The Canada Summer Jobs 2027 call opened October 27, 2026. A private business with 50 or fewer full-time employees can apply for a wage subsidy of up to 50% of Ontario's minimum wage to hire someone aged 15 to 30 for 6 to 16 weeks next summer. Applications go through GCOS, and you need a payroll (RP) business number first.
It is one of the few federal programs that a small Ontario business can actually use for hiring, and the application window sits right in the busy pre-holiday weeks. Here is what you need to know before the deadline.
What is Canada Summer Jobs?
Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) is a federal program run by Employment and Social Development Canada. It funds employers to create summer jobs for young people. Service Canada assesses the applications and decides how many positions to fund, based on national and local priorities.
The program is large and competitive. In 2025, it received more than 42,800 applications, funded more than 27,450 employers, and supported more than 75,000 jobs.
Who can apply for Canada Summer Jobs 2027?
Three kinds of employers:
| Employer type | Size limit | Wage subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| Not-for-profit organizations | None | Up to 100% of the provincial minimum wage |
| Public-sector employers | None | Up to 50% |
| Private-sector employers | 50 or fewer full-time employees across Canada | Up to 50% |
The job must be full-time (30 to 40 hours a week) for 6 to 16 consecutive weeks, and the young person must be aged 15 to 30 at the start. The program also expects a real job: supervision, mentoring and skills the youth will use later.
How much does Canada Summer Jobs pay in Ontario?
Ontario's general minimum wage is $17.95 an hour from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, so it covers summer 2027.
An illustrative calculation for a private employer:
- 50% of $17.95 = about $8.98 an hour
- 35 hours a week x 8 weeks = 280 hours
- 280 x $8.975 = about $2,513 for the summer
That is the most you could get for that job; the amount approved may be lower. You still pay the full wage, plus your usual employer costs. Use our payroll cost calculator to see the full cost of the hire before you apply.
Not-for-profits can receive up to the full minimum wage, which is why many community groups rely on CSJ.
How to apply for Canada Summer Jobs 2027 (step by step)
- Check your business number. You need a CRA business number with a payroll program account (RP). If you have never run payroll, register it first. Our guide to business numbers and HST accounts explains the accounts.
- Set up GCOS. Applications are submitted through Grants and Contributions Online Services. Create the organization profile early; it takes longer than people expect.
- Write the job. Duties, start date, weeks, hours, wage, who supervises, and what the young person will learn.
- Submit before the closing date on the official applicant guide.
- Watch your email. If Service Canada finds missing information, you get 5 business days to send it.
The 2026 call ran from November 4 to December 11, 2025. The 2027 closing date is on the official CSJ page; we have not repeated it here because Service Canada sets it each year. Apply early, not in the week before Christmas.
Is Canada Summer Jobs worth it for a small business?
For many Markham businesses, yes, but only if you already need summer help. Good fits:
- Retail and food with a busy summer season.
- Professional offices that can train a student on admin, social media or bookkeeping support.
- Trades and landscaping with seasonal crews.
Less good: inventing a job only to get the subsidy. You still pay most of the wage, and you must supervise and report to Service Canada.
CSJ is a grant, not a loan. If you are also comparing loans for equipment or working capital, read grants vs loans in Canada and our roundup of small business grants in Ontario.
Where Markham Office fits
We do not write CSJ applications. What we do:
- BN and HST/payroll registration: $79, so your RP account is ready.
- Free Loan Readiness Review if you are planning financing for 2027 alongside a hire.
- A meeting room for interviews: $35/hour, or $25 for members.
See our funding page for how we help with plans and financing. We are at 1005-3601 Highway 7 E.; call (905) 305-7800.