Program Guidelines

1. Background

This is one of four programs administered by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) under the First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy (FNIYES). The FNIYES, with a national annual budget of $24 million, is a component of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy.

The national annual budget for INAC's Student Summer Employment Opportunities Program is $8 Million.

2. Objectives

• Support skills acquisition through the provision of wage subsidies for short term work experience;
  
  
• Assist First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students to prepare for future entry into the labour market by facilitating access to summer employment;
  
  
• Support First Nations and Inuit students to earn wages for post-secondary financing.

3. Key Activities

Support work experience opportunities during the summer months for First Nations and lnuit secondary and post-secondary students.

4. Eligible Recipients

First Nations and Inuit governments and organizations may submit proposals.

5. Eligible Participants

First Nations and Inuit secondary and post-secondary students aged 15-30 ordinarily resident on-reserve or in recognized communities who were registered as full-time students during the preceding academic year and who intend to return to school on a full-time basis in the next academic year.

6. Eligible Proposals

Proposals must:

• be in accordance with these program guidelines;
• outline the activities that support any or all of the above objectives;
• demonstrate that the activities will provide assistance only to eligible participants;
• provide an estimate of eligible costs to be incurred, including any share to be borne by partners;
• outline the results to be achieved, and;
• be gender-balanced.

NOTE : Placement must provide a minimum of 80 hours of work.

7. Wage Rates

The delivery agency will determine the wage rate for participants which must be at or above the applicable provincial/ territorial minimum wage.

8. Maximum Program Contributions

The non-profit sector is eligible to receive a contribution of up to 100% of the applicable wage plus mandatory employment related costs (MERC) and the private sector up to 50% of the applicable wage only.

NOTE: Where a participant with disabilities is hired, all employers are eligible to apply for 100% of the wage. A maximum contribution of $3,000 per participant may be available, on an actual cost basis, for special equipment and facilities to accommodate the student's needs.

9. Proposal Outline

The form and content of the proposal template is attached in Annex One.

10. Review and Approval Process

Proposals will be reviewed and approved by the INAC regional office or by the First Nations or Inuit organization managing the program.

11. Funding Arrangements

Funding will be distributed to eligible recipients according to INAC's funding authorities.

12. Reporting Requirements

The Student Summer Employment Opportunities Program Report   (DCI#434352) is required by September 15.

Regional Organizations, who administer the program on behalf of INAC, are to submit the above mentioned report by October 30.

If the Program Report is not submitted within 30 days of the above applicable date, the recipient will not be eligible for funding in the following fiscal year.