Government mail service may be affected by the Canada Post labour disruption. Learn about how critical government mail will be handled.
Overview
The Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant (CAPG) helps employers invest in training that focuses on enhancing productivity skills for their current and future employees that aligns with the needs of their business. It is an employer-driven program meant to partially reimburse the cost for an employer to send their employee(s) for training.
Employers apply on behalf of their employees and invest in training that enhances productivity and workforce competitiveness. Funding is provided by the Government of Canada through the Workforce Development Agreement.
Read the Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant Applicant Guidelines to learn more.
Online information sessions
Learn more about the CAPG by watching one of the following recorded information sessions:
Funding
For existing employees, employers must contribute 50% of the total eligible training costs. Government contributes the other 50% of the cost to a maximum of $5,000 per employed trainee per fiscal year. If hiring and training an unemployed Albertan, up to 75% of eligible training costs could be covered, up to a maximum of $10,000 per trainee per fiscal year.
An employer is eligible for up to a maximum amount of $100,000 per fiscal year.
The CAPG is available for direct training costs only, including:
- tuition or course fees charged by the training provider
- textbooks or software
- examination fees
- approved travel costs
- other required materials (supplies directly relevant to the training course and are distinct from materials required to run your business)
Employee wages are not eligible through the CAPG program.
Eligibility
Eligible employers
To be eligible, employers must have current or potential employees who need training to fill current or future positions.
The CAPG is available to:
- private sector employers, including incorporated and unincorporated businesses and partnerships
- non-profit sector employers
- First Nations and Metis Settlements
Eligible trainees
CAPG trainees must be employees (current or prospective) and one of the following:
- Canadian citizens
- permanent residents
- protected people under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) who are entitled to work in Canada
Trainee employment may be verified at any time during the application process.
Trainees receiving Employment Insurance
Employers must declare on the CAPG application if their trainee is receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.
A trainee receiving EI benefits must notify their EI case worker of the training as soon as possible, to ensure they continue to receive their benefits.
Ineligible trainees
The following individuals are ineligible:
- company owners (includes shareholders of a corporation and any member of the employer's board or council)
- family members
- temporary foreign workers, or anyone temporarily working in Canada
Refer to the Applicant Guidelines for complete eligibility criteria.
Training providers
Employers are responsible for finding appropriate training providers and courses.
Training providers must be:
- a third party
- separate and distinct from the employer
- training must be a main business activity
The employer applicant cannot be the training provider.
Trainees cannot be an employee of the training provider, and the training provider may not employ the individual it is training.
Training
Eligible training
Training must:
- focus on productivity-skills development in at least one of these categories:
- Business Process and Operations Management: Training that equips employees with skills to improve and optimize processes, operations, systems and resource management.
- Technical: Training that equips employees with technical expertise and specialized skills to enhance efficiency, quality and problem-solving capabilities.
- Digital and technological: Training that equips employees with skills to effectively use, manage and integrate digital tools and technologies to perform tasks, solve problems and adapt evolving technology needs.
- be relevant to the trainee’s job
- be completed within 52 weeks
- be in Alberta
- interact with a qualified instructor
- be instructional
The CAPG program is not intended to fund basic skills, soft-skills and interpersonal skills development.
Training may be delivered on a full or part-time basis, and may be any combination of online, on-site or in a classroom setting.
Apprenticeship Technical Training programs and self-study models like instructional books or DVDs are not supported by the CAPG. For a full list of ineligible training, refer to the Applicant Guidelines.
How to apply
Step 1. Read the Applicant Guidelines
Step 2. Ensure you have an updated Alberta.ca Account for Organizations
You will need an Alberta.ca Account for Organizations to access this program. Staff members that require access to the CAPG Portal need their own staff (user) account joined to the Organization Account. (See instructions for inviting individuals or joining an organization).
Passwords for accounts must not be shared, and accounts must not be overwritten or re-used. Additional contacts must first be invited directly through Alberta.ca Account for Organizations. Then, the new user must:
- log in to the CAPG Portal to register with our grant system
- email CAPG to transfer any grants (if needed)
Trainees do not require an Alberta.ca Account. For assistance with Alberta.ca Account for Organizations:
Step 3. Log in and register your business
Log in to the Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant Portal and register your business.
Step 4. Wait for approval or check status updates
Wait to receive a registration approval email or check the portal for a registration status update.
Step 5. Apply
Go to the CAPG Portal and complete the correct application for your trainee(s) before training starts.
Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant Portal
Receiving CAPG payment
The Government of Alberta's preferred method of payment is electronic funds transfer (EFT). It is a faster and more secure way to reimburse you.
For security purposes only upload documents using the CAPG Portal.
To receive an EFT payment, upload 2 documents to a grant file:
- a completed and signed Application for Electronic Payment (AEP) Form (page 2 only)
- a current bank document as listed on the AEP form (Section B)
For security and privacy reasons, select 'Company Banking Documents' as the document type, ensuring the files will not display back in the portal once successfully uploaded.
Contact
Connect with the CAPG processing centre:
Phone: 780-638-9424 (in Edmonton)
Toll free: 1-855-638-9424
Email: [email protected]