Hometown Green Team

Priorities | Project Assessment | Scholarship Opportunities | Eligibility Criteria | Wages | Financial Assistance | Terms and Conditions | Important Contacts | FAQs

 

The Hometown Green Team (HGT) program is designed to create meaningful and career-oriented summer employment opportunities for students and unemployed youth aged 16 to 24 by encouraging organizations to initiate a variety of community development projects that will improve neighbourhoods, encourage community involvement and help build young leaders.

Employment Periods

May 5 start date to August 22: Applications must be received by March 7, 2008
June 16 start date to August 22: Applications must be received by April 11, 2008

Priorities

Organizations that propose to implement exceptional projects in the priority areas listed below will be given greater consideration for funding.

• Projects that directly target other youth in the community (eg. drop-in centres).
• Projects that have long-term benefits to youth (eg. environmental projects).
• Projects that involve the community in their activities.
• Projects that are more likely to hire Aboriginal youth, either by virtue of location (northern Manitoba) or the inherent nature of the project (eg. culturally oriented or targeting Aboriginal client groups).

Project Assessment

Each application will be assessed on its individual merits and the Assessment Committee will exercise its absolute discretion in determining the amount (if any) of grant funding approved for each project. Approval is subject to availability of funds and program demand. All applicants will be notified by telephone and/or mail on the status of their funding request.

Projects will be assessed on the priorities listed above as well as the following:

• Career-relatedness of the position and the skills and experience that the employee will gain.
• Project is in areas of province that has limited employment opportunities.
• Project is hiring or working directly with vulnerable youth (eg. disabled, dropped out of high school, etc.)

Scholarship Opportunities

Two $500 scholarships will be available for program employees who can demonstrate how their participation in the project has benefited the community. Additional information will be sent to all organizations that are approved for funding.

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Eligibility Criteria

Projects:

Eligible projects include:

• activities for youth (drop-in centres, camps)
• neighbourhood safety
• public education
• tourism activities
• housing rehabilitation/community renewal
• road/public grounds enhancement
• riverbank clean-up/stream maintenance/park clean-up/trail enhancement
• recycling/waste management

Examples of projects that are not eligible:

• projects for organizations that impose fees to maintain/upgrade their normal services and facilities
• projects located in Winnipeg or in a Federal jurisdiction
• research projects and projects proposing any type of advocacy
• projects that are soliciting funds or conducting surveys
• projects that include lifeguard or swimming instruction duties
• projects that include an overnight stay or a work schedule later than midnight
• projects that include any tasks required in the normal maintenance of an organization(eg. reception, accounting duties, janitorial work, etc).

Organizations:

Eligible organizations include:

• not-for-profit organizations in rural Manitoba (school/hospitals must apply through their School Division/Health Authority)

• municipal government in rural Manitoba

In order to be eligible for funding, organizations must also adhere to the following:

• be capable of providing project management and ongoing employee supervision
• have Workers' Compensation coverage is considered mandatory (for additional information, see Financial Assistance)
• conduct child abuse registry and criminal records checks on all program employees that will be working with children under the age of 18
• ensure that all employees wear proper safety clothing, and use proper safety equipment
• ensure that all employees are properly trained in the use of any equipment
• ensure that all work done on private, residential and municipal properties has the required permission from all affected parties (waiver forms)
• post a statement in a visible location and in printed materials that fee assistance is available through the organization for youth who want to participate in youth activity projects
• ensure that all employees wear the t-shirts provided by the program
• display program signage at project site(s)

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Positions:

Eligible positions must:

• be created as a result of approved funding;
• provide a minimum of 25 regular hours of employment each week and at least six weeks of employment
• not result in the lay-off, reduction of hours or dismissal of any current employees or replace employees who have previously been laid-off or dismissed
• not perform the same duties as regular staff
• not be funded by any other provincial or federal government employment program for the same position

Employees:

Eligible employees must be:

• students or unemployed youth aged 16 to 24
• living in rural Manitoba
• legally entitled to work in Canada
• finished their studies for the year if in high school

The eligibility of all proposed employees must be approved by program staff before starting work. Any hours worked before a program approval will not be reimbursed.

Those not eligible as employees include:

• immediate relatives (husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister) of the hiring authority or any director or official/administrator of the applicant organization
• individuals already employed by the organization prior to the approved start date
• individuals with a financial interest in the applicant organization
• board/executive members of the applicant organization
• self-employed individuals, independent contractors, sub-contractors or commissioned salespersons
• foreign and visiting students

Organizations requesting referrals to fill approved positions will be provided with the names of local youth who have registered with the program for referrals.

Exceptions to any criteria must be requested in writing.

Program staff will conduct scheduled and non-scheduled on-site monitors throughout the duration of the program to ensure criteria are being followed.

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Wages

Organizations are required to pay all approved program employees a minimum of $8.50 per hour plus 4% vacation allowance.

