Discovering Potential

• 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.

Participants are eligible if they meet the following criteria:

• They are between the ages of 15-30 (inclusive) at the start of the placement.
• They are currently under- or unemployed and not currently enrolled in full-time post-secondary studies.
• They are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person with refugee protection in Canada.
• They are legally able to work in Canada according to the laws and regulations of the province or territory where they live.
• They are not receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

• It is an internship that provides youth participants with meaningful employment in electricity/natural resources sector that helps them attain career skills and experience. For example:
  • Professions that require environmental skills, knowledge, experience, or competencies to produce products or deliver services that have an environmental benefit OR
  • Professions that may not require specialized environmental skills but result in an environmental benefit (trades or manufacturing jobs related to renewable energy) OR
  • Professions that support organizations in the natural resources sector that work toward positive environmental outcomes.
• It is a training opportunity that supports the success of young workers facing barriers to employment. For example:
  • A training or educational organization runs a pre-entry or post-graduation skills program to empower youth facing barriers to explore careers in electricity.

Employment is eligible if it meets the following criteria:

• The placement is completed by March 31, 2027.
• The wages/training costs for this position are not funded by another federally-funded program.
• The company must not recruit and retain friends or family members as participants, or must have a sufficient nepotism policy in place.
• Employers must pay at least 25% of each participant’s salary.

Please note that as of April 1st, 2026, apprenticeships and short-term or seasonal roles are not eligible for this program. Retroactive applications are not accepted.

• 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).

• The company must provide proof of employment, start date, contract with participant, full wage, and benefits of the participant to EHRC upon request.
• The company must provide information about the placement/training to EHRC as required.
• The company must develop a Formal Learning Plan with the participant, before the start of the placement/training.
• The company must provide EHRC with monthly financial claims and progress reports for each participant.

• The North Includes the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. 
• Rural community is a community with population of fewer than 5,000 people and a population density of fewer than 400 people per square kilometer. 
• Remote community is a permanent or long-term (5 years or more) settlement with at least 10 dwellings that do not have year-round road access.