Empowering Futures

Description

Empowering Futures is the new WIL Program for Canada’s electricity sector. Led by Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC), Empowering Futures will create up to 1000 new WIL opportunities in electricity over three years. Wage subsidies up to $7,000 will be available to employers who create new WIL opportunities such as co-ops, internships, field placements, applied projects, capstone projects or case competitions.

Program Status

Status

Active

Actions

Apply for Funding

Start Date

February 19, 2018

End Date

March 31, 2026

Notes

This program is currently at capacity and no longer accepting applications

About the Program

Electricity Human Resources Canada’s (EHRC) Empowering Futures Program is Canada’s student work placement initiative for the electricity industry, providing financial incentives of up to $5,000 to employers who create new Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities.

With these incentives, employers can offer more WIL opportunities, building their talent pool and strengthening our industry’s workforce.

Empowering Futures is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP).

 

Eligibility Requirements and Program Details

Eligibility is dependent on the participant, employer (organization-wide) and nature of employment. Disclaimer: EHRC reserves the right to apply additional criteria to eligibility to ensure national and equitable representation of our funded programs.

Subsidy Reimbursement for Students

• The standard subsidy reimbursement is 50% of the student’s gross paystubs, up to a maximum of $5,000.00 per placement
• The increased subsidy reimbursement is 70% of the student’s gross paystubs, up to a maximum of $7,000.00 per placement. Those eligible for increased subsidies are:
  • First year students
  • Women in STEM
  • Newcomers to Canada
  • Persons with Disabilities
  • Indigenous Peoples

Net New Rule

• We have returned to “net new” criteria as of April 1, 2022. To show the impact of this funding program, EHRC is required to track the number of students an employer hired in the past, before they receive EHRC Empowering Futures funding.
• Approval will be granted for positions that are deemed greater in number than the fiscal year (April to March) before a given employer entered the program for the first time. This will be defined as the baseline number of students hired and only students hired in greater numbers will be eligible for funding.
• The same student will not be eligible for multiple rounds of funding for the same type of employment with the same employer (ex. Jane Doe was hired as a Marketing Coordinator at Employer X for Summer 2022 and Fall 2022. Employer X can only apply and be approved for funding for ONE of these semesters).
• Placements must not be longer than one year.

Employment Eligibility

Employment is eligible if it meets the following criteria:

• The wages for this position must not be funded by another federally funded program.
• The company must provide a full or part-time work opportunity for a student in post-secondary education, enrolled in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics, arts, or business program.
• The company must not recruit and retain friends or family members as participants to the co-op wage subsidy program, or have a sufficient nepotism policy in place.
• The placements must be meaningful work-integrated learning opportunities for the students. As such, they should be generally at least 12 weeks long (exceptions can be discussed).
• Retroactive applications are not accepted.

Participant Eligibility

Participants are eligible if they meet the following criteria:

• They are registered as a full-time or part-time student in a post secondary institution.
• They are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person with refugee protection in Canada.
• They are legally able to work in Canada according to the laws and regulations of the province or territory where they live.

Employer Organization Eligibility

Employer Organizations are eligible if they meet the following criteria:

• Canadian-owned company
• Firms whose primary activity is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.
• Sector support, including renewables, in any of the following areas: R & D, business development, energy efficiency.
• Firms engaged in the manufacturing of equipment or the provision of services necessary for generation, transmission or distribution.
• Post-Secondary institutions are no longer eligible to receive funding.