Canada Ontario Job Grant

Businesses benefit from workforce training: Let the Canada-Ontario Job Grant help cover the cost

The Canada Ontario Job Grant (COJG) provides direct financial support to individual employers who wish to purchase training for their workforce. Employers choose the individuals they would like to have trained, and the training that meets their workforce development needs.

COJG is delivered through cost-sharing agreements between individual employers and government:

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  • Employers can get up to $10,000 in government support per person for training costs;
  • The training has to be delivered by an eligible, third-party trainer;
  • Participants also have access to services and supports through Employment Ontario Employment Services.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY: Employers

  • Employers with 100 or more employees need to contribute 1/2 of the training costs;
  • Small employers with less than 100 employees need to contribute 1/6 of training costs (NOTE: small employers who are training and hiring unemployed individuals may be eligible for 100% funding and up to $15,000 per trainee);
  • Employ the individual selected for training;
  • Be licensed to operate in Ontario;
    COJG in Perth Ontario

    A Perth employer’s Instagram post about their COJG training. Source: www.instagram.com/p/Cc-RWyjOHXh

  • Be applying for training that is delivered in Ontario and is related to a job that is also located in Ontario;
  • Comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Employment Standards Act;
  • Maintain appropriate Workplace Safety and Insurance Board or private workplace safety insurance coverage;
  • Have adequate third party general liability insurance as advised by its insurance broker;
  • Comply with all applicable federal and provincial human rights legislation, regulations, and other relevant standards;
  • Be a federal, provincial or municipal government and/or agency.

The ministry and/or service provider will apply assessment criteria in the ranking and approval of employer applications according to budget availability and the program’s strategic priorities. COJC applications are ranked into Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Tier 1 applications have a higher rate of approval than Tier 3. Under the COJG tier assessment; employers are encouraged to submit training applications for:

  • New or better jobs (includes retaining employees who have received a formal notice of layoff).
  • Training that is over $500 and longer than 1 week (25 hours) in duration.
  • Required to provide the training due to legislation, regulation, or policy.
  • New initiatives (applications that have not been submitted in the last 6 months).

COJG Chart

Tier 1 is for a new or better job, which includes retaining employees who have received a formal notice of layoff. If the employer does not meet this Tier 1 requirement they will automatically be considered for Tier 2.

Tier 2 is for training that will lead to new or better job. In this instance, the employer has a COJG funding application that has been approved in the past 6 months, or, the incumbent employee has not received an increase in wage or change in position.

Tier 3 is for training incumbent employees. In this instance, training cost for each trainee is less than $500 and less than 1 week (25 hours) in duration, or, the employer is required to provide the training due to legislation, regulation, or policy.

Employers meeting basic eligibility requirements outlined above are not guaranteed funding.

Contact CES to coordinate your formal Canada Ontario Job Grant application free-of-charge, please call 613-267-1381 or complete the webform below.

Funding provided by the Government of Canada through the Canada Job Grant Programs delivered by the Government of Ontario.