The federal minister responsible disputes claims that Choices for Youth’s funding has been cut.

The organization recently announced significant layoffs and program cuts. They were expecting $4-million in funding each year for the next few years from Ottawa, but now that figure is $1-million per year.

Earlier today Premier Andrew Furey released a statement on social media saying he is requesting a meeting with the minister responsible, and asking for government to “do what is right” and restore the funding.

Minister Marci Ien responded to the post on X. She says government has and will continue to be engaged with the organization and that funding has not been cut.

She did not expand any further on that point.

Hi Premier. I would be that Minister.
We have been and continue to be engaged with Choices for Youth—
and for the record, funding
has not been cut.
I’ve left you a phone message—feel free to give me a buzz back. I look forward to chatting.

— Marci Ien (@MarciIen) August 21, 2024

In response to Ien’s comment, Provincial Minister for Housing and Mental Health, John Abbott, believes they are getting into semantics.

The reality, says Abbott, is that the organization depends on federal funding. He says the application process was for new funding, or from the Choices perspective “continued funding.” Because of that, Abbott says the federal government may say nothing was cut, but the reality is that CFY now has a $3-million budget gap.