Financial Help

Government Funding

Find out more about Ontario’s Second Careers program

Support to Non-Employment Insurance Eligible Apprentices During In-School Training

This initiative is designed to Encourage Non-EI eligible apprentices to participate and complete their in-school training and will provide up to $1500 of taxable financial supports for apprentices who are not eligible for federal Employment Insurance (EI) who attend full time in-school training at a Delivery Agency approved by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.

Please visit the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development for more info

Ontario Works

Ontario Works helps people who are in financial need. It offers Employment assistance to help clients find, prepare for and keep a job. This assistance may include:

workshops on resume writing and interviewing
job counselling
job-specific training
access to basic education, so clients can finish high school or improve their language skills

WSIB

If you are ever injured or become ill because of your job, WSIB is here to give you the care and support you’re entitled to under Ontario’s workplace safety and insurance system. That includes benefits, as well as other support, such as return to work assistance.

Please visit the WSIB site for more info

Student Loans

You might be eligible for a student loan through your bank. Below is some information from the major Institutions within Canada. If you’re bank is not listed below, feel free to get in touch with them to see what your options are.

Additional Resources/ Options:

Windmill Microlending
Windmill Microlending works to reduce poverty, inequity and labour shortages by offering affordable loans up to $15000 to empower skilled immigrants and refugees restart their careers in Canada. We aim to ensure skilled newcomers are equitably integrated into the workforce while contributing their expertise to Canada’s economic and social success. We are the country’s only national charity providing financial support to new Canadians to achieve their accreditation, licensing and professional development goals.

Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program (CODA)
This program allows college students to receive apprenticeship training while earning a diploma. Registrants must meet apprenticeship requirements as well as all eligibility criteria for the specific college program (see individual listings). Apply directly through the college.Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)
This program allows high school students to gain on-the-job experience through work placements and register as apprentices in skilled trades. Students complete credits toward both their high school diploma and a Certificate of Apprenticeship. Interested students should contact their guidance counsellor, technical teacher or apprenticeship staff at an Employment Ontario office.

The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG)
This is a taxable cash grant of $1,000 per year, up to a maximum of $2,000 per person, available to registered apprentices once they have successfully finished their first or second year/level (or equivalent) of an apprenticeship program in one of the Red Seal trades.

The Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) — is a taxable cash grant of $2,000 maximum available to registered apprentices who have successfully completed their apprenticeship training and obtained their journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade on or after January 1, 2009.

Apprenticeship Scholarship
A $1,000 scholarship upon completion of academic upgrading, for registered apprentices younger than 25 years who left school before completing the necessary academic requirements for registering in a trade, who are committed to achieving the necessary academic requirements within one year, and who demonstrate an interest in the skilled trades.

$2000 Employer Signing Bonus
An initiative encouraging employers or sponsors in the trades to register new apprentices who qualify for the Apprenticeship Scholarship.

Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit
A refundable tax credit available to employers or sponsors who hire and train apprentices in certain skilled trades. The maximum credit available to employers or sponsors as of March 26, 2009 is $10,000 per qualifying apprentice per taxation year. Employers and sponsors are eligible to receive the credit for four years.

Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program
Job skill development and trade readiness for unemployed individuals wanting careers in skilled trades. Programs are at various community locations, and up to 40 weeks long including a minimum 8-week work placement. Free, with costs covered for tuition, textbooks, safety equipment and tools.

Apprenticeship programs
Persons 16 years or older with minimum Grade 10 education for construction trades (employers may ask for higher education) or minimum Grade 12 education (unless otherwise defined by specific trade regulation) for industrial, motive power and service. Employers must be qualified to train an apprentice in the trade, be able to provide structured training and supervision, and pay wages according to regulations. Individuals must first find an employer or training sponsor willing to hire and train them. The individual, employer or sponsor then arranges an assessment meeting at the workplace with apprenticeship staff, who will then draw up a training agreement. Foreign-trained professionals or trade certification candidates must contact their Employment Ontario office for information on provincial requirements for certification and evaluation of skills.