Youth Employment and Skills Program — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
The program reimburses agriculture and agri-food employers for part of the wages and benefits of hiring a youth aged 15–30, offering up to $14,000 per project plus up to $5,000 for relocation or barrier support. It is open to a wide range of Canadian employers, including for-profits, not-for-profits, governments, Indigenous organizations, and academic institutions.
Eligibility Requirements
- Agriculture or agri-food related employer in Canada
- Eligible employer types include for-profits, not-for-profits, governments, individuals or sole proprietorships, Indigenous organizations, and academic institutions
- Youth must be 15–30 years old at project start
- Youth must be unemployed or underemployed
- Youth must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or refugee
- Youth must not be receiving Employment Insurance during the project
- Employer must hire the youth on its own payroll with source deductions (contractors are not eligible)
- Employer must be a legal entity capable of entering into legally binding agreements
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Standard support up to $14,000 per project (50% of wages/benefits); enhanced support up to 80% to a maximum $14,000 for Indigenous employers or youth-facing-barriers hires; additional up to $5,000 for relocation/barrier-support costs; $13.47M available for 2026–27
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- 2026–27 applications accepted March 5 to May 4, 2026 (now closed); projects must end by March 31, 2027
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win Youth Employment and Skills Program — Agri...
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipFuture intakes are expected because funding has been announced through 2026–2028; have your Participant Information Form ready and confirm the youth is not receiving EI before applying.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application steps not yet documented.
Required Documents 5
Deadline Notes
2026-27 applications were accepted March 5 to May 4, 2026 and are now closed; projects must end by March 31, 2027. The Government announced up to $27 million over two years (2026-2028), including $13.47 million for 2026-27, so a further intake is expected.
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Clawback Risk
Unknown RiskHow Youth Employment and Skills Program — Agri... Compares
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