Available Funding

In addition to the tax credit refund from the Quebec Government, there are many resources and incentives available to facilitate the hiring, mentoring and integration of Co-op interns in organizations in Quebec and Canada.

Please feel free to contact directly the various programs listed below for more information. 

Please note: Since the grants are managed by third-party organizations, Bishop’s University cannot be held responsible for the granting or not of a grant. Our role is limited to informing you of the possibilities.

Programs

Tax Credit for an On-the-Job Training Period

The tax credit is intended for any qualified corporation that is claiming a refundable tax credit for expenditures (wages/salaries) incurred with regard to a qualified trainee (student enrolled full-time in a recognized educational institution) as part of a qualified training period.

  • The hiring organization must be subject to the Quebec Taxation Act.
  • The credit is refundable.
  • The On-the-job tax credit can be combined with a federal wage subsidy for the portion of the wage subsidy that is not covered.
Revenu Quebec – Tax Credit for an On-the-Job Training Period

Wage Subsidy Program – Accueillez un stagiaire

The Accueillez un stagiaire program, administered by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) through Pratiques RH, provides financial support to employers hiring postsecondary interns.

Employers may receive a wage subsidy covering up to 50% (maximum $5,000) or 70% (maximum $7,000) for eligible candidates. Internships must be related to the student’s program, and an eligibility attestation signed by the educational institution is required.

Pratiques RH – Accueillez un stagiaire

Business Benefits Finder (Wage Subsidies and Interns)

Define your filters and get access to many grants & funding programs, as well as the wages subsidies for interns that are available through the federal government.

Government of Canada – Business Benefits Finder

Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)

Offered by the federal government, department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to organization providing a career-related placement to students.

This program offers to employers:

  • Up to 50% of the salary for a student hired under the program (maximum $5,000)
  • Up to 70% of the salary for a first-year student or one who belongs to an under-represented group (maximum $7,000)
  • Submit a wage-subsidy application through the participating partners listed on their webpage.
Government of Canada – Find wage subsidies to hire post-secondary students

Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages (YCWBOL)

Offered by the Government of Canada, department of Canadian Heritage, to eligible employers providing summer jobs that promote the use of both official languages.

This short-term (6-16 weeks) job program offers:

  • Up to 50% of the student’s employment costs (wages, benefits, other eligible expenses) for a private or public employer
  • Up to 70% of eligible employment costs for a non-profit organization.
Government of Canada – Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages (employers)

Canada Summer Jobs

  • The hiring organization must be a non-profit organization, a public sector employer (excluding government departments and agencies), or a private sector organization with 50 or fewer employees.
  • Not-for-profit employers can receive funding for up to 100% of the provincial or territorial minimum wage
  • Public & private sector employers are eligible to receive funding for up to 50% of wages
  • Employers must offer a summer work term placement or job for youths aged 15 to 30 years, ideally community-focused, and fill out an application in the fall preceding the employment period.
Government of Canada – Canada Summer Jobs

Fonds Étudiant solidarité travail Québec (FESTQ)

The main goal of the FESTQ is to subsidize student jobs so that employers can hire students for meaningful work experiences. It also aims to encourage youth development through education, workplace experience, and exposure to community, cooperative, and social-economy contexts.

  • The employer must be a small business, a cooperative, a non-profit organization in social economy or community action sector, or a recognized union organization
  • Wage subsidy for 90% of the intern’s gross salary for a maximum of 10 weeks can be received by the hiring organization
  • The summer internship opportunity must be offered between May 1 and August 31.
Fonds Étudiant

Desjardins Grant

The Bishop’s Williams School of Business has the pleasure to administer a cooperative placement grant offered by Desjardins to eligible host employers. This financial support helps reduce costs related to hiring Co-op students for internships.

Desjardins will offer this grant of $2000 per employer to a maximum of 15 host organizations in 2026.

Eligibility & Selection Procedure

Step 1: Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria

  • Must be a member of a Desjardins Credit Union (to provide: account number / folio / transit)
  • Must meet the application deadline (see below)

Step 2: Selection

Selection Criteria

Employers will be evaluated according to the following points/criteria system to determine the order of selection.

  1. Geographic Priority — Score
    • High priority: Organizations located in Sherbrooke — 4
    • Secondary priority: Organizations located in the Eastern Townships — 3
    • Third priority: Regional or provincial organizations — 2
    • Fourth priority: National organizations — 1
  2. Type of Organization — Score
    • High priority: Non-profit organizations (NPOs), cooperatives, social economy enterprises — 3
    • Secondary priority: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), including startups — 2
    • Third priority: Large organizations (more than 250 employees) — 1

Score Calculation:

  • Geographic priority score
  • Organization type score
  • TOTAL score for each partner (sum of above)

The selection process for awarding the Desjardins Grants will prioritize companies with the highest scores, then continue down the list in descending order. In case of a tie, priority will be given to geographic evaluation.

Application & Selection Dates

1st ROUND

Application deadline: March 27

Selection date: April 1

2nd ROUND (waiting list from 1st round or first application)

Application deadline: May 29

Selection date: June 1

Desjardins Grant Online Form