Organizations are also required to:

• document all hours worked by each employee on a daily basis
• pay all employees at least twice a month
• issue cheque stubs indicating hours worked, gross/vacation pay, deductions and net pay
• issue a T4 slip to each employee
• remit all applicable payroll deductions to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency

Financial Assistance

• Organizations are eligible to apply for up to four positions (if approved for more than one position, they cannot be combined into one position).
• Not-for-profit organizations will be reimbursed $8.84 per hour for each approved program employee to cover the $8.50 per hour wage and 4% vacation allowance.
• Municipal governments will be reimbursed $4.42 per hour for each approved program employee to cover half of the $8.50 per hour wage and 4% vacation allowance.
• Organizations may request up to 560 hours per position for the first intake and 320 hours per position for the second intake.
• Not-for-profit organizations will receive up to $250 in support costs for each approved employee.
• Municipal governments will receive up to $125 in support costs for each approved employee on a 50/50 cost-shared basis (will need to spend $250 per employee in order to receive the full funding)
• Support costs are to help cover expenses such as: safety clothing, employer remittances for CPP and EI, criminal and child abuse registry checks, workers compensation (not-for-profits only), project materials, etc. Receipts are required to claim for support costs.
• Reimbursement will not be provided for any hours worked outside the program operating dates: May 5 to August 22, 2008 or for hours worked by an employee in excess of eight hours a day or 40 hours a week.
• Organizations are required to provide employees with Workers' Compensation coverage where coverage is considered mandatory.
  
  If you are not listed on the exempt industry list under The Workers' Compensation Act, you must ensure that each employee is covered by workers' compensation and, when asked, you must provide Mantioba with satisfactory proof that the required workers' compensation coverage is in place. In some cases, even if you are listed in the exempt industry list under The Workers' Compensation Act, you may still need to register the Green Team employees.
  
  
• Worker's Compensation costs will only be reimbursed to not-for profit organizations.
• Approved not-for-profit organizations will be provided with an advance payment of 65% of approved employee wage funding and the full amount for support costs. The remaining 35% of approved employee wage funding will be reimbursed at the conclusion of the project following the submission of a Claim for Reimbursement form.
• Claim for Reimbursement forms along with supporting documentation must be submitted to the program by September 30, 2008.

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Terms and Conditions

All approved organizations agree to:

• comply with all Federal and Provincial laws and regulations governing employers;
• comply with all labour employment standards directed by the Department of Labour and Immigration
• comply with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) - information available at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/fippa/index.html
• comply with Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) - information available at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/phia/index.html
• comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) - information available at: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/P-8.6/index.html
• permit identification of the organization by name in publicity related to the program
• permit the release of contact information to potential employees for approved positions
• provide administration, training and continuous daily supervision for all employees
• provide information which will assist in reviewing the effectiveness of the program
• follow all the terms and conditions as set out on all Hometown Green Team program information and grant application forms as well as all other program documents.

If, in the opinion of program staff responsible for the administration of the Hometown Green Team program, an approved applicant or authorized representative has misrepresented the information provided in the application or other Hometown Green Team documents or has used part or all of the funding for purposes other that authorized on the approved application or fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the program as described, program staff may cancel any funding provided and take the appropriate steps to require the approved applicant or authorized official to repay in whole or part any funds provided. Failure by program officials to take action for non-compliance or for a breach of any or all Hometown Green Team terms and conditions shall not be construed as a general waiver or relinquishment of this right.

Important Contacts

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
To obtain an Employer Registration # and information on employer/employee contributions to EI and CPP, phone 1-800-959-5525.

Workers' Compensation
To inquire about compulsory and non-compulsory registration, contact the Workers' Compensation Board of Manitoba at 1-800-362-3340.

Employment Standards
If you have any questions regarding your obligations as an employer in the Province of Manitoba, i.e. payment of overtime, vacation pay, etc., contact the Department of Labour and Immigration - Employment Standards at 1-800-821-4307 or visit their web site at www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/.

Workplace Safety and Health
If you have any questions regarding your obligations as an employer for workplace safety and health or are looking for resources on how to properly train your employees, visit www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety or www.safemanitoba.ca.

Child Abuse Registry Check
To obtain a child abuse registry check, contact the Child Abuse Registry Unit at 1-800-282-8069 (ext. 6967). This service may take four to six weeks to complete. Two pieces of ID are required.

Criminal Records Check
To obtain a criminal records check, youth must visit their local RCMP office or the Winnipeg Police Service at the Public Safety Building, 4th Floor, 151 Princess Street in Winnipeg (phone 1-204-986-6073). This services may take up to 10 days to complete. Two pieces of ID are required.

Social Insurance Number
For more information on how youth can obtain a Social Insurance Number, contact Employment Insurance Canada at 1-800-206-7218 or visit their web site at www.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/sc/sin/index.shtml for an online application.

Waiver Forms
If you have any questions on obtaining required permission for work done on private, residential and municipal properties or getting a copy of a waiver form, contact your town/municipal office.

Hazardous Materials
If you have any questions about picking up any hazardous materials, contact you town/municipal office.

Hiring Youth
If you need help finding employees, contact our Program Coordinator at 1-800-282-8069 (Ext. 2343) to receive a list of eligible youth. Organizations can also advertise their approved positions with Student/Youth human Resource Centres by calling (204) 983-5520 in Winnipeg after April 1.

How to Start a Payroll
For general information on how to start a payroll, please go to http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/youth/forms/payroll_information.pdf

Ideas for Drop-in Centres
To get ideas on activities for drop-in centres, please go to http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/youth/forms/drop-in_centre_help_page.pdf

HGT Program
If you have any questions regarding this application or would like more information on the HGT program, please contact the Program Administrator, Denise Gerrard, at 1-800-282-8069 (Ext. 0901) or by e-mail at denise.gerrard@gov.mb.ca.

For frequently asked questions, please visit: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/youth/employers/hgt_faqs.html

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