Youth Employment and Skills Program: 5. Complete the application and apply

5. Complete the application and apply

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) uses the information you provide in the required forms and supporting documents to confirm your identity and to assess the eligibility of your application for funding.

Complete the Project Application Form

The application form has 5 sections to be completed.

1. Organization information

Organization type

Select the applicable organization type from the options provided.

• For-profit: An organization that exists to make a profit, including:
  • partnership
  • corporation
  • co-operative
  • trust
• Not-for-profit: An organization that operates solely for social welfare, civic improvement, pleasure or recreation, or any other purpose except profit, including:
  • association of workers and/or employers
  • local community, charitable or voluntary organization
  • sector council
  • corporation
  • trust
• Individuals or sole proprietorships: A single person applying on behalf of themselves or an unincorporated business that has only one owner
• Provincial / Territorial / Municipal Government
• Indigenous (First Nation, Inuit, Métis): A First Nation, Inuk or Métis individual or a First Nation, Inuit, or Métis organization, including
  • First Nations, Inuit or Métis community and/or government^{note 1}
  • First Nations, Inuit, or Métis association
  • First Nations, Inuk, or Métis individual
  • First Nations, Inuit, or Métis not-for-profit organization
  • First Nations, Inuit, or Métis for-profit organization
• Academia: An organization involved in providing education or developing educational materials or tools, including:
  • private university or college
  • public degree-granting university or college
  • public community college or vocational school
  • school board or other educational institution

Legal name of your organization

Enter your organization's legal name as it appears in legal documents, such as articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, etc.

"Operating as" organization name (if used)

Enter the name under which your organization operates, if that name is different from its legal name.

CRA business number

Enter the first nine (9) digits of your organization's 15-digit CRA business number (for example: 123456789 RR 0001).

For more information, visit Business number (CRA).

If you do not have a CRA Business Number, or if your organization is a Trust, enter 9 zero's (that is, 000000000). We'll request more information from you during the assessment.

Primary contact – for this application

Enter the contact information of the person in your organization who is responsible for responding to inquiries about this application.

First name and last name

Provide the first name and last name of the person in your organization who will be the primary contact for this application.

Position title

Please give the position title of the primary contact (for example, Business Owner, President, or Executive Director).

Email address, phone number(s) and fax number

Provide the email and phone number(s) of the primary contact. If applicable, provide a fax number. We'll use this information to communicate with your organization about the application.

Language of correspondence

Indicate the primary contact's preferred official language for communication.

Project contact

Enter the contact information of the person in your organization who is responsible for responding to inquiries about the project. This person can be the same as the primary contact for the application.

First name and last name

Provide the first name and last name of the person in your organization who will be the project contact.

Position title

Please give the position title of the project contact (for example, Business Owner, President, or Executive Director).

Email address, phone numbers and fax number

Provide the email and phone number(s) of the project contact. If applicable, provide a fax number. We'll use this information to communicate with your organization about the project.

Language of correspondence

Indicate the project contact's preferred official language for communication.

Mailing address

Enter the complete mailing address of your organization's headquarters or regional headquarters. Include the:

• street number and name (or PO box)
• additional address information on address line 2 (if applicable)
• city/town
• province/territory
• postal code

Primary project location

Enter the address where the project will take place (that is, the work site) if it is different than the mailing address, or indicate that the project location is the same as the mailing address.

If there are multiple project locations, enter the address where the majority of the project activities will take place.

Organizational capacity

Information in this section will be used to understand more about your organization and to assess your organization's ability to carry out the project.

How many employees work for your organization?

Indicate the number of employees that work for the organization. Include the number of all full-time and part-time employees on your organization's payroll. Do not include contractors.

Describe your organization (for example, when it was established, the mandate/mission, and who it serves)

Include your organization's mandate/mission, priorities, and who it serves. Provide a brief history of your organization, including when it was established and any significant changes in the past two (2) years (for example, a significant increase/decrease of staff, changes to executive leadership, including the Board of Directors, a change in mandate, etc.).

Has your organization received any funding from AAFC within the last six (6) years?

Indicate if your organization has received funding from AAFC within the last six (6) years. If yes, and if known, list the program(s) your organization received funding from, the name(s) of the project(s) and the amount received.

