Hiring and training Indigenous talent can be hard to fund, especially for smaller employers in Northern Ontario. The Indigenous Workforce Development Program (Ontario) helps cover the cost of paid internships for Indigenous people entering or transitioning in the workforce. The program is delivered by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) and is currently open.
Below is a clear eligibility checklist so you can quickly see if your organization—and your potential intern—qualify.
This program has two sides of eligibility: the employer and the intern. Both must meet the requirements for funding to be approved.
Your organization must meet all of the following conditions:
Located in Northern Ontario
Your business or organization must operate in Northern Ontario as defined by NOHFC.
Eligible organization type
You must be one of the following:
Operating history
Your organization must have been in operation for at least one year before applying.
Minimum staffing
You must have at least one full-time employee on staff.
Fair recruitment process
Interns must be recruited through a fair and transparent hiring process. You cannot pre-select candidates without proper posting or outreach.
Supervision capacity
You must provide direct onsite supervision for the intern throughout the placement.
Limits on number of interns
Most organizations can hire up to two interns at a time through this program.
Family member restrictions
Immediate family members of owners or directors cannot be hired, except in small Northern communities with very limited labour pools.
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter programs by region and organization type in seconds, which is helpful if you operate in multiple locations.
The individual you hire as an intern must meet all of the following criteria:
Indigenous identity
The intern must identify as First Nation, Métis, or Inuit.
Age requirement
The intern must be at least 18 years old at the time of hire.
Canadian work eligibility
The intern must:
Employment status
The intern must be:
No prior NOHFC internship
The intern must not have previously participated in an NOHFC-funded internship.
Funding amount
There is no fixed grant amount. Funding is approved case by case based on the role, duration, and project budget.
Approval process
Applications are reviewed by NOHFC staff and then require final approval from the NOHFC Board of Directors.
Tax treatment
Funding is considered government assistance and may affect your tax reporting. You should confirm treatment with your accountant.
Assuming any Ontario location qualifies
This program is limited to Northern Ontario employers. Southern Ontario businesses are not eligible.
Hiring before approval
If you hire the intern before receiving funding approval, costs may not be eligible for reimbursement.
Inadequate supervision plans
Remote-only or loosely supervised roles do not meet the program’s onsite supervision requirement.
Overlooking intern eligibility
Even if your organization qualifies, funding will be denied if the intern does not meet all Indigenous, age, and employment criteria.
Q: Is the Indigenous Workforce Development Program only for Indigenous-owned businesses?
No. Non-Indigenous businesses can apply as long as they are located in Northern Ontario and hire an eligible Indigenous intern.
Q: How many interns can my organization hire?
Most organizations can hire up to two interns at a time. Some research institutions may qualify for exceptions.
Q: Can I hire a family member as an intern?
Generally no. Immediate family members are not eligible, except in small Northern communities with limited labour pools.
Q: Do interns need to work onsite?
Yes. The program requires direct onsite supervision, which limits fully remote placements.
Q: Is the program still open?
Yes. The Indigenous Workforce Development Program is currently listed as open by NOHFC.
If you meet the Indigenous Workforce Development Program (Ontario) eligibility checklist, your next step is confirming fit and timing before you apply. GrantHub tracks active workforce and Indigenous-focused grant programs across Canada, including Ontario-specific options, so you can see what matches your business profile before committing time to an application.
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