Seasonal businesses in Québec often face challenges keeping skilled workers when business slows down. The Extend the Employment Periods of Your Staff program helps employers in Québec keep employees longer by supporting projects that create work during the off-season. This program is only available to organizations based in Québec. It is managed by the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MESS) and is currently accepting applications.
This Québec wage support program offers repayable financial assistance to employers who want to lengthen employment periods for workers in industries with strong seasonal changes. Instead of laying off staff, you can create projects that provide work during slower months.
The program has two main components:
Both aim to make jobs more stable and reduce staff turnover in seasonal sectors such as tourism, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
Your organization may be eligible if it is based in Québec and fits one of these categories:
Your business must also operate in a sector with strong seasonal employment cycles.
Your project must clearly show how it will extend employment periods beyond normal operations. Eligible project goals include:
This part supports projects that create new off-season work for your current staff. Examples include:
The main goal is to keep your current workers employed for more months each year.
This option supports workforce sharing between three or more employers. It is useful when one business slows down while another needs more workers.
Key requirements:
Funding from the Extend the Employment Periods of Your Staff program is repayable. The amount you receive depends on:
The maximum amount is $200,000 per project. MESS reviews each application and decides the funding based on your project details.
Since you must repay the assistance, include a repayment plan in your project budget. Repayable assistance may affect your taxes. Ask your accountant.
The application process is managed by the Québec government:
Define your project
Check eligibility
Prepare financial details
Submit your application through the Québec government portal
If you want to compare this program with other Québec wage supports, GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter programs by industry and project type.
Proposing only regular operations
The program will not fund business-as-usual work. Your project must add new off-season activities.
Forgetting that the funding is repayable
This is not a grant. You must plan for repayment.
Not providing clear employment extension timelines
Vague job plans can lower your approval chances.
Missing the minimum for partnerships
Workforce sharing projects need at least three employers, not just two.
Q: Is the Extend the Employment Periods of Your Staff program a grant?
No. The financial assistance is repayable, similar to a loan. Repayment terms depend on your approved project.
Q: Can non-profit organizations apply?
Yes. Non-profits, cooperatives, and associations are eligible if they meet sector and project requirements.
Q: What types of costs are usually supported?
Costs for project implementation, workforce organization, and employment extension may be eligible. Final approval depends on project evaluation.
Q: Does workforce sharing require multiple employers?
Yes. The Partnership and Workforce Matching component requires three or more employers participating in the project.
Q: Is the funding taxable?
Repayable assistance may affect your taxes. Ask your accountant.
If your Québec business relies on seasonal staff, this program can help you keep your team together and protect valuable skills all year. GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant and repayable funding programs across Canada—including Québec wage and employment supports—so you can quickly see which ones match your business and project plans.
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