Describe how your organization has the capacity to deliver this project

Refer to past AAFC funded projects. If no projects have been funded by AAFC, refer to other projects of similar scale that your organization has delivered in the past. For example, describe whether your organization has:

• adequate staffing resources
• access to suitable resources
• management capacity

Describe the:

• results of the previous projects
• level of complexity or expertise used for past projects, including experience managing a budget or submitting claims

You must answer the following self-identification questions. However, you can select 'Decline to identify' for each question. The application will not be deemed ineligible or assessed less favourably if you decline to identify.

Your answers may be used by AAFC for reporting and to inform future policies, programs, and communication activities.

Select the applicable checkboxes or radio buttons for each question.

Question: Does the mandate/mission of your organization target any of the following groups? (Select all that apply)

Indigenous peoples

The collective name for the original peoples of Canada and their descendants and consists of distinct, rights-bearing communities comprising First Nations peoples, Inuit, and Métis.

• First Nations – are a people composed of many different nations having their own origin, history and culture, and whose members have called North America home for thousands of years. First Nations include status and non-status Indians.
• Métis – are a people whose members are of mixed First Nations and European ancestry, are united by a common origin, history and culture, and are generally accepted by the Métis Nation.
• Inuit – are a people that inhabit or that traditionally inhabited the northern regions and Arctic coasts of Canada known as Inuit Nunangat, and whose members are united by a common origin, history and culture.

Indigenous organizations may include:

• aggregated Indigenous entities (as self-defined by Indigenous groups, could be linked by cultural or linguistic background, geographical area or historical treaty lines)
• associations
• national and regional Indigenous organizations
• Indigenous non-governmental and voluntary associations and organizations, including non-profit organizations and corporations
• self-governing Indigenous governments

Persons with disabilities

The Employment Equity Act defines "persons with disabilities" as persons who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric or learning impairment and who

1. consider themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or
2. believe that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, and includes persons whose functional limitations owing to their impairment have been accommodated in their current job or workplace.

Members of Visible Minorities

The Employment Equity Act defines "members of visible minorities" as persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.

Women

One of many gender identities. Includes all people who identify as women.

Youth

Individuals ages 15 to 30.

2SLGBTQQIA+

Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities who use additional terminologies.^{note 2}

Not Applicable

Use this selection if the question is not relevant to your organization.

Decline to identify

Use this selection if you do not want to disclose this information at the time of your application.

Question: Is your organization majority owned (more than 50%) by one or more of the following groups? (Select all that apply)

See the information previously mentioned for groups included in the previous question, as well as the following groups:

Gender parity

A minimum of 50% women and/or non-binary individuals.

Non-binary

A person whose gender identity does not align with a binary understanding of gender such as man or woman. It is a gender identity which may include man and woman, androgynous, fluid, multiple, no gender, or a different gender outside of the "woman—man" spectrum.

Question: Does your organization's Board of Directors have a diverse composition with significant representation (30% or more) from one or more of the following groups? (Select all that apply)

Note: This question is not applicable to Individuals or Sole Proprietorships and will not appear in fillable application forms with Individual or Sole Proprietorship selected as the Organization Type.

See the information previously mentioned for groups included in previous questions.

Question: Does your organization have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Plan or a Human Resources Plan that supports diversity, equity and inclusion?

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan

An employment equity plan addresses under-representation of marginalized groups such as Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women, youth, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and official language minority people and employment barriers they may face. A diversity, equity and inclusion plan goes beyond an employment equity plan to address under-representation and employment barriers for employment equity and equity-seeking groups to advance diversity, equity and inclusion commitments in the workplace.

Human resources plan that supports DEI

A plan that links human resources management to the organization's overall strategic and operational plans and includes objectives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Question: Does your organization participate in the 50 - 30 Challenge: Your Diversity Advantage?

The 50 – 30 Challenge is an initiative co-created by the Government of Canada, civil society and the private sector that aims to attain gender parity and significant representation (at least 30%) of other under-represented groups on boards and senior management positions to build a more diverse, inclusive, and vibrant economic future for Canadians.

