Employment and Social Development Canada has opened employer applications for Canada Summer Jobs 2027, giving eligible organizations until December 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time to apply for federal wage subsidies for summer positions.
Funding can reduce wage costs, but approval is not guaranteed
CSJ funding is available to eligible not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers, and private sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees across Canada at the time of application. Not-for-profit employers can receive funding for as much as 100% of the applicable provincial or territorial adult minimum hourly wage, plus eligible mandatory employment-related costs such as EI and CPP or QPP contributions.
Public and private sector employers can receive as much as 50% of the applicable adult minimum hourly wage. Mandatory employment-related costs are not reimbursed for public and private sector employers.
ESDC says the program is oversubscribed, so eligible projects may still be refused or funded for fewer weeks than requested. Previous funding also does not guarantee approval in 2027.
The new rule affects newer organizations
The applicant guide lists a new eligibility requirement: organizations must have been in operation for at least two years by December 31, 2026. For the program, being in operation means having a valid Canada Revenue Agency business number and actively and continuously providing services or conducting business activities for at least two years by that date.
There is a limited exemption. Organizations operating for less than two years can still be considered if they met all conditions of their CSJ 2026 funding agreement and received reimbursement for at least one CSJ-funded job under CSJ 2026.
The guide also says organizations must be registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, have a valid CRA business number, and have a CRA payroll deductions program account before hiring youth through CSJ.
Digital skills and AI exposure are national priorities
ESDC’s 2027 national priorities cover construction, environmental and climate-related activities, digital skills or exposure to AI, and not-for-profit work supporting underserved and equity-deserving communities.
The AI wording in the guide is broad. It includes using AI tools for research, information management, content creation or analysis, client service, communications, engagement, development, testing, implementation, programming, software development, or other technology-related work.
That gives employers with real digital workflows room to frame summer roles around supervised learning and practical output, rather than treating AI exposure as a standalone research role. Matching a priority is only one part of the application.
Jobs must meet schedule and location rules
Eligible CSJ projects must normally provide full-time work in Canada for 30 to 40 hours per week, over 6 to 16 consecutive weeks. Service Canada may approve exceptions to the 30-hour minimum in advance for exceptional circumstances, including disability accommodations or provincial limits on full-time youth work. The youth employment period runs from April 19 to August 28, 2027.
Youth participants must be 15 to 30 years old at the start of the job, legally entitled to work in Canada, and Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons for the employment period. International students are not eligible participants under the guide.
Applications are screened and scored
Service Canada reviews applications in three broad stages: eligibility screening, quality assessment, and review of the organization’s information. The assessment page lists 15 mandatory eligibility requirements, including deadline submission, attestation, a complete application, eligible employer and project activities, full-time hours, eligible job duration, minimum wage compliance, health and safety practices, anti-harassment and anti-discrimination measures, supervision, mentoring, and past performance.
Applications that pass eligibility screening are scored out of 100 points. The guide assigns points across three objectives: quality work experiences, opportunities for youth to develop skills, and alignment with national and local priorities that improve labour market access for youth facing barriers.
If information is missing or unclear, Service Canada may contact the applicant by email. The applicant must respond within five business days of the email being sent, or the application may be rejected.
Online submission is encouraged
Employers can apply through Grants and Contributions Online Services, through an online fillable application, by mail, or in person. GCOS is the recommended online method and lets organizations apply, track application status, sign agreements, manage active projects, and submit documents.
For 2027, applicants signing in to GCOS must select CFP-CSJ/AP-ÉEC-2026-307 from the Open Call for Proposals section. Starting in 2028, GCOS will be the only online platform for Canada Summer Jobs applications, and the online fillable form will no longer be available.
Mailed applications must be postmarked on or before December 3, 2026. In-person applications must be received before the Service Canada office closes that day. Fax and email applications are not considered.
Decision notices start in April 2027
ESDC says applications are reviewed from December to March, funding decisions are made in March, and organizations begin receiving notices in early April. All organizations are expected to receive a decision by the end of June.
The guide also warns that an application is not an approval. Employers must wait for written confirmation from Service Canada before making commitments, because activities before approval and a signed agreement are not reimbursed.
Approved CSJ-funded jobs are posted on Job Bank, and approved employer information is also made public through federal disclosure pages.
Checks before submitting
Confirm the organization has the required CRA business number and will have an RP payroll account before hiring.
Check whether the organization meets the two-year operation rule or the CSJ 2026 exemption.
Make sure each role runs for 6 to 16 consecutive weeks between April 19 and August 28, 2027. Plan for 30 to 40 hours per week unless Service Canada approves an exception to the 30-hour minimum in advance.
Review local priorities for the main job location’s constituency, since local priorities are part of the assessment.
Build the application around supervision, mentoring, wage level, skills development, and eligible national or local priorities, not only the need for summer labour.
Alberta organizations should review the provincial authorization note in the federal guide before assuming funding can be finalized.
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