Ontario Job Grant guide (2026)
Everything an employer needs to know about the Ontario Job Grant — the program that replaced the Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) on May 1, 2026 — in plain language.
What is the Ontario Job Grant?
The Ontario Job Grant (OJG) helps employers pay for training that gives their employees — or new hires — the skills for a new or better job. If an application is approved, Ontario pays a share of eligible training costs and the employer contributes the rest. The employer applies; the Ministry decides.
It replaced the Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG). COJG intake was paused in late 2025; the new OJG guidelines took effect on May 1, 2026. Funding levels will feel familiar, but rules for training providers and courses are stricter.
Applications are accepted year-round, while funding is available. Always check the official Ontario Job Grant page on ontario.ca for the latest rules.
Questions for the Ministry before applying: OntarioJobGrant@ontario.ca · Employment Ontario Contact Centre: 1-800-387-5656.
max per person, if approved
max share for employers under 100 staff, if approved
max share for 100+ staff, if approved
up to 100% to hire & train an eligible unemployed person, if approved
Who can apply
Employers
- Private-sector or not-for-profit legal entity
- Physical location in Ontario, operating there for at least a year
- WSIB (or private workplace insurance) and general liability coverage
- Not eligible: government, broader public sector (hospitals, school boards, colleges) and Employment Ontario service providers
Trainees
- Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee claimant or protected person, resident in Ontario and legally authorized to work in Canada
- On your payroll, or a new hire with a signed job offer
- Not eligible: owners and their relatives, contractors, volunteers, temporary foreign workers
- Can't be funded for the same costs through Better Jobs Ontario or the Skills Development Fund
Training
- Delivered in Ontario by an eligible third-party provider
- Linked to a new or better job in Ontario
- Live online delivery is not excluded when delivered in Ontario by an eligible provider with a physical Ontario presence (s.2.3–2.4)
- Completed within 52 weeks; starts only after approval
- No minimum hours — but workshops and conferences are not funded
How much the grant can cover (if approved)
| Employer | Your minimum share | Grant can cover up to | Max per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 100 employees | 1/6 of eligible costs | 5/6 | $10,000 |
| 100 or more employees | 50% | 50% | $10,000 |
| Fewer than 100 employees, hiring and training a previously unemployed person | Can be $0 if approved | 100% | $15,000 |
Employee counts are based on your whole organization. “Previously unemployed” has a specific definition in the guidelines — for example someone who was not working and looking for work, or working fewer than 20 hours a week.
Example: a 40-person manufacturer trains 5 operators in PLC Programming Fundamentals at $4,390 each. Total $21,950. If the application is approved, the estimated grant is $18,290 and the employer pays about $3,660. Try your own numbers →
What the grant can cover
- Tuition and training fees charged by the provider
- Mandatory student fees and examination fees
- Textbooks, software and other required materials — up to $500 per person
- Trainee travel to the training location over 24 km one way — up to $500 per person (not relevant for live online training)
- Supports for trainees with disabilities
What the grant won't cover
- Training employers must legally provide (e.g. mandatory health & safety, AODA)
- Executive and senior-leader development: leadership, strategic planning, change management, communications, emotional intelligence
- Executive programs such as MBA or CFA; LSAT/GMAT/MCAT prep
- Training at conferences or workshops; business consulting services; curriculum development
- Level 1 apprenticeship in-class training; membership, subscription and professional association fees
- Basic product training delivered by the product's own vendor; training for business owners
- Fees for lobbyists or consultants who assist with the grant application
Training hours and duration: what the rules say
Official rules (OJG guidelines, May 1, 2026)
- No minimum number of hours is set in the guidelines.
- Maximum: training must be completed within 52 weeks of the training start date.
- Not funded: training at conferences or workshops, executive/leadership programs, legally required training, exam-prep for LSAT/GMAT/MCAT, consulting.
- The Ministry weighs duration and intensity of training, costs compared with similar training, industry-recognized credentials and measurable outcomes when it assesses value for money.
- Training must be delivered in Ontario by an eligible third-party provider with 2+ years delivering that training and qualified instructors.
