Ontario has a grant many small business owners don't know about—the Ontario Job Grant (OJG). You pay to train your employees, and the government reimburses most of the cost. If you hire unemployed individuals for training, you can even get 100% reimbursement, up to $15,000 per person. It's not a loan, and you don't have to pay it back. Currently open for applications.
What is the Ontario Job Grant?
OJG is an employment training subsidy jointly funded by the Ontario government and the federal government. It lets employers decide what skills to train, which training provider to use, and then the government pays a share of the cost. The funding comes from the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Development Agreement, with both federal and provincial contributions.
Ontario Job Grant Core Information
💰 Grant amount: Up to $10,000/person (large businesses); up to $15,000/person (small businesses hiring unemployed individuals)
🏢 Small businesses (fewer than 100 employees): Government pays 5/6, business pays 1/6; hiring unemployed workers for training can be 100% reimbursed
🏭 Large businesses (100+ employees): Government pays 1/2, business pays 1/2.
👥 Training Audience: Existing or newly hired employees
📋 Training provider: Must be a government-recognized third-party training institution
📅 Current Status: Accepting applications (max 25 participants per session)
Grant ratios for businesses of different sizes
| Business Size | Training Audience | Government Payment | Business Payments | Single Person Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fewer Than 100 Employees | New Hires of Unemployed Individuals | 100% | $0 | $15,000 |
| Fewer Than 100 Employees | Existing employees / newly hired employees | 5/6 | 1/6 | $10,000 |
| 100+ People | All Employees | 1/2 | 1/2 | $10,000 |
For most Chinese small businesses in Ontario (restaurants, retail stores, renovation companies, service industries), they generally fall under the 'fewer than 100 employees' bracket. If you hire someone who was previously unemployed, the Ontario government covers the full training cost—you pay nothing.
Which businesses and employees are eligible?
Business Eligibility
- Ontario-registered private businesses or non-profit organizations
- Has actual operations and employees
- Trainees cannot replace existing employees or fill layoff vacancies
Who Does Not Qualify?
- Federal, provincial, and municipal government agencies
- BPS (Broader Public Sector) designated organizations
Employee Eligibility
- Can be existing employees (skills upgrading)
- Can be a new hire (with an offer letter already)
- Newly hired unemployed workers enjoy a higher subsidy cap
What training is reimbursable?
OJG is quite flexible on training content. You can train on: technical skills (software operation, equipment use), soft skills (customer service, team management), industry certification courses, and language training (if job-related). However, training must be provided by an Ontario government-approved third-party organization—not your internal staff.
For example: you run a renovation company and want two workers to learn new flooring installation techniques. Find a registered training provider quoting $3,000 per person, for a total of $6,000. If your company has fewer than 100 employees, the government covers $5,000 (5/6), and you only pay $1,000.
How is this different from other training grants?
Ontario also has the Red Seal Apprenticeship Grant—for apprentices getting their trade certification, up to $16,000 per person. OJG is more flexible, not limited to trades, and any business can use it. Another related program is the federal Team Canada Strong trades initiative—that's a hiring program, while OJG is a training program. The two can be used together: train with OJG first, then expand your team through other channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I train multiple employees at the same time?
Yes. Currently, a single application can cover up to 25 trainees. For more than 25, you need special approval from the Ontario Ministry of Labour.
What Does Training Cost Include?
Tuition, textbooks, exam certification fees, and travel expenses during training are all reimbursable. Employee wages during training are not.
How Long Does Approval Take?
Results typically come in 4–6 weeks after submitting a complete application. It's recommended to apply at least two months before your training program starts.
Does the training have to be directly related to my current job?
Yes. OJG's purpose is to upgrade employee skills for current or future roles; it cannot cover personal interest courses unrelated to work.
Looking to use government funding to train your team?
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