The Challenge will allow a variety of organizations to participate across three (3) program streams including small and medium enterprises and non-profit organizations, and those without Boards of Directors or senior management teams. The Challenge includes:

1. Organizations that meet the Challenge
2. Organizations that are working toward the Challenge

For more information, please visit: The 50 — 30 Challenge: Your Diversity Advantage (Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada).

2. Project information

In this section, you'll provide information about the project to be considered for funding.

Are you applying for funding to hire more than one (1) youth participant?

Indigenous applicants may submit up to five (5) applications per organization. Applicants may submit one (1) application per organization during the application intake period. Additional applications will not be considered for support.

If applicable, use the radio buttons to indicate if you are applying for funding to hire more than one (1) youth participant.

If yes, use the drop-down fields to indicate the total number of project applications being submitted, and which number this application represents (for example, 1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3).

Project title

Provide a short, descriptive project title that accurately reflects the activities and results of the project.

Project description

Briefly describe your organization's business activities.

Describe the activities that will be completed by the youth participant for the duration of their employment on this project.

Identify the project mentor and how their background is applicable to overseeing these activities.

Results and benefits

Describe the benefits for the agriculture sector and the local community that will result from the completion of this project.

Describe the employability skills that will be taught to the youth participant.

Environmental considerations

In accordance with the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), we must determine if projects that take place on federal land are likely to cause significant environmental damage.

To determine if IAA applies to your project, answer the following questions:

Question A. Is the proposal a "project" as defined by the IAA?

Examples of projects include:

• construction of a greenhouse
• installation of a permanent irrigation system
• building construction or demolition
• any other activity related to a permanent human-made work

Activities that are not considered projects include:

• administrative or marketing activities
• workshops
• training or hiring staff
• installation of temporary or portable systems
• any other activity not related to a physical work

Question B. Where does the project take place?

AAFC has certain obligations under the IAA, if providing financial assistance to projects on federal land. Under the IAA, "federal lands" means:

1. lands that belong to His Majesty in right of Canada, or that His Majesty in right of Canada has the power to dispose of, and all waters on and airspace above those lands, other than lands under the administration and control of the Commissioner of Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut;
2. the following lands and area:
   1. the internal waters of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province,
   2. the territorial sea of Canada, in any area of the sea not within a province,
   3. the exclusive economic zone of Canada, and
   4. the continental shelf of Canada; and
3. reserves, surrendered lands and any other lands that are set apart for the use and benefit of a band and that are subject to the Indian Act, and all waters on and airspace above those reserves or lands.

If you answer "Yes" or "Unsure" to Question A, and "Federal lands or lands outside Canada" or "Reserves, surrendered land or other land set apart for the use and benefit of a band and that are subject to the Indian Act" to Question B, further assessment may be required. We'll contact you if necessary.

Project data collection

The following set of questions will be used for reporting purposes, and will not impact the success of the application.

North American Industry Classification System

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. For more information, visit North American Industry Classification System (Statistics Canada).

AAFC has identified the following NAICS categories for this program. Select the category (identifier type) that best applies to the project or to the industry the project represents:

• agricultural production
• food and beverage manufacturing
• other manufacturing
• other

Then, select the NAICS identifier that best applies to the overall intent of your project, or to the activity with the highest dollar value. We recognize that not all organizations will fit perfectly into one (1) identifier.

Select any of the groups who will directly benefit from the project's activities. (Select all that apply)

See the information previously mentioned for groups included in previous questions.

Official languages

AAFC is committed to enhancing the vitality of official language minority communities (OLMCs), supporting and assisting their development, and promoting the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society. OLMCs are defined as English speakers in Quebec or French speakers outside Quebec.

Use the radio buttons to indicate if the project activities have the potential to reach an audience of both English speakers and French speakers? If yes, please explain.

Use the radio buttons to indicate if the project activities specifically target an OLMC. If yes, please explain.

Use the radio buttons to indicate if you're a member of an OLMC. If yes, use the radio buttons to indicate which OLMC you're a member of.

Please note that if you answer "no" to these questions it will not influence the outcome of your application. However, AAFC may discuss this information with you to determine if linguistic commitments should be included in agreements.

Attachments

Attach the following documents to your Project Application Form. Your application cannot be deemed complete without the required information.

