Individual Employment/Training Program

Wage Subsidy Program (WS)

Introduction

Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong will support on the job training initiatives to unemployed individuals who wish to enter or reenter the work force by providing a negotiated wage subsidy to eligible employers creating permanent and/or long-term employment.

Objective

To provide an opportunity for individuals to attain occupational skills, basic work experience and job skills that will enable them to attain permanent employment with the employer.

The Wage Subsidy Program is primarily a “client-driven” program whereby the client’s employment goal and needs are the focus. The selection and placement of eligible participants is a joint responsibility between Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong and the Employer. Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong undertakes an assessment process of the participant to ensure a suitable match between the participant and the employer.

Guidelines

  • Eligible employers must demonstrate ability to provide unemployed individuals with necessary skill assessments, orientation, training, guidance and supervision.
  • Prior to commencing a wage subsidy agreement, there must be reasonable assurance that the individual will receive permanent employment with the employer after the wage subsidy ceases. In exceptional cases where the employer cannot guarantee continuation of employment, there must be assurance that the individual will receive training that will enable him/her to gain portable skills in order to obtain similar employment elsewhere.
  • Employer must be in existence for at least 6 months and be able to provide evidence.
  • Employer must have and provide evidence of personnel policies.

Applications for Assistance

As a minimum, applications for assistance will include:

  • A signed application along with a covering letter from the employer;
  • A description of the position and copy of the job description, including rate of pay; Background information on your organization or business, services and/or products, ownership, number of years in business, current or future employment opportunities;
  • A training plan that indicates training objectives, describes knowledge and skills to be acquired, highlights past work experience, and describes any “off-the-job” training;
  • A budget detailing requested wage subsidy, hours per week, and total weeks and other costs;

Additional information may be requested as required to support the application.

Eligibility Requirements for Employers

Eligible employers include:

  1. Any First Nation within Grand Council Treaty #3 territory;
  2. For-profit and Not-for-profit Aboriginal employers within GCT#3 territory;
  3. For-profit and Not-for-profit non-Aboriginal employers within GCT#3 may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The employer must be in existence for at least six months and be in good standing with Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong.

Eligibility Requirements for Participants

  1. Any member of GCT #3 who is unemployed and;
  2. Is a resident in a First Nation or lives off-reserve in an urban or rural community within GCT#3 territory.
  3. Special consideration will be given to persons with a disability.

Financial Assistance

Wage Subsidies are negotiated depending on the complexities and requirements of the job and background and experience of the participant. Employers are expected to top-up based on the prevailing hourly wage guidelines for the occupation.

  • First Nation and Non-profit employers are eligible to apply for a wage subsidy up to prevailing minimum wage. As of July 2024, the Ontario minimum wage is $16.55 per hour. Effective October 1, 2024, the Ontario minimum wage will be raised to $17.20 per hour.
  • Private/Profit Sector employers can apply for a wage subsidy up to a maximum of 60% of the current minimum wage.
  • Enhanced wage rates apply for registered apprentices.
  • Enhanced wage rates for persons with a disability will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
  • Employers are eligible for costs related to cover Mandatory Employment Related Costs up to 12% of the total wages for portion provided by Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong.
  • Costs related to cover liability insurance or Workman’s Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong’s portion are eligible provided employer can provide proof of costs thereof;
  • Purchase of training is allowable when employer requires an outside trainer for specialized training up to a maximum up to a maximum of $500.

Under special circumstances, participant may be eligible for employment supports prior to commencing employment pending an assessment by Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong.

Duration

The duration of the wage subsidy will be dependent upon the participant’s employment background, complexity of the job requirements and specific training requirements up to a maximum of 32 weeks.

For further information, contact a Program Officer in your area or contact our main office:

Head Office: P.O. Box 2909, Kenora, Ontario, P9N 3X8

1-800-545-5113 (phone), 807-468-1813 (fax)

Program Officers:

Purchase of Training – Individual

Introduction

Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong will support training initiatives to unemployed individuals who require training to help them overcome barriers to obtaining employment. Consideration will also be given to employed individuals who are in low-paying jobs and have an opportunity to access gain a higher paying job with additional training. Financial Assistance is available to help pay for course or tuition costs and income support for unemployed individuals.

Objective

To assist individuals who face serious difficulties finding or maintaining employment due to limited training and who need financial assistance to take the training they require to reach their employment goal or maintain employment.

Guidelines

  • Post-secondary Programs that meets post-secondary funding guidelines are generally not eligible for funding under the purchase of training program unless they are within the time frame guidelines of the purchase of training program;
    • Individuals must apply to their First Nation Education Program for funding before applying for funding through Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong.
  • Training may be purchased from private trainers, public or private educational institutions and other community agencies;
  • The training matches the employment goal of the individual client and forms part of an Employment Action Plan. Applicants are responsible for researching and providing job market information and other relevant information specific to the training being requested and employment goal.

Applications for Assistance

  • Individual makes an application for Financial Assistance under the Purchase of Training Program to the local area Program Officer;
  • The individual must complete a self-assessment questionnaire, training application forms and a client consent to release information form. Participation in other assessment processes such as a career assessment may be required to support the application to determine eligibility;
  • Individual is assessed for suitability, readiness and appropriateness of training to the employment goal;
  • Individual must agree to an Employment Action Plan;

Eligible Trainers

Course Purchases can be made from any private trainer, public or private educational institution or any other training agency. The purchase of training contract is made directly with the trainer.

Who is Eligible?

  1. Any member of GCT #3 who is unemployed and;
  2. Is a resident in a First Nation or lives off-reserve in an urban or rural community within GCT#3 territory;
  3. Is at least 17 years of age and must be out of school for at least one year;
  4. Special consideration will be given to persons who consider themselves to have some form of a disability and require special training supports.

Financial Assistance

  1. Training Costs – includes course costs (i.e. tuition, books, supplies)
  2. Training Allowances are $15.00 per hour
  3. Other support costs

Duration

Training can be a minimum of 20 hours and up to a maximum of 35 weeks.

For further information or to obtain an application package, contact a Program Officer in your area or contact our main office:

Head Office: P.O. Box 2909, Kenora, Ontario, P9N 3X8

1-800-545-5113 (phone), 807-468-1813 (fax)

Program Officers:

The Purchase of Training – Individual Program was designed to assist individuals who face serious difficulties finding employment due to limited training and/or work experience with training that matches employment priorities.

Eligible participants must be a Treaty #3 member who is unemployed, at least 17 years of age and who has been out of school for a minimum of one year.  Training is in a non-production setting such a classroom with some provision for limited on the job placements. Training can be a minimum of 20 hours but up to a maximum of 35 weeks of training.

Trainee allowances, training costs and special costs are available for disabled clients. Allowances are paid to participants directly from Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong and are not insurable. Training must be at least 20 hours per week to be eligible for training allowance.Please refer to Program guidelines for detailed information for eligible costs.

General Application Form
General Application Instructions
Application Checklist
Basic Employer Form