A Win for Tourism Employers Seeking to Employ Students – the Propel Program
Tourism HR Canada announced the Propel Program, an exciting new Student Work Placement Program for employers offering paid work-integrated learning opportunities (e.g. co-ops, internships, practicums, mentorships, field placements, or applied projects) in the tourism and hospitality sector.
- Administered by Tourism HR Canada (THRC) and funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), this program offers employers a wage subsidy of up to 75% of a qualifying student’s wages, to a maximum of $7,500.
- The program is available to registered Canadian businesses or not-for profits related to the tourism and hospitality sector, and is open to students who are:
- Registered at a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution in a full or part-time program that includes a work placement;
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and
- Legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.
- Graduate students are eligible for this program however international students are not, as they do not qualify for the Student Work Placement Program.
To be eligible for this program, positions must meet the following criteria:
- Full- or part-time work-integrated learning opportunity (e.g. co-op, internship)A minimum of 20 hours a weekA minimum of 4 weeks
- With a tourism/hospitality employer and/or related to a tourism/hospitality job function
- Taking place in a safe environmentOn-site, remote, and hybrid placements all eligible
- Not funded by other federal grants or programs (including Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy [CEWS] and Canada Recovery Hiring Program [CRHP])
- Must be hired as an employee of the company (not as an independent contractor)
- Cannot hire an immediate family member, unless a clear, transparent, and fair nepotism policy is in place
As the competition for skilled labour continues across the province, employers who are hiring for the upcoming fall or winter 2020/2021 seasons may be able to use this program to recruit students who are keen to learn and gain work experience in the tourism and hospitality industry.
If this sounds like a program you want to take advantage of, applications are currently open for the fall and winter semesters of the 2021-2022 school year. You can read more about the program here and apply for the program here.