To attach your documents:

• select the paper clip icon to open the "Attachments" panel
• click the "Add a new attachment" icon and select the document to attach

For help, click the Information icon.  

You can attach up to 60 files of supported types with a maximum file size of 5 MB each. Supported file types are: doc, docx, xls, xlsx, pps, ppt, pptx, vsd, mpp, wpd, pdf, gif, jpg, png, txt, drf.

1. Required: A Participant Information Form, with all mandatory sections completed, identifying the youth participant you've selected for the project
   • Note: some sections of this form must be completed by the youth participant
   • For guidance, refer to the instructions on how to complete the Participant Information Form
2. If applicable: A copy of the organization's Certificates or Articles of Incorporation, or, for Indigenous applicants, a Director's Resolution (DR), a self-government agreement or modern treaty agreement, or other legal document stating the organization is a legal entity
   • Note: Documentation for First Nations and Tribal Councils is not required, as the status of the organization can be validated with Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Please contact us if you need help to attach documents.

3. Project details and costs

Provide additional details about the project, including project duration, if the youth participant faces barriers to employment, and costs related to the project.

Project details

Project duration

Indicate the estimated start date and end date of the project. Note:

• projects must begin no earlier than the date we receive your completed application package, no earlier than April 1, 2026, and no earlier than the youth participant's 15th birthday
• projects must end by March 31, 2027
• projects must be of a meaningful length – generally, two (2) months or more

Youth participant Information

Use the radio buttons to indicate if the youth participant selected for the project faces any barriers to employment.

Project costs

Eligible costs must be incurred between the project start and end dates. Costs you incur prior to AAFC approval, or the project start date, may not be reimbursed by AAFC, and you may be solely responsible for those costs.

Salary and benefits amount

Indicate the youth participant's total salary (that is, wages) for the project period, including employment benefits.

Benefits may include:

• employer contributions to benefits programs, such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Employment Insurance (EI), and workers' compensation, and in Quebec, the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP), the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), and the Health Services Fund
• social benefits paid to youth participants, such as health benefits and vacation pay

Relocation and barrier-related costs

The program can support the following cost items related to relocation and addressing barriers to employment, up to the maximum AAFC contribution noted.

Supporting information and documentation (for example, cost estimates, quotes from suppliers, or proof of distance, etc.) can be included with your application, and if not provided, may be requested as part of the assessment of your application.

Relocation costs

If there are no relocation-related costs you plan to contribute to, check the 'Not applicable' box.

If the youth participant will relocate more than 100 kilometres (one way) from their home address for the duration of the project, and you plan to contribute to these costs, detail the applicable relocation costs.

Indicate the name of the cost item and the amount, and provide a description. Include any relevant details about the cost item, such as the distance and calculations.

On the Project Application Form:

• to add a cost item, select the plus (+) button
• to delete a cost item, select the (x) button
• to expand a cost item and view the related details, click "Details"
• to collapse a cost item and hide the related details, click "Hide"

Barrier-related costs

Note: This section will only appear if you've indicated the youth participant faces barriers to employment.

If there are no barrier-related costs you plan to contribute to, check the 'Not applicable' box.

If the youth participant faces barriers to employment and requires additional support to address their barrier(s), and you plan to contribute to these costs, detail the applicable barrier-related costs.

Indicate the name of the cost item and the amount. Describe how the cost item will specifically address the employment barrier during the project, and include any relevant details about the cost item, such as calculations.

On the Project Application Form:

• to add a cost item, select the plus (+) button
• to delete a cost item, select the (x) button
• to expand a cost item and view the related details, click "Details"
• to collapse a cost item and hide the related details, click "Hide"

Project cost summary

The Project Application Form will automatically calculate the total project cost, as well as the estimated AAFC contribution, if you use the fillable application PDF. These fields are not editable.

If you use a non-fillable application PDF, you do not need to complete the total project cost or estimated AAFC contribution fields at the bottom of this section. We'll calculate these amounts, once you've submitted your application.

The estimated AAFC contribution is based on the project costs you provide, as well as the maximum funding amounts and cost-sharing ratios.

4. Declarations

Unpaid debts to the Government of Canada

Use the radio buttons to show if your organization has any amounts owing to the Government of Canada.

