Program Funding Options
Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (C.A.S.S.)
Self Employment Program
The Self-Employment Program is an E. I. funded entrepreneurship program designed for people who are unemployed and in need of self-employment training to participate in the labour market. The program provides:
- instruction in business plan development
- one-to-one business counselling
- coaching, guidance and follow-up before the start up of a personal business
To qualify for the program, you must have an idea for starting a new business or taking-over an existing business. You must also demonstrate a personal commitment (cash or capital) toward the business and develop and implement a business plan.
If you are receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, you will continue to receive benefits, and may also be eligible for additional assistance for training and living expenses to participate in the program if your EI benefits run out. If you are EI eligible or receiving other supports, you may also be eligible for assistance.
To Apply
The complete program application consists of four (4) forms plus your resume if you are in Saskatchewan, and five (5) forms plus your resume if you are in Alberta. Each should be filled out as completely as possible. Every question on the Comprehensive Personality Profile (CPP) form MUST be answered or we cannot process your application.
The Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files may be downloaded, printed, and filed out by hand. If you prefer to work on live documents, some are available as MS-Office files.
In any case, you will need to have Acrobat Reader on your computer.
If you don't already have it, you can get it free here. 
When completed, please return to;
Praxis School of Entrepreneurship
99-120 Sonnenschein Way
Saskatoon, Sask.
S7M-1M8
(306) 955-7691 -- Secure Fax
elainem@globalinfobrokers.ca
File Download
In Saskatchewan
The complete application consists of the components listed below. To get the forms needed, choose either all of these four files;
- Application Form
- Personal Cash-Flow Statement
- Personal Net-Worth Statement
- Comprehensive Personality Profile (CPP)
- Your Resume
OR...
This complete Saskatchewan PDF Package.
In Alberta
The complete application consists of the components listed below. To get the forms needed, choose either all of these five files;
- Application Form
- Labour Market Training
- Personal Cash-Flow Statement
- Personal Net-Worth Statement
- Comprehensive Personality Profile (CPP)
- Your Resume
OR...
This complete Alberta PDF Package.
C.A.S.S. Program
The Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (CASS) is a unique program designed to help farmers and their spouses increase their family income through improved farm practices, increased off-farm income or both.
The program provides financial assistance to access training in areas to enhance farm business management and production practices, training for other employment, or training to acquire skills for starting a new business.
CASS offers;
- Assessment: Identify your existing strengths and skills with a qualified career counsellor
- Development of an Individual Learning Plan: Your career counsellor will help you create a personal Learning Plan that best suits your training needs and goals
- Funding: Financial support is provided for formal and informal training. Eligible costs may include benefits such as tuition, texts and related expenses such as travel, dependent care and replacement labour
- Follow-up: Ongoing communication with a CASS Case Manager will allow you to receive individualized assistance as you implement your Learning Plan
Eligibility
You (and your spouse) may be eligible to participate if:
- You are an established producer with gross farm sales of at least $10,000 per year, and a net family income of less than $45,000 based on a three-year average; or
- You are a beginning farmer who has owned/operated a farm for less than 6 years or intends to establish a farm that has (or will have) $10,000 in annual gross farm sales.
- In either case, you must be out of school for two years and not receiving Employment Insurance benefits for training.
Maximum benefit level:
For a family with an average net income of:
- Less than $35,000 the maximum benefit available is $16,000.
- $35,001 to $40,000 the maximum benefit available is $12,000. $40,001 to $45,000 the maximum benefit available is $8,000.
For more information:
Download a brochure here.
Call either our office toll free: (877) 664-0500
Or their office toll free: 1-888-887-7977
Email: cass@agr.gov.sk.ca
Call the SMA Regional Office:
(306) 786-1531 - Yorkton
(306) 953-2363 - Prince Albert
(306) 446-7964 - North Battleford
(306) 848-2857 - Weyburn
(306) 933-7986 - Saskatoon
(306) 787-9773 - Regina
(306) 878-8842 - Tisdale
(306) 867-5575 - Outlook
(306) 778-8285 - Swift Current
To Apply
- Contact your local Saskatchewan Agriculture, food & Rural Revitalization Specialist at (888) 452-5558 to do an initial screening assessment of eligibility. They will then direct you to your local Regional Community college.
- Contact your local Regional College and indicate that you are interested in the Self Employment Program. They will complete a Learning Plan Assessment.
- Regional college submits the Learning Plan Assessment to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food for approval. Note that the Learning Plan Assessment can take up to 15-20 business days.
- The Regional College will contact us to confirm the placement and finalize start and end dates for the program.
- The Regional College will then contact the CASS office.
- CASS forwards a letter of sponsorship which will then authorize us to start the training.
- We will then contact you to confirm your approval for funding.