Youth Internship Guidelines for Applicants

FedNor provides support for youth interns under three funding programs: Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI), Northern Ontario Development Program (NODP) and the Economic Development Initiative (EDI). Please note that some criteria are different under each of the three programs.

Eligible Youth Internship Criteria

Young people being considered for a youth internship must:

• be unemployed or underemployed youth (persons aged 30 and under);
• have graduated within the last three years with a degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution;
• be legally entitled to work in Canada;
• have not previously participated as a youth intern in FedNor's Northern Ontario Development Program, Regional Economic Growth through Innovation, or Economic Development Initiative or in any other federal or provincial internship program with pay for a period of six months or more^{Footnote 1};
• not be related to the directors, officers or managers of the organization; and
• work on a project related to one of the seven economic strategy tables:
  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Agri-food
  • Clean technology
  • Digital industries
  • Health/bio-sciences
  • Resources of the future
  • Tourism

Participation of youth from employment equity groups is encouraged (Indigenous, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and women).^{Footnote 1}

Eligible Applicants

• Not-for-profit organizations in Northern Ontario, such as community economic development, Indigenous and Francophone organizations, industry and business associations, networks, or alliances.
• Municipalities, municipal organizations, and First Nations in Northern Ontario.
• Businesses in Northern Ontario including an individual operating a business, partnerships, social enterprises, incorporated companies, corporations or co-operatives, or an Indigenous organization such as Indigenous/First Nation/Métis Settlement-owned businesses, and all other types of enterprises.

To be considered eligible, project benefits must accrue to Northern Ontario and the organization and the employee must both be located in Northern Ontario.

Ineligible Youth Internship Activities

The following activities are ineligible for support:

• Ongoing and regular administrative/operational activities of the organization;
• Fundraising and lobbying;
• Those that displace existing employees;
• Those that do not comply with all labour union agreements, where applicable;
• Project activities with primarily social, cultural or recreational goals; ^{Footnote 1} and
• Those not related to the seven economic strategy tables (applicable only to private-sector internships.)

Funding Conditions

Not-for-profit organizations:

• FedNor will contribute up to 90 per cent to a maximum of $35,000 per year for the eligible costs of salary and employee benefit expenses in a full-time position for the internship period of up to 18 months.
• FedNor will contribute up to 90 per cent to a maximum of $5,000 towards eligible equipment costs and/or training activities to support the intern.

* Normally, youth internships are for a 12-month period. On an exceptional basis where conditions warrant and activities being undertaken build economic development capacity, the internship period for small municipalities and First Nation communities may be up to 24 months to match project work plans.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs):

• FedNor will contribute up to 50 per cent to a maximum of $35,000 per year for the eligible costs of salary, employee benefit expenses, and professional and business skills development and associated travel costs for a period of 12 months in a full-time position.
• FedNor will contribute up to 50 per cent to a maximum of $5,000 towards eligible equipment costs and/or training activities to support the intern.

Private Sector Applicants are not eligible to apply under the EDI .

Other Considerations

The following is required for all youth internship applications:

• A work plan and mentoring/supervisory arrangement;
• Demonstrated networking opportunities for the intern;
• Post-internship retention plan;
• Endorsement by an appropriate or regulatory body, including union concurrence, where applicable; and
• A fair and transparent recruitment, interview and hiring process.

Please refer to the EDI Guidelines for further information about Youth Internships under the EDI .

Service Standards

FedNor is committed to providing quality service to all applicants and funding recipients in the official language of their choice.

Our goal is to:

• acknowledge receipt of an application within three (3) working days;
• provide a decision on applications within eighty (80) working days of receipt of a fully completed application; and,
• render a payment decision on claims within thirty-five (35) working days.

How to Apply

Please call 1-877-333-6673 to discuss your proposal with a FedNor Officer in your area or begin your application process.