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Financial Incentives for Employers

Co-operative Education Tax Credit (CETC)

Ontario employers willing to help post-secondary students gain valuable work experience may meet the criteria for a significant tax break. Eligible businesses that hire students attending recognized post-secondary cooperative education programs for qualified work placements may be reimbursed from 25 to 30 per cent of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $3,000 for each four month work term a co-op student completes with their organization.

  • Conestoga’s co-operative education programs qualify for the Government of Ontario’s Co-operative Education Tax Credit.
  • The CETC is a refundable tax credit for employers equal to 25 per cent (30 per cent for businesses with payrolls under $400,000) of the salaries and wages paid to eligible post-secondary students in a qualifying co-op work term of at least 10 consecutive weeks. A maximum tax credit of $3,000 is available per student per four-month qualifying work term.
  • Letters confirming eligible co-op student employment are available online at the end of each co-op term (September, May or January) through the employer’s MyCareer account.

For additional details about the CETC, please see the CETC PDF.

Apprentice & Journeyperson Incentives

A complete list of incentives for Apprentices and Journeypersons can be found on the School of Trades & Apprenticeship website.


Graduate Transitions Tax Credit

  • Provided by the Ontario government, this tax credit encourages businesses to provide work opportunities to unemployed post-secondary graduates
  • The maximum tax credit is $4,000 for each post-secondary graduate hired and may be claimed when the employee has worked for a minimum of six months.
  • For additional details please visit the website: www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/credit/gttc/.

Additional Government Programs

Numerous Government of Ontario programs that may be of interest are listed on the Ontario Economic Development website: www.ontariocanada.com/ontcan/1medt/en/progserv_main_en.jsp.
For a full list of Provincial Government Funding Resources visit: www.gov.on.ca.
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada can help organizations find information on programs and services that assist in developing the Canadian workforce. Visit: www.hrsdc.gc.ca.
For a full list of Federal Government Employment Resources for employers hiring young workers visit the website at: www.youth.gc.ca.