Mr. Speaker, in January, I and 22 community organizations in Vancouver East sent a letter to the Minister of Employment asking the government to re-examine the Canada summer jobs funding formula. Our call went unheard.
Vancouver East has a higher-than-average number of non-profits compared with other ridings, and many of them serve highly vulnerable populations.
Vancouver East is one of the lowest-income ridings in the country, so CSJ funding matters.
Vancouver East is the third-largest urban aboriginal community, so CSJ funding matters.
Cultural and socio-economic factors should be considered along with youth unemployment in determining funding.
In 2018, over 57% of the groups recommended for funding in Vancouver East did not receive any funds. In 2016 and 2017, it was 61%. This is wrong.
The process of reinvestment of slippages causes the loss of many potential jobs, because it is very difficult for groups to hire students so late into the summer.
I am calling again for the minister to make the CSJ program more fair and equitable.