Media arts, community, aboriginal and industry are affected

By: Hélène Buzzetti - Le Devior - July 19, 2011

(*Note - the original article is written in French and has been translated with Google Translate for posting here.)

Ottawa - The budget cuts continue in Human Resources in Ottawa.The Conservative government has cut off on the sly at least $ 17 million program to train the skilled workforce in targeted business sectors. The arts, child care, Aboriginal groups and community organizations are particularly affected. Many are still in "shock" and expect an explanation this week.

According to information obtained by Le Devoir, Ottawa decided to overhaul its Sector Council Program. Sector councils bring together employers and unions in an industry and the education community, to provide training tools tailored to this sector. The federal government funds 35 of these boards at a rate of half a million dollars each in base funding, in addition to project funding. Ottawa announced two weeks ago that core funding would end in March 2013. For smaller groups, this will result in their closure. This was the case Council Cultural Human Resources, which is already thinking about his "legacy". This group of seven employees taught artists, often self-employed, developing management skills. "For example, we launched the document The art of managing his career to help artists of all disciplines to develop their business side," says Executive Director, Susan Annis. "It's when they want to start their own business that artists need training."

In total, the group will lose two million dollars, almost all of its budget. "In some areas of larger industries such as cars, they have big players who might be able to continue to subsidize these activities, but we is not the case." In addition to sector councils more "social" in the arts or child care, there are also those of the food, trucking, tourism, plastics, automotive or oil. 

"New Approach"

Publicly, the ad was embedded in honeyed language. In the news release announcing "the adoption of a new approach to address shortages of skilled labor," Nowhere is it written that the program is abolished. "A better match between skills and market needs will ensure the future prosperity of Canada," is it more writing. The "new approach" is not explained. 

The groups understood what it meant because it was communicated to them, along with a letter announcing the end of their funding. The Gazette contacted six of these groups. All were reluctant to comment on the decision, since they must meet this week with representatives of the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development. Jean Rivard, the Human Resources Council of the garment industry, based in Montreal, said he was in "total shock" but he expects a meeting tomorrow to say more. 

The Department of Human Resources did not responded to our request at the time of printing. It is unknown the total value of cuts, but, by itself, the core funding of the 35 groups totaling just over $ 17 million. The ministry has been submitted to the Strategic Review 2010. It must find $ 81 million of expenses to be deducted from this year, 141 million next year and 274 next year, making it the department hardest hit in 2010.