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.
• In addition to the above, 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.

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.