Skills, hiring and training programs for individuals and families

Ranked programs

21 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Canada Workers Benefit (CWB)

   Canada Revenue Agency

   A refundable tax credit for people who are working and earning a low income. It has a basic amount and a disability supplement and is paid through the tax return.

   OngoingFederalOther incentives
   55

   Top pick

2. Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) and Canada Learning Bond (CLB)

   Employment and Social Development Canada

   Federal grants paid into a child's RESP: the CESG matches contributions, and the Canada Learning Bond adds money for lower-income families.

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $7K
   45

   Strong

3. Canada Training Credit

   Canada Revenue Agency

   Refundable tax credit that reimburses part of eligible tuition and fees for workers aged 26 to 65 using a limit that accrues each year they file.

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesLimit $5K
   42

   Strong

4. Canada Student Grants and Loans

   Employment and Social Development Canada / provincial student aid

   Grants and loans for post-secondary students of low and middle incomes, students with dependants and students with disabilities.

   OngoingFederalGrants
   41

   Strong

5. Better Jobs Ontario

   Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (Employment Ontario)

   Funds tuition, books and living support for laid-off or long-term unemployed workers to retrain for in-demand jobs. Aimed at individuals rather than employers.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $35K
   39

   Strong

6. Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program

   Employment and Social Development Canada (Reserve Force employer support)

   One-time financial support to civilian employers and self-employed reservists to offset operational costs when a reservist employee deploys on full-time operational duty.

   OpenFederalGrants
   37

   Worth a look

7. Ontario Learn and Stay Grant

   Ministry of Colleges and Universities (via OSAP)

   Covers tuition, books, compulsory fees and other education costs for students in priority postsecondary healthcare programs (nursing, paramedic, medical laboratory) in...

   OpenOntarioGrants
   36

   Worth a look

8. Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program

   Employment and Social Development Canada

   Funds Indigenous service delivery organizations that design and deliver job training and employment services to First Nations, Inuit, Metis and urban/non-affiliated...

   OngoingFederalOther incentives
   35

   Worth a look

9. Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program

   Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

   Provincially funded pre-apprenticeship training of up to 52 weeks, delivered by colleges and community agencies, with an 8 to 12 week work placement, for people who want...

   OngoingOntarioGrants
   35

   Worth a look

10. Changing Narratives Fund

    Department of Canadian Heritage

    The Changing Narratives Fund supports diverse communities (Indigenous, Black, racialized, ethno-religious minority, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+) in sharing...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    30

    Worth a look

11. Education and Training Benefit (Veterans)

    Veterans Affairs Canada

    A taxable benefit that helps pay for education and training for former Canadian Armed Forces members, including degrees, certificates and shorter courses such as...

    OngoingFederalOther incentives
    30

    Worth a look

12. Mitacs Globalink Research Award

    Mitacs

    Funds senior undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows for 12 to 48 weeks of research with a host supervisor, inbound to Canada or abroad from Canada...

    OngoingFederalGrants
    28

    Worth a look

13. Starter Company Plus

    Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (via Small Business Enterprise Centres)

    Training, mentoring and a grant for people starting, expanding or buying a business.

    OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $5K
    28

    Worth a look

14. Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral program (CGRS D)

    CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC (Canada Research Training Awards Suite)

    A tri-agency doctoral scholarship supporting a high-quality research training experience for students pursuing a doctoral degree in health, natural sciences and...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $40K
    27

    Worth a look

15. Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Master's program (CGRS M)

    CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC (Canada Research Training Awards Suite)

    A tri-agency scholarship that supports high-calibre master's students across health, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences and humanities so they can...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $27K
    26

    Worth a look

16. Low-Income Workers Tax Credit (LIFT)

    Ministry of Finance / Canada Revenue Agency

    Non-refundable Ontario tax credit that reduces or eliminates Ontario personal income tax for low-income workers, including minimum-wage earners.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesLimit $875
    26

    Worth a look

17. Canada Apprentice Loan

    Employment and Social Development Canada

    Interest-free loans for apprentices in Red Seal trades to cover tuition, tools, equipment and living costs during technical training.

    OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $4K
    24

    Long shot

18. Red Seal Completion Bonus

    Employment and Social Development Canada

    Part of the Team Canada Strong initiative, this bonus is for journeypersons who complete an apprenticeship and get certified in an eligible Red Seal trade. It pays...

    Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $50K
    24

    Long shot

19. Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program

    CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC (Canada Research Training Awards Suite)

    A federal research talent investment for outstanding postdoctoral researchers, in Canada or abroad, at a pivotal point in their careers across health, natural sciences...

    OpenFederalGrantsUp to $70K
    22

    Long shot

20. NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

    NSERC (jointly administered with CIHR and SSHRC)

    Awards that give undergraduates paid research experience in an academic setting to nurture an interest in research careers and encourage graduate studies. The program...

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    19

    Long shot

21. Save on Energy Training Incentives

    IESO (Save on Energy)

    Incentives toward course fees for energy management training for professionals responsible for energy or building operations at Ontario facilities.

    OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $550
    16

    Long shot

Questions

How many skills, hiring and training programs for individuals and families are open right now?

Of the 26 skills, hiring and training programs for individuals and families in our database, 19 are open or ongoing and 2 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Oct 28, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $70K". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which skills, hiring and training programs for individuals and families rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Canada Workers Benefit (55, Top pick), Canada Education Savings Grant and Canada Learning Bond (45, Strong), Canada Training Credit (42, Strong). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 19 open or ongoing programs here, 12 are in our Grants category, 1 are loans and 6 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

13 of the 19 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 6 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.