How to extend seasonal employment periods in Quebec

Seasonal businesses in Quebec often face the same challenge each year: strong demand for a few months, followed by layoffs when work slows down. This cycle makes it difficult to keep skilled staff and plan for long-term growth. To address this, Quebec offers a program to help employers extend seasonal employment periods by supporting projects that create work outside their peak season.

This guide explains practical ways to extend seasonal employment periods in Quebec and details the provincial funding that can support your plan.

Practical ways to extend seasonal employment periods

Extending employment usually means creating new work during your off-season. In Quebec, there are several proven strategies: diversifying your business, adding new tasks, and sharing workers with other employers.

1. Diversify your products or services

Adding new activities during slower months can provide steady work for your existing staff. Examples include:

A tourism business offering maintenance, renovation, or training services in the off-season
An agri-food producer developing processed or value‑added products outside harvest season
A manufacturing business adding new production steps or custom work during slower periods

Quebec encourages this approach through the Programme d’aide à la prolongation de la période d’emploi (Employment Period Extension Assistance Program), which supports projects that create off-season work through diversification.

2. Add new tasks during the off-season

Sometimes, work is postponed or outsourced when it could be done by your staff during quieter periods. Examples include:

Equipment maintenance and repairs
Inventory management and quality control
Staff training and process improvement

These activities can justify keeping employees on payroll for additional weeks or months.

Workforce sharing allows employees to rotate between several employers whose busy seasons do not overlap. In Quebec, eligible workforce-sharing projects must involve three or more employers working together.

This is common in sectors like tourism, forestry, agriculture, and food processing.

Quebec funding that supports longer seasonal employment

Programme d’aide à la prolongation de la période d’emploi (Employment Period Extension Assistance Program)

This provincial program is designed to help employers extend seasonal employment periods.

Program overview

Administrator: Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale
Status: Open
Jurisdiction: Quebec
Funding type: Repayable financial assistance

Who can apply

Eligible applicants include:

Private businesses
Non-profit organizations
Cooperatives
Self-employed workers
Worker, employer, and professional associations

Your business must operate in a sector with strong seasonal fluctuations.

Eligible projects

Projects must aim to extend employment periods through one of the following:

Seasonal Job Extension component:
- Diversifying products or services
- Adding new tasks to create off-season work
Partnership and Workforce Matching component:
- Workforce sharing between three or more employers

How much funding can you receive

Funding amounts vary based on project scope and eligible costs
Financial assistance is repayable, not a grant

Because this support is repayable, it acts more like a loan tied to job creation outcomes, rather than a wage subsidy.

Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you check if this program fits your business profile and sector.

Tips for success

Extending seasonal employment takes planning. Here are some tips to improve your chances of success:

Have a clear off-season plan
Show how your project will actually extend employment periods, not just improve regular operations.
Understand the funding type
The program offers repayable assistance, not a direct wage subsidy. Make sure your cash flow can handle repayments.
Meet the workforce sharing requirements
If you plan to share workers, you must involve at least three employers. Two is not enough.
Document your outcomes
Track how your project creates or extends jobs. Good records can help with reporting and future funding applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is eligible for the Employment Period Extension Assistance Program?
Private businesses, non-profits, cooperatives, self-employed workers, and industry associations can apply if they operate in sectors with strong seasonal fluctuations.

Q: Is the funding repayable or non-repayable?
The financial assistance is repayable. Terms depend on your project and agreement with the province.

Q: What types of projects qualify?
Eligible projects include product or service diversification, adding off-season tasks, and workforce-sharing initiatives involving three or more employers.

Q: How much funding can a business receive?
There is no fixed maximum. Funding depends on project scope and eligible costs.

Q: Can non-profit organizations apply?
Yes. Non-profit organizations are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.

GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant and loan programs across Canada—check which ones match your business profile.

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Next steps

Extending seasonal employment periods in Quebec begins with a strong off-season plan and the right funding. The Employment Period Extension Assistance Program can help, but your project must meet the requirements and be carefully structured.

GrantHub helps you compare Quebec funding options, understand eligibility, and find programs that support workforce stability in seasonal industries.

How to extend seasonal employment periods in Quebec