online fillable application, or by mail or in person.

Employers are encouraged to apply early to allow enough time to prepare and submit a complete application before the deadline.

Review the Canada Summer Jobs 2027 Applicant Guide and apply

For questions about the program or application process, contact Service Canada at 1-800-935-5555.

This information was shared with the Delta Chamber of Commerce by the Office of the Honourable Jill McKnight, Member of Parliament for Delta. Program details and eligibility requirements should be confirmed through the Government of Canada's official guidelines.