Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages (YCWBOL) provides salary subsidies to employers creating short-term jobs for youth aged 15 to 30. The program helps young Canadians gain practical work experience while strengthening their official language abilities either by working in their second language or by using their first language to support an official language minority community (Francophone communities outside Quebec or English-speaking communities in Quebec).

YCWBOL is part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), delivered through regional organizations across the country. Positions last from 6 to 16 weeks. The program supports employers in delivering bilingual services while helping youth develop career-oriented skills, build professional networks, and explore opportunities in both official languages.

Program Objectives:

For youth participants:

• Gain practical work experience and improve second language skills, or use first language within an official language minority community
• Develop professional networks and career-oriented skills
• Build understanding and appreciation of Canada's official languages and cultural diversity

For employers and communities:

• Help employers provide services in both official languages across Canada
• Support official language minority communities and contribute to their development

Employer Eligibility

Eligible organizations must:

• Be a private, public, or non-profit organization, or a municipality
• Engage in activities of national, provincial, territorial, municipal, or community scope
• Carry out activities in both official languages

Youth Participant Eligibility

Any candidate hired must:

• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada (valid social insurance number)
• Be between 15 and 30 years of age at time of employment
• Be registered in the YCW online candidate database
• Have been a high school, college, CEGEP, or university student

Travel and Accommodation Support

The program provides additional support for youth who must relocate for their position:

• Round-trip travel costs between permanent residence and workplace for participants travelling 125 km or more
• Housing allowance for participants who must pay rent while working away from home

Employer Obligations

Employers must:

• Provide each employee with a job description, orientation, and work plan with specific objectives
• Provide training related to job duties
• Pay wages and benefits according to provincial/territorial labour laws
• Complete all required online reports through the YCW portal
• Publicly acknowledge Government of Canada funding support in both official languages