Can I work or study in Canada with an eTA?

An Electronic Travel Authorization is purely an entry document for visa-exempt foreign nationals arriving by air. It allows you to come to Canada as a visitor, but it gives you no authorization to take a job or enroll in a program of study.

To work, you need a work permit; to study a program longer than six months, you generally need a study permit. If you are visa-exempt and IRCC approves your work or study permit application, they will normally issue you an eTA automatically so you can fly in, but the permit itself is what authorizes the activity.