Canada Ontario Job Grant
The Canada Ontario Job Grant (COJG) is funding provided by the Government of Canada through the Canada Job Grant Programs delivered by the Government of Ontario. COJG provides opportunities for employers, individually or in groups, to invest in their workforce, with help from the government.
As the world continues to change at an ever-increasing pace, business leaders have begun to voice their concerns over the widening skills-gap. Many organizations have seen this and recognized that continuous professional development is critical for employees and businesses to thrive in the world today. As a result, they’ve begun the journey to becoming a learning organization by interweaving learning into the company culture.
What is the COJG?
As new technologies, globalization, and changing demographics rapidly shift Ontario’s economy, the mix of available jobs changes, as do the skills people need to succeed in them. By investing in and developing education and training, the government assists in maintaining Ontario’s competitive advantage, helping businesses and workers adapt to change and achieve their own career or job goals.
The COJG provides direct financial support to individual employers or employer consortia who wish to purchase training for their employees. It is available to small, medium and large businesses with a plan to deliver short-term training to existing and new employees.
Through the program, companies may receive non-repayable funding from the government to buy third-party business training programs, including training for in-demand skill sets. Training is expected to improve the employability and value employees can provide; including new hires in these training sessions can also maximize your funding potential.
Why?
Jobs are beginning to appear that, just a few years ago, didn’t exist. Existing roles are changing as customer bases expand, new technologies are introduced, and rules and regulations change. These changes create knowledge and skills gaps in existing employees, and may mean new hires need training to get them up to speed, too.
This program provides funding for businesses to hire and train their employees so their business can grow and thrive, and so Ontario’s workforce can benefit from newly acquired skills, training, and experience.
When people are skilled and working, businesses are succeeding. And when businesses are doing well, Ontario and Canada also thrive.
How it Benefits You
Companies that invest in employee training and development face less turnover, attract a bigger pool of talent to fill positions, experience less lost productivity, and less loss of staff to their more innovative competitors.
There’s no question that the past two years have introduced often unforeseen challenges and have put pressure on companies to keep up with global changes and developments. What employers can do now is to arm their workforce with the tools and knowledge they need to close those gaps.
The COJG provides a way for organizations to invest in the development of their employees by sharing the training and upskilling costs with the government, because there’s a strong correlation between business success and workforce training.
Who can Apply?
The COJG is open to individual private and not-for-profit sector employers, First Nations and organizations acting on behalf of employers (including union training halls, industry associations, training coordinators and other employer consortiums that meet the requirements).
Eligible employers must:
- employ the individual who will be trained. Higher priority is given to employers who are training and hiring unemployed individuals
- be licensed to operate in Ontario
- be applying for training that is delivered in Ontario and is related to a job that is also located in Ontario
- comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Employment Standards Act
- maintain appropriate Workplace Safety and Insurance Board or private workplace safety insurance coverage
- have adequate third-party general liability insurance
- comply with all applicable federal and provincial human rights legislation, regulations, and any other relevant standards
How to Apply
Applications for the COJG can be completed here. While most training programs qualify for the COJG, applicants are generally more successful when applying for one of three training categories:
- Career or Development Training: Enhancing the skills, knowledge, and ability of employees to support career advancement. For example, a Leadership Development course that allows employees to learn the skills they need to lead effective and successful teams in the organization.
- Maintenance and Refresher Skills Training: Updating and maintaining the skills, knowledge, and ability of specialists within an organization. For example, providing training on new systems or platforms your business is launching or implementing.
- Essential Skills Training: Providing the skills needed for work, learning, and life. These are easily transferable skills employees can use to find a job and succeed in the workplace. These include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, and soft skills training.
Before you can submit your application, make sure you’ve collected and completed the following documentation:
- COJG Employer/Consortium Application Form: This form will be filled-out by the employer and it will act as the request for COJG funding
- COJG Employer Registration for Consortium: This form must be completed for each employer represented in a consortium application
- COJG Employer and Training Provider Attestation Forms: These forms must be individually completed by the employer and training provider, prior to the application’s approval
- COJG Participant Registration Form: This form will need to be completed only after the application is approved for funding, by each individual participating in training
- Placement Agreement: For exceptional circumstances where there will be a job placement for an unemployed individual, the placement agreement will be completed and agreed to between the employer, placement individual and service provider
- Electronic Funds Transfer Form: Employers requesting training for over 25 participants and all consortiums must complete this form.
Reach out to our team today and let’s chat about closing employee skills gaps.
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