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Government changes its mind on funding some summer jobsSome local museums and national historic sites will be getting government money to hire summer students after all, but not necessarily the amounts they had been used to. |
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 [ 2007-05-30 ] |
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Officials with the Human Resources Department notified the North Pacific Fishing Village in Port Edward, B.C., that it would get money to help pay for the interim staff.
Karin Ljungh, the centre’s manager, was “excited” and surprised by the reversal, but she noted the facility is getting a grant of $12,246 compared to the $24,000 the department has offered in the past.
The figure is based on students getting paid minimum wages for 30-hour work weeks, as opposed to full-time hours at higher wages.
Still, it’s a much more upbeat situation than a week ago when the cannery believed it was not going to get a dime.
“Something is better than nothing,” said Ljungh.
The North Pacific had already hired its four summer positions before word got out that the government was changing the way it funded such positions.
The cannery is looking at other alternatives to raise extra funds to ensure it doesn’t run a deficit.
Last fall, the Conservatives axed the existing $97.5-million summer jobs program as part of their budget cuts.
They replaced it this spring with Canada Summer Jobs, an $85.9-million program they said was fairer and better targeted to the needs of young people.
Earlier this month, several heritage sites, businesses and others complained their funding to hire summer students had been cut.
The government had said it would no longer offer the money to businesses and local government organizations, but that non-profit outfits would continue to receive funding.
However, the program appeared to be applied unevenly and many business owners and tourist site operators complained the decisions were being made too close to the busy summer season.
Opposition MPs have called for parliamentary hearings into the jobs plan, saying the Conservatives “botched” the popular program, hurting students and community groups across the country.
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