—but I know a few of them personally who have gone on to participate in other community initiatives. They feel more empowered. They feel that they now have a voice. A couple of them are actually involved in some of the initiatives we are working on around low wages and affordable transportation. They've taken what they learned and experienced through that photo-voice display project to do other things and be more active in their community.
The other initiative I am familiar with is run by a community economic development organization here in Calgary. It's called Momentum, which was formerly MCC Employment Development. That initiative is called the social purchasing portal. There is actually a series of them across Canada. It originated in Vancouver. We started about a year and a half ago with the social purchasing portal here in Calgary.
The idea behind it is to connect large purchasers of goods and services with smaller suppliers of those goods and services. So it's connecting these small suppliers--organizations or businesses that wouldn't normally have the access to a larger market. They have agreed they will be progressive in their workplace practices. These small suppliers have committed to paying a living wage to all their employees, starting at $10 an hour. They are also looking at other progressive employment practices such as benefits and assisting with child care and transportation. Of course, the larger purchasers feel this is a way for them to be socially responsible, to purchase their goods and services from these progressively responsible smaller suppliers.
It's been an amazing initiative. It's still in its infancy in Calgary. They are just gathering suppliers and purchasers. It actually has an Internet component--hence the portal piece--so people can connect online.
Unfortunately, it was funded through the Western Diversification Fund. That federal funding has now been completely cut. Other funders in the community are trying to pick up those pieces to make sure the program can continue.