capg restaurants

Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant (CAPG) - How Restaurants Can Benefit

November 18th, 2025

The Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant (CAPG) is a new funding program that helps Alberta employers pay for productivity-focused training for their staff. The grant reimburses up to 50–75% of eligible training costs, making it a valuable tool for restaurants looking to improve efficiency, reduce errors, adopt new technology, or upskill their team.

This guide breaks down the program in plain language and explains how Alberta restaurant owners can use CAPG to train staff and boost productivity.

 Summary

  • CAPG reimburses Alberta restaurants 50–75% of eligible training costs.

  • Employers can receive up to $100,000 per year in training funding.

  • Existing employees can receive up to $5,000 each, while new unemployed hires can receive up to $10,000.

  • Training must improve productivity, technical skills, operations, or digital capabilities.

  • Restaurant owners must apply before training begins and use approved third-party training providers.

What the CAPG Does

The CAPG reimburses employers for sending employees to approved productivity-focused training programs. Restaurants can apply for funding to upgrade staff skills in operations, digital tools, technology, or technical workflows that improve efficiency and competitiveness.

Employers apply on behalf of employees, and funding comes from the Workforce Development Agreement between Alberta and the Government of Canada.

How Much Funding Restaurants Can Receive

Funding amounts:

  • 50% reimbursement for current employees (up to $5,000 per employee per year)
  • 75% reimbursement for hiring and training an unemployed Albertan (up to $10,000 per trainee)
  • Up to $100,000 per employer per fiscal year

Eligible training expenses include:

  • Tuition or course fees
  • Textbooks, software, or required learning materials
  • Exam fees
  • Approved travel costs

Wages are NOT covered by the CAPG.

What this means for restaurants:

You can significantly reduce the cost of training cooks, supervisors, managers, and front-of-house staff, especially for operational and technological upskilling (inventory systems, POS training, cost control tools, food safety upgrades, kitchen efficiencies, etc.).

Who Is Eligible

Eligible employers:

  • Private restaurants (incorporated or unincorporated)
  • Restaurant groups and franchises
  • Non-profit foodservice organizations
  • First Nations or Métis Settlement-owned restaurants
  • You simply need current or prospective employees who require training.

Eligible trainees must be:

  • Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected persons
  • Current employees OR new hires you plan to train

Ineligible trainees include:

  • Owners/shareholders
  • Family members
  • Temporary foreign workers
  • Anyone temporarily working in Canada

If an employee is on Employment Insurance, they must notify their EI case worker before starting training.

Training Providers & Training Requirements

Restaurants can choose their own training providers as long as they meet CAPG rules.

A training provider must:

  • Be a third-party organization, not the employer
  • Offer training as a core business activity
  • Not employ the trainee

Eligible training categories include:

  • Business Process & Operations Management
  • Scheduling optimization
  • Inventory management
  • Food cost control
  • Operational efficiency systems
  • Technical Skills
  • Knife skills
  • Cooking techniques
  • Equipment-specific training
  • Digital & Technology Skills
  • POS system training
  • Kitchen automation tools
  • Online ordering & delivery platforms
  • Restaurant management software

Training must also:

  • Be relevant to the trainee’s job
  • Happen in Alberta
  • Be completed within 52 weeks
  • Include instruction from a qualified instructor
  • Be delivered in-person, online, or blended

Not eligible:

  • Basic soft skills (leadership, communication, etc.)
  • Self-study (books, DVDs, independent learning)
  • Apprenticeship technical training

How Restaurant Operators Can Apply

Step 1: Read the Applicant Guidelines

This explains all rules and requirements.

Step 2: Set up an Alberta.ca Account for Organizations

Each staff member involved in the application needs their own access.

Step 3: Register your business in the CAPG Portal

Submit your business information and wait for approval.

Step 4: Apply before training starts

Log into the CAPG Portal and fill out the application for each trainee.

Step 5: Upload documents to receive payment

Once approved:

  • Complete the Electronic Payment form
  • Upload a current bank document
  • Select “Company Banking Documents” for security

Payments are issued via EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer).

Conclusion

The Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant is a major opportunity for restaurants to improve productivity while keeping training costs low. By covering up to 75% of eligible expenses, the program makes it easier to upskill your team, adopt new technologies, improve operations, and stay competitive in Alberta’s fast-changing restaurant landscape.

With proper planning and the right training partners, restaurants can reduce skill gaps, improve efficiency, and support staff development while receiving substantial financial support from the government.

FAQ

No, employee wages and paid training time are not covered; only direct training costs like tuition, software, materials, and approved travel expenses are eligible.

No, owners, shareholders, board members, and family members are not eligible trainees under this program.provide them with a way to cancel at any time.

No, training must be delivered by a third-party training provider whose main activity is training, and they must be completely separate from the employer.

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