Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) FAQs

The Canada-Ontario Job Grant covers eligible training costs up to $10,000 per trainee, with additional flexibility for small employers. Small businesses (fewer than 100 employees) training and hiring unemployed individuals may qualify for 100% funding, up to $15,000 per trainee. Eligibility for full funding is assessed automatically by ministry staff or service providers.

Eligible training costs include tuition, textbooks, software, required materials (such as training clothing, tools, and disability supports, capped at $500 per trainee), mandatory student fees, examination fees, and travel costs (up to $500 per trainee for distances over 24 km each way, subject to employer travel policies).

Small employers (fewer than 100 employees) must contribute at least one-sixth of eligible training costs, while large employers (100 or more employees) must contribute at least one-half. The grant covers the remaining costs, up to $10,000 per trainee. However, small employers training and hiring unemployed individuals may qualify for full funding of up to $15,000 per trainee, with eligibility automatically assessed. However, Grant Heroes has access to private funding that can cover the employer contributions for small employers.

Employers cannot receive multiple incentives for the same individual. These funds cannot be used to offset wages, and employers cannot receive ministry funding more than once for the same trainee. However, employers can utilize funding from private sources to offset the cost of training.

Eligible applicants for the Canada-Ontario Job Grant include private and not-for-profit sector employers, First Nations, and organizations acting on behalf of employers. All employers must meet specific criteria, including making required cash contributions, employing the trainee, operating in Ontario, ensuring training is job-related, complying with health and safety laws, and maintaining appropriate insurance coverage. Specific requirements can be found on the Ministry of Colleges and Universities website.

Employers are ineligible if they are government agencies, broader public sector organizations, service providers for the grant, or using trainees to replace existing staff. They cannot require trainees to pay for any part of the employer’s contribution. Employers may lose future funding eligibility if they fail to follow through on post-training commitments, do not submit required documentation, allow trainees to drop out without informing the Ministry, withdraw from multiple grants, provide inaccurate information, misuse funding, or owe money to the Ministry. Specific requirements can be found on the Ministry of Colleges and Universities website.

Employers may apply for the Canada-Ontario Job Grant multiple times if they continue to meet eligibility criteria. However, funding is limited, and each application is assessed individually. Prior funding does not guarantee future approval, but employers who have not received funding in the past six months are given higher priority. Past participation in the program is considered in funding decisions, with preference given to employers whose previous training led to positive outcomes such as transitioning participants from unemployment to employment, part-time to full-time work, seasonal to year-round jobs, layoff notices to stable employment, or lower to higher wages. For funding purposes, organizations sharing the same Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) number—including different branches and franchises—are considered the same employer.

While these criteria are not required to qualify for COJG funding, an employer will be a great fit for the program if they: are passionate about upskilling their workforce, have fewer than 100 employees, have 1 or more cohorts of 15-25 trainees, and see a path to growth for employees which will result in more hours, higher pay, and/or a new job title.

Employers can choose training that aligns with their workforce development needs, but it must be provided by eligible training institutions, including colleges, publicly-assisted universities, school boards, private trainers compliant with the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005, union-based training centers, and product vendors (only for training unrelated to their own products or services). COJG funding does not cover training that employers are legally required to provide, product vendor training on their own products, executive courses (such as MBA or CFA programs), preparatory courses (like LSAT, MCAT, or GMAT), business consulting services, or conference attendance. Additionally, business owners and individuals with controlling interests in corporations are ineligible as trainees, and COJG does not fund training for senior managers in large organizations (over 500 employees). However, managers at small and medium-sized businesses (under 500 employees) remain eligible. The program also does not cover training lasting more than one year, nor does it fund membership, subscription, annual, or professional association fees.

Yes. Grant Heroes partners with training providers offering a variety of tailored courses. Some top courses include Soft Skills and Leadership, Onboarding Best Practices, Customer Service Excellence, Sales Strategies and Implementation, and Using AI to Enhance Productivity. The preferred trainers we work with offer flexible courses with options for in-person and online sessions that fit seamlessly into your schedule.