EHRC Funding & Hiring Incentives: Destination Trade, Empowering Futures, and Discovering Potential

May 27, 2026

The electricity sector in Canada is growing. Current forecasts suggest an additional 2-3x more generation, transmission and distribution capacity by 2050. This means a growing workforce to build, operate and maintain this new carbon-neutral infrastructure. EHRC is here to help with wage subsidies and hiring incentives to support employers in hiring their future employees, and offering a new generation of talent opportunities to work in this growing industry.

EHRC Programs

Destination Trade

Electricity Human Resources Canada’s (EHRC) Destination Trade program is Canada’s third- or fourth-year apprentice work placement initiative for the electricity industry, providing wage subsidies of up to $5,000 to small to mid-sized employers who create Work opportunities and support the completion of apprentices’ Certificate of Qualification.

With these incentives, employers can offer more placement opportunities, building their talent pool and strengthening our industry’s workforce.

Program Status

• Start Date: November 15, 2023
• End Date: March 30, 2028

This program is open and accepting applications.

Employer Organizations are eligible if they meet the following criteria: 

• Firms whose primary activity is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.
• Sector support including renewables, in any of the following areas: R & D, business development, energy efficiency.
• Firms engaged in manufacturing of equipment and the provision of services necessary to generation, transmission or distribution.
• Firms that are a Small or Medium Enterprise (SME) in any province/territory except Quebec*** – a business establishment with 499 employees or less at the time that it receives funding.

Eligible Construction and Manufacturing Red Seal trades

Empowering Futures

Electricity Human Resources Canada’s (EHRC) Empowering Futures Program is Canada’s student work placement initiative for the electricity industry, providing financial incentives of up to $5,000 to employers who create new Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities.

With these incentives, employers can offer more WIL opportunities, building their talent pool and strengthening our industry’s workforce.

Empowering Futures is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP).

Program Status

• Start Date: February 19, 2018
• End Date: March 31, 2027

Currently accepting applications Net New positions beginning on or after April 1st, 2026

Eligibility Requirements and Program Details

Eligibility is dependent on the participant, employer (organization-wide) and nature of employment. Disclaimer: EHRC reserves the right to apply additional criteria to eligibility to ensure national and equitable representation of our funded programs. Applicants may be required to participate in a video onboarding call prior to approval.

Employer Organizations are eligible if they meet the following criteria:

• Canadian-owned company
• Firms whose primary activity is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.
• Sector support, including renewables, in any of the following areas: R & D, business development, energy efficiency.
• Firms engaged in the manufacturing of equipment or the provision of services necessary for generation, transmission or distribution.
• Post-Secondary institutions are no longer eligible to receive funding.

Discovering Potential

Electricity Human Resources Canada’s (EHRC) Discovering Potential Program is Canada’s youth work placement initiative for the electricity industry, providing subsidies of up to $22,000 to employers who create relevant and meaningful internships or on-the-job training opportunities.

With these subsidies, employers can train tomorrow’s leaders, building their talent pool and strengthening our industry’s workforce.

Program Status

• Start Date: April 1, 2021
• End Date: March 31, 2028

Currently accepting applications for new youth positions beginning on or after April 1st, 2026.
EHRC is encouraging employers to submit applications for women participants in STEM roles.

Employer Organizations are eligible if they meet the following criteria:

• Firms whose primary activity is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.
• Sector support, including renewables, in any of the following areas: R & D, business development, energy efficiency, fuel switching, clean energy technology, smart grid, energy storage, sustainable development of non-renewable resources.
• Firms engaged in the manufacturing of equipment or the provision of services necessary for generation, transmission or distribution of electricity.
• Firms incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
• Indigenous organizations and groups.
• Provincial, territorial, regional, and municipal governments and their departments and agencies.
• The organization must provide full-time paid internships and training opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and other related fields to promote positive environmental outcomes.

Subsidy Reimbursement for Youth

• Discovering Potential can subsidize an internship, a training opportunity, or a combination of both, up to a maximum of $22,000 per participant.
  • The wage subsidy reimbursement is 75% of the participant’s gross paystubs, up to a maximum of $22,000.
  • The training subsidy reimbursement is 100% of the participant’s training costs, up to a maximum of $22,000.
• Additional funding may be available for opportunities that support indigenous youth, participants with disabilities or participants in the North, rural or remote communities (see Definitions).