Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham is disappointed to hear that Choices for Youth has been forced to cut jobs and programming due to issues in accessing operational funding.
Wakeham was responding to a $16 million shortfall in federal government funding to Choices for Youth over the next four years.
Choices for Youth Executive Director Jen Crowe holds news conference to discuss funding shortfall. August 21, 2024.
Wakeham says the province is in the midst of a housing crisis and many of the 200 young people on the waiting list for housing have nowhere else to turn.
He says the news comes following word of cuts to Labour Market Development Agreements, an issue raised by former Immigration and Skills Minister Gerry Byrne.
Wakeham wants to know what the provincial government knew, and when.
“Once again we find our local Liberal government not in the know,” Wakeham told Tim Powers on VOCM. “If the Liberal government knew about this and did nothing then shame on them. If they didn’t know about this, then shame on them too.”
Wakeham says government is “out-of-touch,” citing the tens of millions allocated to the development of the former Airport Comfort Inn, which sits mostly empty, while Choices for Youth is forced to lay off staff and cancel programs.
