Wage subsidies and hiring incentives for Canadian employers

Ranked programs

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

1. Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP) - Green Jobs

   Natural Resources Canada, delivered through STIP - Green Jobs delivery organizations

   Funds employers to hire, train and mentor youth in energy, forestry, mining, earth sciences and clean technology roles for up to 12 months.

   OpenFederalOther incentives
   38

   Strong

2. Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

   Employment and Social Development Canada, delivered by employer delivery partners (e.g., Technation, ECO Canada, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Magnet)

   Wage subsidies to employers that hire post-secondary students (co-op, internship, practicum) in work-integrated learning placements. Employers apply year-round through...

   OngoingFederalOther incentivesUp to $5K
   34

   Worth a look

3. Mitacs Elevate

   Mitacs

   A one- to two-year program that places postdoctoral fellows with partner organizations to solve R&D challenges, with an academic supervisor and professional development...

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $60K
   32

   Worth a look

4. NOHFC Workforce Development Program (internships)

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds internship salaries for Northern Ontario employers.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $35K
   30

   Worth a look

5. NOHFC Indigenous Workforce Development Program

   Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)

   Funds salaries for Indigenous interns hired by Northern Ontario organizations.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $53K
   25

   Worth a look

Questions

How many wage subsidy programs are open right now?

Of the 10 wage subsidy programs in our database, 5 are open or ongoing and 0 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 11, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Mitacs Elevate publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $60K". 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 wage subsidy programs rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Science and Technology Internship Program - Green Jobs (38, Strong), Student Work Placement Program (34, Worth a look), Mitacs Elevate (32, Worth a look). 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 5 open or ongoing programs here, 1 are in our Grants category, 0 are loans and 4 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

3 of the 5 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 2 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.