• Who are ECO Canada employment programs designed for?
  • ECO Canada employment programs provide wage funding to help Canadian employers hire and train new environmental talent. Eligibility depends on the specific program, role, and candidate profile. Programs support youth, new graduates, and students entering environmental and related fields.
• Is our organization eligible for employment funding?
  • To confirm your eligibility, please complete an application. After submitting the Eligibility Questionnaire of the application, you will receive immediate notice if your organization is eligible to continue the application.
• Can we apply if we are receiving other wage or training funding?
  • Eligibility depends on the type of funding you’re already receiving and the program you’re applying to. Some funding sources can be stacked, while others cannot. Employers should contact their regional coordinator at pathways@eco.ca to confirm eligibility.
• Does the role need to be permanent and full‑time?
  • Each program has unique requirements. Please review the information for your approved program and confirm with a Regional Coordinator if you require further confirmation of your eligibility.

• How many positions can our organization apply for?
  • There is no limit to the number of applications an employer can submit. Approval will be determined by your Regional Coordinator based on funding availability.
• Can we submit one application for multiple identical roles?
  • No, you must submit one application per position, even if the roles are identical.
• I want to hire a post‑secondary student for a 6‑, 8‑, or 12‑month co‑op term, but the program only funds up to 16 weeks. Can I still apply?
  • You may apply for funding to support up to 16 weeks of a longer co‑op placement. If you wish to receive additional funding beyond the initial 16 weeks, you may submit a subsequent application for another 16‑week period, provided the position continues to meet all program eligibility criteria.

Please note that each application must demonstrate that the role is net‑new and that the employer is increasing the total number of student positions offered.

• Can we apply again if we have hosted in the past?
  • Employers who have hosted in the past may apply again.
• Are international candidates or students eligible?
  • Individuals that hold a Valid Canadian Work Permit are eligible for the Building Green: Newcomer Careers in Residential Construction program.
  • For all other programs, the candidate must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or have Refugee Status.
• Can the candidate be an independent contractor?
  • No, contractor positions are not eligible for funding. The candidate must be hired as an employee to the organization with mandatory employment related deductions.
• Does the candidate need to be a new employee?
  • Yes, the employee must be a NEW employee who has not been employed in a part-time, full-time, or contracted position with your organization before the start-date of the placement (student placements are exempt).
• Can a candidate move into a new role within our organization?
  • No, the candidate must be a new employee who has not been employed in any other part-time, full-time, or contract position with the organization.
• What hiring and recruitment support does ECO Canada offer employers?
  • Yes! As an approved employer, you can purchase a posting on the ECO Canada Job Board. Each job posting can be tagged as “Internship” or “Co-op,” depending on which program you are participating in.
  • We offer HR Services for Employers through custom-built packages to fit any organizational budget:
    • Recruitment & Hiring Support
    • Compliance & Policy Development
    • Training & Workshops
    • Compensation Benchmarking

Interested? Request a Quote.

• I don’t see my employer application in SMApply – what should I do?
  • If you do not see your application under “My Applications”, please ensure that you are viewing from your Organization Profile. You can toggle between your personal profile and organization profile by selecting your account name from the top left corner of the page, which will drop down a menu with your Organization Profile. Select the relevant Organization Profile to see all applications submitted from the organization.
• Can we request more time to hire after approval?
  • If more than 30 days are needed to hire a candidate, employers must request an extension by emailing pathways@eco.ca or their regional coordinator at least one week before the deadline. Extensions are subject to funding availability.
• Our organization and candidate have been approved – what are the next steps?
  • Confirm your approved candidate by selecting your application in your SMApplyaccount and completing the “New Employee’s Information” task accessible under “Your tasks.” If you do not see this task, ensure you have completed the “Organizational Signers” task and the “Authorization for Direct Deposit”

• Who can sign the ECO Canada funding agreement?
  • Documents can be signed by the candidate’s supervisor, manager, or an HR representative from your organization.
• What should we do if there is a mistake in the contract?
  • Before signing anything, please notify ECO Canada at pathways@eco.cato request the changes.
• What if our organization doesn’t use direct deposit?
  • We can issue a cheque for the funding reimbursement. However, due to internal processes we can only issue one cheque which will be done at the end of the placement.
• How do we access our online host reports?
  • To complete your host report, log into your SMApplyaccount and select your Organization Profile from the drop-down menu in the top left corner of the page. If your report is due within the next 7 days, you will see a task labelled “Report Due” on the placement file, along with a green “Start” button to begin the report.
• When and where do we submit documents and pay stubs?
  • Your funding agreement will be emailed to the contact listed as the “Organizational Signer” on your application via DocuSign and is required to be returned to ECO Canada within 15 days. Direct Deposit information may be recorded directly on your approved application within SMApply, or emailed to our team at pathways@eco.ca. Your report deadlines are outlined in your funding agreement and pay statements may be attached to your host report in an unlocked PDF format or emailed to our team at pathways@eco.ca.
• Which pay statements are required for reimbursement?
  • You are required to submit the pay statement document for each pay period of the placement along with proof of payment for each period matching the net-pay to the participant. We require the following to be visible on your pay statement:
    • Organization Name
    • Participant Name
    • YTD Gross Salary
    • YTD Employment Insurance
    • YTD CPP Deduction
    • Pay Period Start-End Date
    • Hourly Rate of Pay
  • Note:Proof of payment is required in one or more of the following formats: cashed cheque, E-transfer screenshot, proof of direct, etc.
• How often is our organization reimbursed?
  • Reimbursements are processed according to the reporting schedule outlined in the funding agreement. Payments are typically issued 10–15 business days after both host and participant reports are received.
• Is top‑up or additional funding available?
  • In some cases, additional funding may be offered once all placements are filled. Priority is given to roles supporting equity‑deserving groups, such as Indigenous peoples, racialized youth, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, newcomers, people with disabilities, and remote or rural placements. If approved, an amended agreement will be issued.
• Who should we contact if there’s an issue with our application or reports?
  • If you are experiencing any issues with your application or report, please contact pathways@eco.ca or your Regional Coordinator directly to resolve the issue.