Youth Internships in Northern Ontario — FedNor
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Subsidizes up to 90% of an intern's annual salary and benefits (to a maximum of $35,000/year, $52,500 over 18 months) for Northern Ontario businesses and organizations that hire recent post-secondary graduates. For-profit businesses access the program through Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in their region. The program targets unemployed or underemployed youth (age 30 and under) who have graduated within the past three years, giving businesses a near-full wage subsidy to bring on skilled graduates they couldn't otherwise afford.
Eligibility Requirements
- Organization must be located in Northern Ontario (defined geographic region including Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timiskaming districts and City of Greater Sudbury)
- For-profit businesses must apply through a Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC)
- Intern must be 30 years of age or under at time of hire
- Intern must have graduated from a post-secondary institution within the last three years
- Intern must be unemployed or underemployed
- Intern must be legally authorized to work in Canada
- Intern cannot have a family relationship with organizational leadership
- Intern cannot have previously participated in a similar paid internship program lasting 6+ months
- Project must align with one of the Government of Canada's seven Economic Strategy Tables
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to 90% of intern salary/benefits (max $35,000/year or $52,500 over 18 months) plus up to $5,000 for equipment/training costs per intern
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 90% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Rolling applications — contact local CFDC or FedNor officer
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipFor-profit businesses must go through their regional CFDC — they cannot apply directly to FedNor. Find your local CFDC at communityfutures.ca. The 90% coverage means your out-of-pocket cost is only 10% of the intern's salary — an extraordinary deal for hiring a skilled recent graduate. Projects must connect to Canada's Economic Strategy Tables (clean tech, digital/AI, health/biosciences, advanced manufacturing, agri-food, resources, tourism/arts) — frame your intern project around one of these. Contact your CFDC or FedNor officer before applying; budget is limited and pre-consultation significantly improves success rates.
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Success Profile
Northern Ontario businesses in technology, cleantech, health, agriculture, tourism, or advanced manufacturing seeking to hire a skilled recent graduate for a defined project. Companies in Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, and surrounding regions. Organizations that can clearly articulate how the intern role contributes to Canada's economic strategy priorities.
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Evaluation Criteria
Assessment criteria include: alignment with Economic Strategy Tables; quality of intern project description; intern eligibility (age, graduation timing, employment status); employer capacity to deliver meaningful internship experience; geographic eligibility within Northern Ontario.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 6
Eligible Expenses 4
- Intern salary for the internship period (up to 12-18 months)
- Mandatory employee benefits (CPP, EI, vacation pay)
- Equipment needed specifically for the intern to perform their duties (up to $5,000)
- Training costs directly related to the internship (up to $5,000 combined with equipment)
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Overhead costs (rent, utilities, office supplies)
- Marketing or business development activities
- Travel costs not directly related to intern duties
- Equipment not specifically needed for the intern role
- Routine business operations unrelated to the intern project
Intake Periods
Year-round rolling applications. Budget availability fluctuates — apply early in the federal fiscal year (April-June) when budgets are freshest.
Deadline Notes
No fixed intake deadlines. Program operates year-round but currently has limited budget due to high demand. FedNor strongly recommends contacting a local officer or CFDC before submitting an application.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Organizations outside Northern Ontario
- For-profit businesses applying directly to FedNor (must go through CFDC)
- Organizations with interns who have family relationships with leadership
- Businesses operating in sectors unrelated to Canada's Economic Strategy Tables
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskIf the intern leaves before completing the project or eligibility conditions are found to have been misrepresented, FedNor may require partial repayment of disbursed funds. Maintain records proving intern eligibility throughout.
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How Youth Internships in Northern Ontario — Fe... Compares
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