Career Focus Brochure (PDF - 277K)

The Sectoral Youth Career Focus Program offers employers from the advanced wood products processing sector an opportunity to receive a 33% wage contribution to a maximum of $12,000 per intern for Canadian businesses  hiring post-secondary graduates for a minimum of four (4) and a maximum of twelve (12) months or until March 31, 2012, whichever comes first. Eligible interns must be post-secondary graduates, in wood products processing or other disciplines. The Sectoral Youth Career Focus Program is open to all organizations which are part of the Canadian economic sector represented by the Wood Manufacturing Council.

The program is sponsored by WMC and Human Resources & Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) to provide employment opportunities for Canadian youth that will foster long-term employability in the wood processing industry. 

This jointly sponsored program runs from August 1, 2009 to March 31, 2012, and is designed to benefit both employers and new graduates.  It provides the employer a resource base of educated, potential employees and the assistance of wage contributions.  To the graduates it provides their first critical job opportunity.  

In order for employers to access wage subsidy funding through the WMC, employers must:

• Complete all the necessary forms (employer, intern form), attach intern’s resume, and attach job-description and a company bio.
• All applications have to be pre-approved by WMC before hiring the intern. The pre-approval process is very simple. Send all the forms as indicated above to WMC either by fax, e-mail or by mail to the attention of Richard Lipman. WMC will process the application and a reply will be sent to you in less than 5 working business days. 
• have a nepotism policy in place in regards to the interns;
• inform potential interns of what participation in the program would entail, and retain agreement from interns;
• use non-subjective eligibility criteria to establish eligibility of interns based on the criteria listed under “Interns” below
• provide placement opportunities for full-time work (i.e. at least 30 hours per week) for a minimum of 4 months;
• provide proof of employment, start date, contract with intern, full wage and benefits of intern to the Wood Manufacturing Council; and
• provide data to WMC as required.

• providing proof of wages paid, all pertinent information on the intern, monthly claim forms and all necessary documentation to support the claim, and reports required by the Wood Manufacturing Council;
• ensuring the intern(s) is aware and agrees to be part of a participant placement program, which includes the submission of information to WMC;
• providing a safe working environment for the intern;
• providing a placement of minimum 4 months in length;
• providing $2 in wages for each $1 of wage subsidy received.
• Develop learning plans for each participant/intern demonstrating the types of knowledge, competencies or skills that the participant will acquire.

  **Employers are welcome to find their own interns, provided they meet all eligibility requirements. WMC will also endeavor to assist in identifying potential interns.

  Interns

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  To be eligible for a placement, candidates:
  
  

  	Requirement		Explanation
  	Cannot receive employment insurance (EI) benefits during the internship		It is recommended that any potential intern currently receiving EI discuss the implications of accepting a placement with an EI counsellor at a local Human Resources Centre Canada.
  	Must be between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the time of intake or selection		An intern who is 30 at the time of intake but who turns 31 anytime after is still eligible.
  	Must be post-secondary graduates		Graduates of degree or diploma programs from universities, colleges, post-secondary schools of technology, post-secondary institutes and CEGEPs.
  	Must be out of school		Interns must be completely finished their degree or diploma program, and cannot be registered in school, in a co-op program.
  	Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person who has been granted refugee status in Canada, and		Persons awaiting permanent resident status, as well as those who hold a temporary visitor visa or student visa, are ineligible to participate.
  	Must be legally entitled to work in Canada.		Interns must also be legal to work in the province/territory of the placement. Age laws differ, and it is the responsibility of the employer and recipient sponsor to ensure eligibility.

  Interns are responsible for:

  • following all application and eligibility requirements;
  • providing any necessary documentation (ie. transcripts) required by the employer, WMC or HRSDC;
  • completing an assessment at the beginning and end of the placement period;
  • signing a waiver which acknowledges their participation in the program, and agrees to the sharing of information between the employer, Wood Manufacturing Council and HRSDC.
  
  

  The Sectoral Youth Career Focus Program is a national initiative between the Wood Manufacturing Council and the Government of Canada's Sector Council Program.