- Online delivery: The guidelines do not exclude live online delivery. They require training to be delivered in Ontario, by an eligible provider that maintains a physical presence in Ontario (no P.O. box), to the trainees named in the application (OJG Application Guidelines, s.2.3–2.4, effective May 1, 2026). Mastery Mentors has a physical office at 258 Delta St, Etobicoke and delivers live online to trainees in Ontario. The Ministry decides eligibility for each application.
Our standard
- Every program is at least 28 instructor-led hours (range 28–80 h).
- Module-by-module curriculum with hours per module, published on every course page.
- Pre/post skills assessment, practical labs and a graded capstone project.
- Typical schedules run 5–14 weeks part-time — always well inside the 52-week limit.
- Taught by university professors and industry experts.
Our 28-hour floor is a Mastery Mentors quality standard, not a government requirement. The hours of each course are benchmarked against the official vendor course length and Ontario college equivalents.
How to apply
Who does what, from choosing a course to final reporting.
Choose the training and trainees Employer
Pick the course and up to 25 employees (or new hires with signed job offers). Confirm the training is for their job in Ontario.
Collect three quotes Employer
Get written quotes from three different training providers. If you don't choose the lowest, explain why — for example course content, format or schedule.
Get our quote and provider documents Mastery Mentors
We send a quote, course outline, learning outcomes, schedule and instructor qualifications to fit your timeline.
Apply online Employer
Submit your Ontario Job Grant application through the online portal linked from ontario.ca.
Ministry review Ministry
An Employment and Training Consultant reviews the application and may ask you or the training provider for more information. We respond quickly.
Sign the funding agreement Employer
If approved, you register with Transfer Payment Ontario and sign a Transfer Payment Agreement. Costs before the agreement takes effect aren't covered.
Training starts Mastery Mentors
Your team trains with us. We track attendance and assessment and provide completion records.
Report and follow up Employer
Submit activity and financial reports, and take part in follow-up surveys after training. We supply the training data you need.
Program timeline & planning your start date
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Late 2025 | Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) intake paused for program review |
| May 1, 2026 | Ontario Job Grant guidelines take effect |
| May 2026 | Ontario Job Grant launched; applications accepted year-round |
| April 1, each year | Start of Ontario's fiscal year, when annual program budgets are set |
Plan ahead
The Ministry doesn't publish standard processing times, and funding is limited. To protect your preferred start date:
- Request quotes as soon as you know who needs training
- Apply well before your target start date — we suggest at least 6–8 weeks
- Funding is limited and budgets are set each fiscal year (April 1 – March 31), so applying early is safer than relying on late-year approvals
- Respond quickly to any Ministry questions (we answer questions about the training)
- Don't start training or pay invoices before your agreement is in effect
- Finish training within 52 weeks of the start date
What makes our training easy to justify
No one can guarantee approval. But strong applications have a few things in common — and we build them in from the start.
Job-specific training
Each course is tied to a defined role and career step — exactly what the program is for.
Measurable outcomes
Clear learning outcomes and assessments, so you can show what changed after training.
Value for money
Cost-based public prices, checked against comparable corporate programs — typically a lower rate per instructor-led hour, and the same price with or without a grant.
Complete documentation
Outline, schedule, costs and instructor qualifications ready before you apply.
No conflicts of interest
Our policy: no ownership, financial or family ties with client employers or trainees. Any potential conflict is disclosed so the employer can declare it (s.2.4.4).
Eligibility rules published
Employer, trainee and training rules are summarized on this page, so you can check them before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) still available?
No. COJG intake was paused in late 2025 and the program was replaced by the Ontario Job Grant (OJG), with new guidelines in effect from May 1, 2026. Funding levels are similar, but the rules for training providers and courses are stricter. All our courses and quotes are prepared for the new OJG rules.
How much can the Ontario Job Grant cover?
Only if your application is approved: employers with fewer than 100 employees can receive up to 5/6 of eligible training costs; employers with 100 or more employees, up to 50%. The maximum is $10,000 per person. Small employers hiring and training a previously unemployed person can receive up to 100%, to a maximum of $15,000 per person.
