Every province offers a cost-sharing training grant covering up to $10,000 per employee. Federal programs add sector-specific skills funding, apprenticeship support, and workforce development contributions up to $50 million. No matter your province or industry, there is a program that covers your training costs.
Canada's employer training grant landscape starts with one program almost every Canadian employer qualifies for: the Canada Job Grant. Delivered through each province, it covers up to two-thirds of eligible training costs (up to $10,000 per employee) for existing or new hires. Ontario calls it the Canada-Ontario Job Grant, B.C. uses the BC Employer Training Grant, Alberta runs the Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant, and so on — same federal cost-sharing framework, province-specific portals.
Beyond the Job Grant, the federal government funds sector-wide workforce programs (Sectoral Workforce Solutions — up to $50M), union apprenticeship training (Union Training and Innovation Program), and foundational skills development (Skills for Success). Employers in science-based sectors can access Green Jobs STIP wage subsidies (up to 75% of wages). The Scale AI Training Program provides up to $1M for companies training staff in artificial intelligence and machine learning.
Organization: Government of Ontario
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to $10,000 per employee
Direct employer training grant covering up to two-thirds of eligible training costs for current and new employees. Any sector, no minimum company size. Training must be with an eligible third-party trainer.
Organization: Government of British Columbia
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to $10,000 per employee
Cost-shared grant for B.C. employers to train new or existing employees. Covers classroom, online, and on-the-job training with approved third-party providers. Includes a dedicated stream for employers hiring people with disabilities.
Organization: Government of Alberta
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to $5,000 per employee ($10,000 for unemployed trainees); max $100,000/year
Replaced the Canada-Alberta Job Grant in 2025. Helps Alberta employers cover training costs to enhance productivity. Two streams: employed trainees (up to $5K) and unemployed trainees seeking re-entry (up to $10K).
Organization: Government of Saskatchewan
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to 2/3 of training costs (max $10,000 per trainee)
Employer-driven training grants for Saskatchewan businesses. Covers costs for third-party training programs to upskill current employees or train new hires in high-demand skills areas.
Organization: Government of Manitoba
Level: provincial
Amount: Up to 75% of costs (small employers); max $10,000/employee, $100,000/year
Manitoba employers with fewer than 100 employees receive 75% cost coverage; larger employers receive 50%. Covers tuition, mandatory fees, and learning materials for approved training programs.
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $50 million
Addresses labour shortages in specific sectors by funding large-scale projects that connect Canadians with training and good-quality jobs. Priority sectors include health care, clean energy, and transportation. Targets industry associations and post-secondary institutions, not individual employers.
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $5 million
Funds organizations (not individual employers) to deliver training in foundational and transferable skills: literacy, numeracy, digital skills, problem-solving, communication, and adaptability. Designed for workers in transition or those facing barriers to employment.
Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $2 million
Supports union-based apprenticeship training and modern training approaches in Red Seal trades. Helps apprentices complete their training and increases diversity in the skilled trades. Available to unions, employer associations, and colleges partnering with union training programs.
Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Wage subsidy up to 75% of intern wages (up to 12 months)
Supports employers in natural resources, clean energy, forestry, mining, and earth sciences sectors to hire and train youth aged 15–30. The subsidy covers up to 75% of wages, reducing the cost of bringing in entry-level talent while building sector capacity.
Organization: Scale AI (Global Innovation Cluster)
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $1,000,000 per project
Non-repayable contributions for Canadian businesses to train employees in AI and machine learning for supply chain applications. Covers custom training including lectures, coaching, workshops, and ideation sessions. Minimum project cost $50,000. Reimbursement-based with multiple funding rounds per year.
Organization: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Level: federal
Amount: Up to $30,000 per internship (100% of wages, benefits, training and admin)
Fully funded internships for underemployed post-secondary graduates placed with SMEs and not-for-profits in digital roles. Covers all employment costs for 6-month internships. The employer pays nothing — ISED covers 100% through a delivery organization.
Organization: Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Level: provincial
Amount: 60–80% wage subsidy up to $12/hr (10–28 weeks) + $2,000 employer bonus
Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial training-linked wage subsidy. Two streams: long-term (24–28 weeks for workers needing extensive training) and short-term (10–24 weeks). Employer completion bonus of $2,000 at 52 weeks and $1,000 for the employee.
