Rota calls for re-instatement of Summer Jobs funding

Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota
News Release

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Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota is calling on Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Monte Solberg to immediately re-instate funding to the Canada Summer Jobs Program. “Many groups and non-profit organizations throughout the riding are devastated by the massive cuts that the Conservative Government has made to the Canada Summer Jobs Program,” says Mr. Rota. “The toll that this restriction of funding might have on these organizations is nearly inestimable.”

The federal summer jobs program was put on the chopping block during the Conservatives’ brutal round of funding cuts last September, as the Harper government slashed more than $55 million from the Summer Career Placement Program. The Conservative government later brought in a re-packaged summer jobs program with a new name and new criteria – but with $11 million less in funding than the original program.

According to Mr. Rota, “Organizations in towns and cities across Canada learned this week that they will not be receiving summer job grants under the repackaged program. This is having a devastating impact as Canadians discover programs that have existed for years won’t be able to run this summer, and many students will be robbed of valuable employment opportunities.”

“The Conservatives claim that their program cut was targeted at large corporations, which don’t need help to hire a student,” says Mr. Rota, “however, hundreds of community groups and not for profits are being told they no longer qualify for summer job funding.”

Mr. Rota has heard from several community groups in the riding that have been affected by these cuts, and says that he is determined to ensure that Minister Solberg is made aware of the devastation that these groups are experiencing. “The Conservatives must take immediate action by reversing their decision to cut funding to the Canada Summer Jobs Program, and begin to undo the damage these cuts have caused to community and non-for-profit groups throughout Nipissing-Timiskaming.”

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