↗ View this article in the original PDF newsletter
Like thousands of small not-for-profit groups across Canada, the Friends of Fort York got caught up this Spring in the unexpected plans of Human Resources and Social Development Canada to alter how it awarded grants for summer student jobs. However laudable the department’s objective to foster the hiring of more disabled and aboriginal youth or members of visible minorities in areas where crime rates and unemployment are high, the reality is that the delivery of many social services at the local level has been built over time upon a partnership of community groups who hired and trained students with funding assistance from the Government of Canada. In this inter-dependent relationship it is essential to have continuity or very long notices of change. Therefore, it is a mystery how HRDC expected to change its criteria and cut funding to the program from $96 to $85 million, both in the same year, without creating major disruptions. The Fife and Drum
Happily, Human Resources Minister Monte Solberg recognized his department’s mistake before it was beyond repair, and in late May informed many groups including the Friends of Fort York that their grant for 2007 would be in the same amount as they received in 2006. The grant for the Fort York Guard was restored to $13,500. Thank you, Mr. Minister. In 2006 the cost of operating the Fort York National Historic Site was shared among the City of Toronto (68.1%), admissions and rentals (16.1%), the Friends of Fort York (9.5%), the Ontario Government’s museums grants program (4.8%), and the Government of Canada (1.6%).
Original printed pages