Can training start before the grant is approved?
No. Training must start only after your application is approved and your funding agreement is in effect. Costs incurred before then are not reimbursed. We schedule your start date around the approval.
Do I need quotes from several training providers?
Yes. The Ministry asks employers to collect quotes from three different training providers and to explain the choice if it isn't the lowest-priced option. We send you a written quote with a full course outline and learning outcomes, and our prices are published openly so you can compare easily.
How are your prices set?
All prices are per person (per person), in CAD, excluding HST. Each price is built from the real cost of delivery: instructor time (a university professor or senior practitioner), preparation, labs and software, course materials, any exam voucher at cost, and administration and records, for a small live cohort (maximum 12). We then check it against comparable corporate training programs, which typically run fewer instructor-led hours. The price is the same whether or not your organization applies for a grant, and it does not include any fee for grant application help.
Where do employers apply?
Directly to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, through the Ontario Job Grant online application linked from ontario.ca. Unlike the old COJG, local Employment Ontario offices no longer process the applications.
Is there a minimum number of training hours?
The Ontario Job Grant guidelines set no minimum number of hours. They do require that training be completed within 52 weeks of the start date, delivered in Ontario by an eligible provider, and they exclude conferences and workshops. The Ministry also weighs the duration and intensity of training when it assesses value for money. That is why every Mastery Mentors course is a full program of at least 28 instructor-led hours (four or more full days, longer than a workshop), with a module-by-module curriculum, assessments and a capstone project. The hours of each course are set against the official vendor course length and comparable Ontario college continuing-education courses, so they reflect the content rather than padding.
Can individuals sign up for a course?
No. Mastery Mentors is a private training centre providing corporate training for Ontario employers. We contract exclusively with employers. We do not enrol or invoice individual students. Your employer requests the quote, signs the training agreement and pays the invoice. If you're an employee, ask your employer to contact us.
Is online training eligible?
The guidelines do not exclude live online delivery. They require training to be delivered in Ontario, by an eligible provider that maintains a physical presence in Ontario (no P.O. box), to the trainees named in the application (OJG Application Guidelines, s.2.3–2.4, effective May 1, 2026). Mastery Mentors has a physical office at 258 Delta St, Etobicoke and delivers live online to trainees in Ontario. The Ministry decides eligibility for each application. Training must also be completed within 52 weeks.
What training is not funded?
Training an employer is legally required to provide (for example mandatory occupational health and safety or AODA training), executive and senior-leader development (leadership, strategic planning, change management, communications, emotional intelligence, MBA, CFA), LSAT/MCAT/GMAT prep, training at conferences or workshops, business consulting, curriculum development, Level 1 apprenticeship in-class training, membership fees, basic product training by the product's vendor, and training not completed within 52 weeks.
Who can be a trainee?
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, refugee claimants or protected persons living in Ontario, legally authorized to work in Canada, who are on your payroll, or new hires with a signed job offer. Business owners and their relatives, contractors, volunteers and temporary foreign workers are not eligible.
How many people can I train?
Up to 25 trainees per application. Employers may apply more than once in a calendar year; the Ministry considers repeat applications when it assesses value for money.
Do you charge for help with the application?
No. We are a training provider, not an application consultant. With your quote we supply the training details the Ministry requires from providers (outline, instructional plan, costs, instructor qualifications); you complete and submit your own application. This is not billed and is not part of the course price. Grant funds can't be used to pay consultants to prepare applications.
Is approval guaranteed?
No provider can honestly guarantee approval: funding is limited and every application is assessed by the Ministry. What we can do is supply complete, accurate training documentation — job-specific programs with measurable outcomes, transparent prices and a full module-by-module outline.
This guide summarizes the Ontario Job Grant guidelines in effect since May 1, 2026 for general information only. It is not legal or financial advice and is not an official government publication. Official source: ontario.ca/page/ontario-job-grant. Last reviewed: 2026-11-12.
Get a quote ready for your grant application
Tell us the course and number of trainees. We'll send a written quote with the module-by-module outline, costs and instructor qualifications the Ministry asks training providers for.