Employers can start looking at hiring this summer.

John Barlow MP for Foothills says Canada Summer Jobs 2016 is a win-win for employers and students looking for that summer job.

"The focus of the Canada Summer Jobs Program is to ensure that students across the Foothills riding who are looking for summer employment have the opportunity to access some summer jobs close to home," Barlow says.

He says students aged 18 to 30 who plan on returning to school full-time the following year qualify.

Employers have until February 26, 2016 to apply and can hire a student as early as May 2016 if approved.

Barlow says public and private sector employers can get in on the program and there are advantages.

"The difference between the two is, a private sector employer would get 50% of the provincial minimum wage whereas a non-profit employer 100% of the provincial minimum wage would be covered through the Canada

Summer Jobs Program."

Barlow says in the Foothills, priorities will be on non-profits, historic sites, tourism, museums and in agriculture.

Barlow states that during these difficult economic times, students are among the groups hit the hardest as they try to pay for their education.