The right training grant depends on your province, company size, and whether you need to train existing employees or bring in new talent. Use these decision paths:
You want to upskill current employees (any province): Start with your provincial Canada Job Grant equivalent. Every province has one. Ontario, B.C., Manitoba, and Saskatchewan all cover up to $10,000 per employee — Alberta goes up to $5,000 for employed staff. These are the highest-volume, fastest-approval training grants in Canada. Apply directly through your province's workforce portal.
You operate in a skilled trade and work with a union: The Union Training and Innovation Program (up to $2M) is the right fit. It covers Red Seal trades, apprenticeship innovation projects, and modernizing union training facilities. Unions, employer associations, and colleges with union training partnerships are the primary applicants.
You want to train staff in AI, machine learning, or supply chain technology: Scale AI's Training Program provides up to $1M non-repayable for companies implementing AI training curricula for their teams. This is sector-agnostic — manufacturing, retail, logistics, agriculture all qualify if the training is AI-focused.
You want to hire a new employee and offset their early-stage wages: See the hiring grants section at Grants for Hiring. The Canada Summer Jobs, STIP Green Jobs wage subsidy, and Digital Skills for Youth programs cover new hires rather than training for existing staff.
| Program | Amount | Best For | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada-Ontario Job Grant | Up to $10K/employee | Any sector, existing staff | ON |
| BC Employer Training Grant | Up to $10K/employee | Any sector, existing staff | BC |
| AB Productivity Grant | Up to $5K–$10K | Employed + unemployed trainees | AB |
| Scale AI Training | Up to $1M | AI/ML workforce training | National |
| Union Training Program | Up to $2M | Red Seal trades, apprenticeship | National |
| Sectoral Workforce Solutions | Up to $50M | Sector-level workforce pipelines | National |
Training grants have some of the highest approval rates of any business grant in Canada because they are demand-driven and employer-led. Following the right process makes a significant difference:
The Canada Job Grant is a federal-provincial cost-sharing program that reimburses employers for eligible employee training costs. The federal government provides two-thirds of the funding through provincial delivery; you contribute one-third. The maximum per employee is typically $10,000, with annual caps of $100,000 per employer. Each province has its own application portal and slight variations in eligible expenses — but the core structure is the same across Canada.
Yes, most provincial variants of the Canada Job Grant accept online and e-learning courses from eligible providers. The key requirement is that the training provider must be recognized — typically a registered private vocational school, college, university, or pre-approved online platform. Self-directed learning with no formal provider does not qualify. Always confirm provider eligibility with your provincial workforce office before registering employees.
Yes — Canada Job Grant variants are specifically designed for existing employees, not just new hires. You can use the grant to retrain current staff in new technologies, safety certifications, leadership skills, technical trades, and more. There is no requirement to hire new employees to access these funds. New hire training is also eligible but is not a prerequisite.
A training grant reimburses the cost of third-party training courses — tuition, course fees, and materials. A wage subsidy covers a portion of an employee's wages during a work placement or onboarding period. Some programs (like STIP Green Jobs) combine both: they subsidize wages while the employee gains on-the-job training. Canada Job Grants are training grants. Canada Summer Jobs and STIP are wage subsidies. Both can sometimes be stacked for new hires who also need formal training.
Yes. Manitoba's Canada-Manitoba Job Grant gives small employers (under 100 employees) 75% coverage vs. 50% for larger companies — so small businesses actually receive a larger share. Ontario's program has no size minimum. B.C.'s ETG has a dedicated stream for small businesses hiring people with disabilities. The Skills for Success Program funds delivery organizations that specifically serve small business workers and those facing barriers to employment.
Yes. Scale AI's Training Program provides up to $1 million per project for companies training employees in AI, machine learning, and supply chain technology. This is national in scope and sector-agnostic. The Digital Skills for Youth Program covers fully-funded 6-month internships for post-secondary graduates in digital roles. Both programs are non-repayable contributions — not loans.
Yes. Most Canada Job Grant variants are available to non-profit employers. The Skills for Success Program is primarily targeted at organizations (including non-profits) that deliver training to workers. Canada Summer Jobs is specifically designed for non-profits and public-sector organizations. The Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program funds industry associations — which are often non-profit — to build sector training pipelines.
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