If yes, please indicate the amount owed, the responsible department or agency to which you are indebted and under what agreement or legislation. To add additional rows, select the plus (+) button.

Lobbying activities

Use the checkbox to declare that your organization, and any person lobbying on its behalf, is in compliance with the Lobbying Act.

Conflict of interest

Read this section carefully and check the mandatory declaration checkbox, if you understand and agree.

Privacy notice statement

Read this section carefully and check the mandatory declaration checkbox, if you understand and agree.

5. Submit

Read the declarations on the form carefully and check the four (4) mandatory checkboxes if you understand and agree to the declarations.

Enter your:

• first name
• last name
• title within the organization
• email address (twice for verification)
• primary phone number

We'll use this information to correspond with you about your organization's application.

Before you submit your application:

• save the application form (select 'File' then 'Save')
• review all the fields
• make sure that all required fields have been filled in

Click the 'Submit' button.

Note:

• If required information is missing, or if there are unbalanced values, your submission will fail
• Error messages will appear to tell you where corrections are needed
• Correct the errors, and click 'Submit' again

Once you submit the form successfully, the form cannot be changed. If you want to make changes to your submitted application, do not submit a new application form. Instead, please contact the program at aafc.yesp-pecj.aac@agr.gc.ca.

If you've completed a non-fillable version of the application form, please email the completed form and supporting documents to aafc.yesp-pecj.aac@agr.gc.ca.

You may contact the program to mail or fax your application package, but applications submitted through these methods will take longer to process.

Complete the Participant Information Form

The Participant Information Form provides information about the youth participant you've selected for the project.

A completed Participant Information Form must be provided with your application.

The form has three (3) sections to be completed by you (the employer) and the youth participant (the employee).

Table of contents

1. Part A. Participant Information
2. Part B. Participant Declaration
3. Part C. Employer Declaration

Part A. Participant Information

This section must be completed by the youth participant (the employee).

Participant information

Enter your:

• family name (last name)
• given name (first name)
• home address:
  • street number and street name, or P.O. Box
  • city
  • province/territory
  • postal code
• date of birth

Employment status

Use the radio buttons to select your employment status at the start of the project (the work term).

Residency status

Use the radio buttons to select your residency status.

Other information

Select 'yes' or 'no' to show if:

• you'll be in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) payments during the project
• you've been hired for any other projects under the program between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027
• you've worked for this employer on a project under the program between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026
• you're a family member of this employer

Education

Use the radio buttons to select the highest level of formal education you've completed.

Language

Use the radio buttons to show your:

• first official language
• language spoken
• language written
• language preference

Barriers to employment

The program recognizes that youth belonging to certain groups may face barriers to employment. Use the checkboxes to show which group(s) you belong to. Select all that apply, or check 'None of the above (not applicable).'

Use the radio buttons to indicate if there any supports directly related to addressing your barrier(s) to employment that you may require during the project, which are not currently available to you. If you're not a youth facing a barrier to employment, choose 'N/A.'

Relocation

Use the radio buttons to show if you will relocate 100 kilometres or more (one way) from your home address, for the duration of the project.

The Federal Government is committed to equity in employment. You are encouraged to complete the voluntary data collection questions.

Use the radio buttons to indicate the gender you most identify with.

If you are Indigenous, use the checkboxes to check which group(s) you belong to. Select all that apply.

Part B. Participant Declaration

This section must be completed by the youth participant (the employee).

Declarations

Read this section carefully and check the four (4) mandatory declaration checkboxes to confirm the accuracy of the information.

Signature

Enter your full name and the date.

Part C. Employer Declaration

This section must be completed by the applicant (the employer).

Declarations

Read this section carefully and check the three (3) mandatory declaration checkboxes to confirm the accuracy of the information.

Signature

Enter your full name and the date.

Organization Information

Enter the legal name of your organization. This name should match information you provide in the Project Application Form.

Enter the title of the project the youth participant will work on. The project title should match information you provide in the Project Application Form.

Once you complete the Participant Information Form, save a copy, and attach it to the Project Application Form. Once attached, both forms will be sent to us when you click 'Submit' on the Project Application Form.

If you have questions, contact us at aafc.yesp-pecj.aac@agr.gc.ca.