Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, announced a call for proposals under the Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) program. This will be supported by $23.8 million in federal funding to be invested over two years to build a strong workforce that can adapt to the technologies that are increasingly driving how we work and do business.
DS4Y is part of the government's Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS), which helps provide Canadian youth with the tools, skills and experience they need to succeed in today's labour market.
Through this call for proposals, the government is looking for organizations with a strong network of employers that can provide post-secondary graduates with training and work experience to help them prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. To reduce barriers, post-secondary education is not required for participants who live in Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut.
The types of organizations that can apply for funding are for-profit and not-for-profit organizations; provincial, territorial and municipal governments and their agencies; Indigenous governments, band councils and other not-for-profit groups representing Indigenous people; and provincial and territorial Crown corporations.
The deadline to submit a complete application is May 22, 2026.
