SWPP - Frequently Asked Questions

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE SWPP FUNDING:

In these challenging and unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, we understand that our industry needs all the support it can get. In response to these challenges, the Federal Government (Employment and Social Development Canada, ESDC) has updated the guidelines for the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP).
 

Effective April 1^st, 2020, ESDC is introducing the following changes to the SWPP:

• Post-secondary education institutions – such as colleges, CEGEPs, polytechnics and universities – now qualify as SWPP Employer Partners; schools that provide students with meaningful paid work-integrated learning (WIL) experience will qualify to apply for the SWPP funding. (This is no longer in effect)
• Employers Partners will have the flexibility to postpone the start date of work placements to avoid rescinding placements. 
• Work placements may be shorter than twelve weeks.
• Depending on the nature of the work, remote working may now qualify as suitable work-integrated learning (WIL) experience.
• Advance payment on wage subsidies: small and medium-sized Employers (with fewer than 500 employees) and not-for-profit organizations may qualify to receive a percentage of the total wage subsidy (per student per term) as soon as the student(s) start their work placement, if there is an operational cash flow need; eligibility for advance payment will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
• All aviation and aerospace businesses and post-secondary institutions can be pre-approved if desired, even before selection of one or more students; subject to the students being eligible.
• There is now new funding available for:
  • Part-time and full-time students registered in programs other than STEM and Business.
  • Part-time work placements.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

• What is the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP)?
  
  • Formerly known as the Student Work-Integrated Learning Program (SWILP), SWPP is a wage subsidy program that helps employers alleviate the cost barriers of hiring students. Its purpose is to create more work-integrated learning placements for students enrolled in post-secondary studies across Canada.
  • This program is funded by the Federal Government (Employment and Social Development Canada, ESDC) and delivered by the Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace, one of 9 delivery partner organizations.

• Why should employers hire students?
  
  • To quickly fill a temporary job vacancy in your company. Students can be employed on a part-time or full-time basis, depending on their academic program.
  • Students are eager to learn and to make an immediate and positive impact on your business.
  • Employers have the opportunity to mould their students’ talents and build excellent working relationships. Many companies hire full-time employees from their previous pool of students.
  • Hiring a students is a great opportunity for a more seasoned permanent employee to develop their leadership and mentorship skills.
  • Co-op offices at colleges and universities support employers through the recruitment process by organizing interview schedules, endorsing jobs, and even offering on-campus interviews.

• Why is the SWPP funding important to employers?
  
  • Employers could receive wage subsidies of up to 70% of the student’s salary per term, which helps alleviate the cost barriers associated with hiring and training students with little to no experience in the aviation and aerospace industry. 

• Which employers are eligible for SWPP funding?
  
  • Canadian aviation and aerospace companies
  • Canadian businesses that provide goods and services to support the aviation and aerospace industry.
  • Canadian post-secondary education (PSE) institutions such as colleges, CEGEPs, polytechnics and universities.

• Which students are eligible for the SWPP funding?
  
  • Full-time or part-time students registered in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematcs (STEM) or Business program at a Canadian PSE institution.
    • There is now also funding available for:
      • Part-time and full-time students registered in programs other than STEM and Business.
      • Part-time work placements.
  • Canadian citizens, Permanent Residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 2.
  • Students legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

• How long do student work placements need to be?
  • ​1 placement is considered to take place over 4 months. An 8 month contract can result in 2 placements for a student and a 12 month contract may result in 3 placements for a student. 

• Are international students eligible for the SWPP funding?
  • No, they are not eligible at this time.
  • Students with pending permanent resident applications are not eligible.
     

• Must students be enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and Business?
  • No. The CCAA has funding available for employers hiring students enrolled in programs other than STEM and Business.
     
• Are part-time students eligible for the SWPP funding?
  • Yes. However, the CCAA has limited funding available for employers hiring part-time students.
     

• What is the SWPP application process?
  
  • There are 5 steps:
  • The employer completes the simple online form: https://www.avaerocouncil.ca/en/swpp
  • Students visit www.avaerocouncil.ca/en/swpp-student to fill out their application
  • CCAA assesses eligibility for the SWPP funding within 48 hours and contacts the employer – See eligibility criteria: https://www.avaerocouncil.ca/en/swpp-eligibility-criteria
  • Upon approval, the employer provides basic documentation to support their application.
  • CCAA and the employer sign a contract and agree to a payment schedule.

