Funding for Indigenous Employers

Short-term employment (4–16 weeks)

We offer a 50% wage match, with up to $6,000 per youth in reimbursements, for Green Jobs lasting 4–16 weeks with funding available until 31 March 2022. We can also often match against other federal funding programs.

Eligibility requirements

• The youth hired is 15–30 years old and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or refugee
• The position is a Green Job, or a job that contributes to a more sustainable planet (see some examples in the next section)
• The work experience takes place in Canada

Internships (6+ months)

We also offer an 80% wage match, up to $32,000 per youth in reimbursements, for longer-term internships in the forest and natural resources sector. These positions will hopefully lead to continued employment when the funding ends after six months.

Eligibility requirements

• The youth hired is 15–30 years old and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or refugee
• The position is a Green Job, or a job that contributes to a more sustainable planet (see some examples in the next section)
• The work experience takes place in Canada

*This is not an exhaustive list of Green Jobs.

PLT Canada can provide support to youth in financial need to cover the cost of essential materials and equipment they need to be employment-ready in the Green Jobs sector. This can include things like personal protective equipment (e.g., work boots, hard hats, safety goggles, gloves, etc.) as well as accessibility-related supports (e.g., assistive devices, oxygen tanks, etc.).

Please note: The funding is provided as a reimbursement and available on a case-by-case basis at the average rate of $280.00 per employee. 

Can I receive retroactive funding?

Yes, we can retroactively support jobs from April 1, 2021, onwards, provided that your employees create a job seeker account here.

What funding can I and can I not match this with?

Stacking rules are very flexible, we can often match against other federal funding programs. You would, however, need to verify if your other funding source allows stacking. Additionally, you need to make sure that you are not receiving more than 100% of the wage costs. Reach out if you have specific questions. 

Do you provide upfront payment?

We provide payment as a reimbursement. However, in some cases, we can accommodate employers who require an up-front payment.

Who gets funded, the employer or the employee?

Employers get reimbursed with our funding after the employment period (or after the first 16 weeks) has ended. We reimburse employers with 50% of the actual employment expenditures, up to a maximum of $6,000.

How many Green Job positions can I receive funding for?

There is no limit on the number of job positions you are applying for, depending on the availability of funding.

Does PLT Canada provide funding for Mandatory Employer Related Costs (MERCs)? 

We do approve MERCs on a case-by-case basis.

How do I apply for funding?

Please follow these steps to complete the initial funding application:

1. Register and create an account for your organization here. 
2. Allow 24 hours for your organization profile to be verified and approved by PLT Canada.
3. Register as an employer above.
4. Submit your employer application and wait 48 hours to receive a confirmation email.
5. Submit your job posting(s) and wait 4–5 business days to receive a confirmation on the status of your funding.
6. Find a registered PLT Canada job seeker to apply and fill your position. Job seekers have to create an account too, which they can do here. 

How do I submit jobs?

To submit jobs from your approved employer account, follow these steps:

1. Log into your approved account here.
2. Click on “Create a New Job + Apply for Funding” under “Our Jobs” on the dashboard on the left.
   1. You will then be able to input all the information required to create the job posting.
3. Once you have entered all the information, you can click “Submit for Approval” under the “Review/Submit” tab.
4. When the job posting has been submitted from your account, we will review the job and then approve it.

How do I fill all the approved positions to receive funding?

1. Log into your account here. 
2. On the dashboard on the left, click on “Job Postings” under “Our Jobs.”
   1. You will now be able to see the approved job postings under the “Pending” tab.
3. Click on “View Contract,” and once you have reviewed it, click on “Accept Contract.”
4. You can then publish the job privately (if you have already hired a candidate for the job), or publish the job publicly (if you haven’t already hired a candidate for the job).
5. Your employee must then register for their Job Seeker Account on our website. Please make sure that your employee completes all the mandatory questions (in red) in the “Profile” section of their account.
6. You will now be able to go to the “Open” tab on your employer account and click on the “Fill Job” dropdown menu. Fill your job with the unique 4- or 5-digit Job Seeker ID of your employee, or type in their name and select the youth from the search results.
7. Then, after your employee has completed their work team, upload their first and last pay stubs by clicking on the “Reporting” dropdown menu.
8. Finally, you will upload your company’s direct deposit details to your employer account by clicking on “Company Information” from the dashboard.

Who do I reach out to if I have more questions not listed here?

You can reach out directly to Madhuri Jani, Green Jobs Coordinator, via email at madhuri.jani@forests.org  or via phone at 613-742-3782 ext. 467.

PLT Canada can provide up to $5,000 to deliver community-based, forestry-focused skills training for Indigenous Youth that will lead to greater employability in the Green Jobs sector. We take a very flexible approach to the definition of Green Skills training. It could include anything from industry-specific training, like First Aid, to land-based knowledge exchanges between youth and Elders, to work force preparedness and life skills training/coaching. We leave it up to each community to tell us what type of training would be most relevant and meaningful to them.

Eligibility

• Indigenous (First Nation, Métis, Inuit) communities, community-owned businesses, and community-serving organizations are eligible for Green Skills funding. Training partnerships involving Indigenous communities, community-owned businesses, or community-serving organizations are also eligible to apply.
• Training initiatives must primarily focus on serving Indigenous youth, age 15 to 30.
• Training initiatives must be delivered prior to March 31, 2022.
• Applicants must demonstrate that the training initiative will enhance the future employment success of youth participants in green career pathways, such as those in the forest, conservation, and parks sectors. Preference will be given to projects that support future success in local employment opportunities.
• Following the training project, successful applicants will be required to submit a brief report, which includes
  • Completed participant forms for Indigenous youth participants
  • Skills and/or certifications gained
  • Photos, videos and/or testimonials from training participants and project staff
  • Training outcomes survey results
  • Final costs with receipts.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until available funding is fully allocated. Preference will be given to training initiatives that lead immediately to employment.

*This is a non-exhaustive list of training initiatives that are eligible for Green Skills funding. Contact PLT Canada to discuss other projects that may be eligible.*

Silviculture Surveyor Training

Quesnel Dakelh Employment & Education Society, West Fraser, and Blue Collar provided local Indigenous youth the opportunity to attend silviculture-surveyor training. Youth learned how to complete silviculture surveys, skills that are in-demand in the forest and conservation sector. Plus, as many Indigenous communities are expanding their forest tenure holdings, these skills are a valuable asset for managing the milestones on the tenure in each territory.

Community Tree Planting

Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) and Nisokapawino Forestry Management Corporation (NFMC) partnered together to provide 12 local Indigenous youth employment opportunities with hands-on experience planting trees. They learned about the silviculture process, forestry conservation, safe work policies, forest fire safety, environmental management system policies, working around wildlife, and more.

Can I get retroactive funding for training?

Yes, we can retroactively support jobs from April 1, 2021 onwards, provided that your employees create a job seeker account here.

What funding can I and can I not match this with?

Our current funding allows stacking with any other funding source (including federal). You would, however, need to verify if your other funding source allows stacking.

Do you provide upfront payment?

We provide payment as a reimbursement. However, in some cases, we can accommodate employers who require an up-front payment.

How much funding do you provide? 

We can provide up to $5,000, but many participants seek additional sources of funding, such as partnering with SFI-certified organizations.

Who do I reach out to if I have more questions not listed here?

You can reach out directly to Brittany Lodge via email at Brittany.Lodge@forests.org or via phone at 613-704-0047 ext. 471.