The internship program :

• Provides a wage subsidy to employers who take on underemployed recent post-secondary graduates, giving them job opportunities that will allow them to gain meaningful work experience to help them transition to career-oriented employment;
• Supports the training of the interns, which focuses on the development of new or improved digital skills and competencies, as well as non-technical competencies (commercial and entrepreneurial skills, communication, problem-solving and teamwork).

The internships will also support a wide range of organizations that want to embark on digital activities.

Eligible employers are for-profit and not-for-profit organizations of 500 employees or fewer that have legal status in Canada and that are able to offer internships that will improve the interns’ digital skills.

The interns will develop their digital skills in the partner organizations and their activities may include the following fields:

• Software and video game development;
• Application coding and development;
• Network troubleshooting;
• Adaptive technologies;
• Website development;
• Online learning;
• Social media campaign and other content development;
• Digital manufacturing.

• Be between 15 and 30 years old at the beginning of the internship;
• Have completed post-secondary studies;
• Have the legal right to work in Canada;
• Be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a person with refugee status in Canada;
• Not receive employment insurance (EI) during the internship;
• Self-assess as underemployed, that is, employed below their level of education or holding a part-time job.

Wage subsidy :

• A maximum amount equal to 100% of the wages and social benefits.
• The maximum contribution for the internship is $21,500.
• The wage subsidy is based on the lowest wage currently offered for this position in the region, based on labour market rates posted at https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis
• The internships must be completed by March 31, 2025, at the latest.

• The employer is responsible for recruiting and hiring the interns. The employer must advertise externally for the internships and the selection process must be fair, open and transparent. Attention must be paid to employment equity in the hiring process, to close the representation gap for employment equity groups: women, indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities and official language minorities.
• The employer must show that:
  • It can provide valid employment opportunities related to digital activities;
  • It has the appropriate administrative support and the capacity to train, guide and supervise the participants in order to improve and optimize their experience;
  • It will help the interns plan and take part in professional activities that will allow them to benefit from a useful internship;
  • pIt can promote the digitization of its business or operational processes.
• The employer will be responsible for providing the interns with the required equipment and office space.
• In collaboration with the intern, the employer will have to establish a skill development plan that will give the intern significant work experience and improve their employability.
• Communautique will provide an advanced training program. The interns will participate in the training program during the internship hours.
• The employer will have to identify a mentor (who holds an internal position of responsibility without necessarily being the intern’s immediate supervisor and who has good listening skills and empathy) for each intern.
• The mentor’s role will be to :
  • Offer advice about professional advancement and opportunities related to their profession;
  • Offer advice about developing the specific skills required for their career;
  • Help the interns establish a network of contacts;
  • Offer coaching and support to develop the skills that will help them find a job, do an interview and manage a career.

Communautique will offer ongoing support to the youth interns and employers to answer questions, meet challenges and handle concerns related to the work environment and work relations. A four-part assessment of the match between the internship offered and the internship experienced will be conducted: initial assessments of the intern and the supervisor/mentor, a mid-term assessment and a final assessment.

Selection criteria :

• The employer is a for-profit or not-for-profit organization with fewer than 500 employees and legal status in Canada.
• The employer can provide valid job opportunities related to digital activities. The position and planned internship content are aligned with the program objectives.
• The employer can provide the appropriate administrative support and has the capacity to train and supervise the interns to improve and optimize their experience.
• The employer has the capacity to help the interns plan and carry out professional activities that will give them the benefit of a useful internship.
• The employer can promote the digitization of its business or operational processes.
• The employer uses an open, equitable and transparent recruitment process.

The Digital Skills for Youth program is a great success.
We will contact you once we start processing your application.

To apply for a subsidy for one intern, you must complete the form and submit it online.

For further information, please write to us at cnj@communautique.quebec