Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG)
Receive up to 50-100% in Employee Training Grants.
The Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) is an Ontario government funding program that offers training grants to employers. Through the program, companies may receive non-repayable funding from the government to purchase third-party business training programs, including training for in-demand skillsets. Training is expected to improve the employability and value employees can provide; including new hires in these training sessions can also maximize your funding potential.
Learn more about the Canada Job Grant (CJG) and each provincial stream.
Top Funding Programs for Hiring & Training
Canada Job Grant (CJG): Supports third-party skills training to new and existing employees by covering up to 50-100% of eligible costs;
Career-Ready with CTMA: Wage subsidies for new hires or the upskilling of existing employees, funding 30% of wages paid to a max of $3,000 for each placement; and
Mitacs Accelerate: Pairs businesses with Masters, PhD, and PDF interns to overcome challenges. Covers up to 75% of funds to $15,000 per 4-6 month internship.
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Give your application the best chance at approval. Mentor Works has an 86% approval rating across all Canadian funding programs.
Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG)
Amount of Funding
The Canada-Ontario Job Grant offers non-repayable grants to help employers provide high-quality employee training programs. It offsets training vendor costs to help employers hire top trainers and lead to lasting organizational improvements.
There are three levels of funding contribution rates; how many employees the applicant company has, and whether new hires are included in the training factor into how much funding the training project is eligible for:
- Large Employers (100+ Employees): Up to 50% of eligible training expenses to a maximum $10,000 per trainee.
- Small Employers (<100 Employees): Up to 83% of eligible training expenses to a maximum $10,000 per trainee.
- Small Employers Hiring and Training Unemployed Individuals: Up to 100% of eligible training costs to a maximum $15,000 per trainee. All trainees are eligible for increased funding, not just those who are new hires.
Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG)
Eligible Applicants
Employer Eligibility
To qualify for the Canada-Ontario Job Grant, employers must be a:
- For-profit business;
- Non-profit organization;
- Employer consortium; or
- First Nations band council.
Furthermore, applicants must also:
- Have a license to operate in Ontario;
- Apply for third-party training programs that are delivered in Ontario;
- Abide by the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Employment Standards Act;
- Possess Workplace Safety and Insurance Board or private workplace safety insurance coverage; and
- Maintain third-party liability insurance coverage.
Trainee Eligibility
To participate in COJG-funded training programs, all trainees must:
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person;
- Reside in Ontario and complete an Ontario-based training program;
- Receive sponsorship from an employer (whether currently employed or not); and
- Not be a participant in any other full-time training or educational programs.
Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG)
Eligible Activities
COJG grants offset up to 50-83% of eligible activities for business training programs focused on advancing skills in areas such as communication, leadership, project management, technology, software, marketing, sales, safety, planning, and much more.
Ontario training grants will specifically cover the costs of:
- Third-party trainer fees;
- Tuition, student, and examination fees;
- Textbooks and course materials; and
- Training-related software.
While most training programs qualify for the Canada-Ontario Job Grant, applicants are most successful when applying for one of three training categories:
- Career or Development Training: Enhancing the skills, knowledge, and ability of employees to support career advancement.
- Maintenance and Refresher Skills Training: Updating and maintaining the skills, knowledge, and ability of specialists within an organization.
- Essential Skills Training: Providing the skills needed for work, learning, and life. These are easily transferable skills employees can use to find a job and succeed in the workplace.
COJG also offers a Consortium Training stream, where a group of employers can send groups of employees to receive training alongside other participating organizations. The contribution rate for consortiums depends on the size of companies sending employees for training. If a large employer (100+ employees) is in the training group, the consortium may access up to 50% of eligible training expenses. If all employers have less than 100 employees, then the consortium will qualify for up to 83% of costs.
Programs Ineligible for COJG Funding
There are two general types of training initiatives not supported through COJG:
- Internal Training: Training programs led by company managers or other employees. Training expenses covered through COJG are predominantly used to cover the costs of training programs purchased from a third-party vendor.
- Product Vendor Training: Training where the vendor is involved in the creation/sale of the product and is also conducting the training in how to use that particular product. Training on software or equipment must be performed by an external organization.
Ineligible Expenses
Training project costs that can not be claimed for COJG funding include:
- In-house training programs; and
- Training programs performed outside of Ontario.
Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG)
Program Deadline
- Application packages are accepted year-round.
- Employers should apply for funding in accordance with their expected training start date.
- COJG applications are typically reviewed within three to five weeks.
- Once approved, companies can start their training and receive reimbursement for costs.
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