• How much are the wage subsidies?
  • 70% of each student’s gross salary, up to a maximum of $7,000 per work placement per term for students who are: aboriginal, women in STEM, persons with disabilities or who identify as visible minorities. All other students could receive up to 50% of their gross salary, up to a maixmum of $5,000.  
     
• Are apprenticeships eligible for SWPP funding?
  • No. Apprentices are not eligible for subsidized Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities because there are other government sources available to support apprentices during their training.
  • Visit the Federal Government webpage : 
    www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/apprentices.html        or
  • Visit your local provincial webpage.
     
• Can employers stack different funding and still be eligible for the SWPP funding?
  • Employers must confirm that the wages for the placements are not funded by another federal program.
  • Provincial, municipal or any other funds are acceptable.
  • For organizations that receive partial funding from the federal government to support their operational costs, the latter cannot be used to pay for the students' salaries.

     

• Must the work placement be in a role related to aviation & aerospace?
  
  • Yes, the work placement must be in a position that supports the aviation and aerospace industry.

    ​

• Are part-time work placements eligible?
  • Yes. The CCAA has limited funding available for employers providing part-time work placements to students.
     

• How are SWPP wage subsidies processed?
  
  • SWPP wage subsidies are provided as a reimbursement of the student’s gross income following an agreed payment schedule; eligibility for advance payment will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
  • Employers can choose to receive funds via cheque or electronic funds transfer.

• Can an employer submit a SWPP application without including specific student information?
  
  • No. The employer must provide the details of eligible students when applying.

• When can employers apply for the SWPP funding?
  
  • SWPP funding is available throughout the year and employers may apply at any time.

• How often can employers apply for the SWPP funding in a year?
  
  • Employers may apply for funding several times in a year, as long as they demonstrate a net new increase in the number of work placements offered when compared to the previous year (see Net New Placement clause).
  • Employers must submit a new application for each term, i.e. new Employer and Students forms must be submitted online every term.

• How many students can an employer include in their SWPP application?
  
  • At this time, the CCAA will fund up to 5 students per term per employer.

• What is the Net New Increase in Student Placements clause? 
  
  • As specified by ESDC, the purpose of the SWPP funding is to motivate employers to increase their number of student work placements. Funding will only be provided to employers demonstrating a net increase in the number of work placements when compared to the previous year.
  • For instance, if your organization offered 3 student placements in the last 12 months; depending on how many placements you plan on offering within the next 12 months (from today), the CCAA would fund as of the 4^th placement.
  • This clause is applicable to all employers.
  • We understand that, with the economic impact of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is difficult for companies to gage exactly how many students will be hired within the next 12 months but we ask for a best-case-scenario approximation of your hiring plans for the future (as of the date the application is submitted).

• Should employers have a formal SWPP agreement with a post-secondary education institution?
  
  • A formal SWPP agreement with a post-secondary education institution is not mandatory, but highly encouraged, as it demonstrates the employer’s commitment to growing the skills of Canada’s next generation of aviation and aerospace workers through collaborations with PSE institutions.

• What is the Nepotism Clause?
  
  • The employer understands and agrees that it shall not be entitled to receive any Wage Subsidies with respect to a student who is a member of the immediate family of an officer or a director of the CCAA or the employer, unless CCAA is satisfied and acknowledges in writing that the recruitment of such student was not the result of favouritism by reason of membership in the immediate family of an officer or director of CCAA or the Employer.
  • “immediate family” means father, mother, step-father, step-mother, foster parent, brother, sister, spouse or common-law partner, child (including child of common-law partner), step-child, ward, father-in-law, or any relative permanently residing with an officer or a director of the CCAA or the employer; and “common-law-partner” means a person who is cohabiting with an officer or a director of the CCAA or the employer in a conjugal relationship, having so cohabited for a period of at least one year.
     
• Where can employers find other funding resources?
  
  • Search local, provincial or federal websites for more information on grants and other funding opportunities.

OTHER QUESTIONS? 

Chidimma Ikwueto, Administrative Assistant /Project Coordinator
Tel:  418-261-6034, cikwueto@avaerocouncil.ca

Theresa Davis-Woodhouse, Senior Director of Project Management
Tel:  613-727-8272, tdaviswoodhouse@avaerocouncil.ca