Atlantic Canada Business Grants

Co-operative education students members of designated diversity group

Co-op Education Incentive (CO-OP)

Amount:

No Fixed Amount

Type of Program:

Wage Subsidy

Description:

The Co-op Education Incentive (CO-OP) provides wage assistance to organizations that offer career-related work experiences for university and college co-operative students. Agreements run from 12 to 16 consecutive weeks per term, depending on the requirements of the cooperative program. 

Comments on Funding:

Funding is a subsidy of $7.50 an hour ($9.00 if the student is a member of designated diversity group) for the wages the applicant pays the student.

When It Ends:

Ongoing

Deadline:

January 15, 2022
May 15, 2022

Eligibility:

​The applicant must:

  • be private-sector, 
  • be government-funded
  • be non-profit, or charitable organization
  • be a social enterprise
  • be a municipality
  • want to hire a co-operative education student for a work term of 12-16 weeks
  • pay the student at least $15 per hour, plus vacation pay, for 32.5 to 40 hours of work per week.

The student must be enrolled in a co-operative education program at a Nova Scotia university or college. 

The work placement must be endorsed in advance by a university or college Coop Coordinator.

Application Steps:

The applicant must:

1

register in the online Labor Market Programs Support System (LaMPSS),

2

complete the online application form,

3

submit a separate application for each county, if he wants to hire co-op students in more than one county.

Documentation Needed: 

Applicants must:

  • provide their organization’s Registry of Joint Stocks number, Canada Revenue Agency charities number, or a copy of legal documentation or legislative act that identifies how assets will be distributed upon dissolution of the organization,
  • describe your organization and the role you want to fill,

If the application is approved, the applicant needs to:

  • download the Co-op Employer Checklist,
  • return a signed contract,
  • provide information about the student he hires, including proof that they’re currently enrolled in a Co-operative Education program at a Nova Scotia university or college,
  • have his student sign a waiver to let the Nova Scotia's Department of Labor and Advanced Education use his information.

​At the end of the program, the applicant needs to:

  • provide proof of the wages he paid the student—use the Payroll Record form and send a copy of the student’s Record of Employment,
  • complete a feedback survey,
  • have his student complete a feedback survey.

Other Things to Note:

 Apply between 15 December 2021 and 15 January 2022 for the Summer 2022 co-op term.
Apply between 15 April and 15 May 2022 for the Fall 2022 co-op term.

Program Contact:

​Co-operative Education Incentive

​Coop_Education_Incentive_Book.pdf​​​