The federal government is now accepting applications from local businesses for grants through the Canada Summer Jobs Funding program.
The program has been running for several years throughout the country and it provides direct assistance to not for profits, public and private businesses to offset the cost of hiring summer students.
“It's an incentive to hire summer students to give that student some real world experience, some work experience, to give them an idea of what they might want to study when they get into school or to enhance what they are studying." said Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb. "It's been a great program through the years.”
Lobb says any exposure to the work force is going to help a young person make a decision regarding their career.
“Considering the lock-down with COVID, the economy kind of being shut off, on and off, for two years I think it's really great for the students to get out there, interact with customers to get some real world experience and it does give them an opportunity to know what they will like, what they won't like,” said Lobb.
Lobb pointed out, even they've already made a decision on a career, exposure to that career could confirm their decision or could convince them it's not what they want. Lobb said it will save them a lot of time and money if they can find that out through a summer job rather than after they've graduated and started work at that job.
The deadline for applications is January 12 and complete information about the program and how to apply can be found at canada.ca.