Quebec Student Aid: Who Actually Qualifies

What's open. The federal government opened the application period for Canada Summer Jobs 2027 on October 27, according to Employment and Social Development Canada's news release. The program helps employers hire youth aged 15 to 30 for a paid summer job. Employers have until December 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, to apply. It is a federal program, so it applies across Canada, Quebec included.

Who can apply. Three kinds of employers are eligible: not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers, and private-sector employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees. According to the Canada Summer Jobs 2027 backgrounder, that count covers employees working 30 hours or more a week in Canada at the time of the application.

What the program pays. For a public or private employer, the funding covers 50% of the provincial minimum wage, which means Quebec's minimum wage for a job in Quebec. A not-for-profit can receive up to 100% of the minimum wage, plus mandatory employer costs such as Employment Insurance and the Quebec Pension Plan. The job must be full time, 30 to 40 hours a week, and last 6 to 16 weeks in a row; the backgrounder sets the work period between April 19 and August 28, 2027. Keep in mind that applications exceed the money available. An eligible application is not always approved, and funding one year guarantees nothing for the next.

How to apply. Applications are made online, through the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) portal. Start by reading the applicant guide, available from the Canada Summer Jobs program page. For 2027, the government is giving priority to jobs in construction, environment and climate, digital skills or artificial intelligence, and to not-for-profits that serve communities with limited access to services. Service Canada will tell employers the outcome starting in April 2027. Running an organization and looking for other funding? Read our article on grants for community organizations in Quebec.

For youth looking for a job. Young people have nothing to submit now. All positions funded by the program are posted automatically on Job Bank's youth section, which also has a mobile app. That is where to look once projects are approved.

Good to know for newcomers. Not every young person can take these jobs. The program's page for youth, updated for summer 2026, says you must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or someone officially given refugee protection in Canada, and be legally allowed to work in Canada. You also need a valid Social Insurance Number when the job starts. An international student, here temporarily for school, can't take part. Check that page again in the spring in case the 2027 rules change. Don't have a SIN yet? Our guide explains how to get your Social Insurance Number.

What is extended. On October 27, 2026, IRCC updated the temporary measures for Sudanese and Haitian nationals who are in Canada and cannot return home. The previous measures were set to expire on October 27. According to IRCC's notice, the extension is targeted: eligible people who hold a valid work permit issued under the previous measures can apply to extend that permit.

Who is covered. You need a valid work permit issued under the earlier temporary measures for Sudanese or Haitian nationals, as the case may be. The application comes with the standard processing fees. The extended measures expire on December 30, 2027.

What is not automatic. The extension does not apply to every status. People who want to extend their visitor status or study permit can apply through IRCC's existing channels, as the notice says. The measure is federal: it applies across Canada, including Quebec.

Good to know for newcomers. If this applies to you, first check that your current permit was issued under one of the temporary measures covered, then follow the requirements on IRCC's page. Keep proof of your status while your application is being processed. For the general steps, see our guide to work permits in Quebec and, if you are claiming asylum, our guide to claiming asylum in Quebec.

What changes. Since October 28, 2026, the federal government can impose monetary penalties on people who provide paid immigration or citizenship advice or representation without authorization. The measure is federal: it applies across Canada, including Quebec. According to IRCC's news release, the new rules also apply to licensed consultants, lawyers and other authorized representatives who break the law.

The amounts. A person who gives paid advice or representation without authorization faces a $5,000 penalty. A person who knowingly provides false or misleading information on an applicant's behalf, or helps an applicant do so, faces a $15,000 penalty. Additional penalties may apply if an application is approved based on that information. For repeat violations, the total can reach $1.5 million for all violations combined.

A public registry. IRCC will publish the names of the people penalized and the details of their violations. The online registry is expected to launch in 2027, after the first penalties are imposed. The final regulations are to be published on November 4, 2026.

How to check your representative. Before you pay, check that the person is authorized. The release links to IRCC's page on authorized representatives. If you think you are dealing with someone who is not authorized, our guide to common scams in Quebec explains the warning signs. Our guide to essential government websites can also help you find the right official pages.

Good to know for newcomers. Before you pay for immigration advice, ask the person to prove they are authorized, then check it yourself. The federal government advises people to verify that a representative is authorized before paying them.