Manitoba's youth summer jobs program leaves some groups stranded

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government said Tuesday it is open to discussions after facing criticism for cutting support for its summer jobs program.

The NDP government elected in October cut funding for the Green Team program by $4 million this year, down to $5.6 million. The program helps non-profit organizations, municipalities and sports organizations to employ teenagers and young people.

Some groups were caught off guard when their annual applications were rejected this spring after years of approval.

“Obviously, we're very disappointed,” said Jason Miller, executive director of baseball Manitoba.

It was the first time in a long time that the baseball community in many parts of the province had been rejected and given no explanation, he said. Students are often trained to handle diamonds, cut field grass, and more.

As a result of the cuts, the baseball community will have to choose between allowing some renovations, asking parents to volunteer to maintain the parks, or spending more money and raising player fees next year to make up for it, Miller said.

Officials at the Prairie Mountain Regional Museum, a small facility that relies mostly on volunteers in western Manitoba, were surprised when their funding request was turned down this year.

“We've had Green Team students for at least the last three or four years,” museum president Don Yanick said.

The museum applied for funding this year to help two students with tasks such as mowing the lawn and working in the garden. He received a rejection letter without explanation, Yanick said.

In the letter came a number to call. Yannick said he left a message but did not hear back.

Municipal and Northern Affairs Minister Ian Bushey said the previous Tory government increased Green Team spending during the COVID-19 pandemic and even with the cuts, spending would still be higher than pre-pandemic levels.

He also said that due to the deficit in the province, the government is forced to save money.

“The previous government simply failed to reduce pandemic spending, so we're in a very significant financial crisis,” Bushey said.

The government met with some of the affected groups. Bushey said the government could find ways to provide additional support outside of the Green Team program, but he offered no specifics or guarantees.

“Many people in Manitoba are very passionate about this conversation about how we can better support them. We are also ready to do it,” he said.

“Whether it's a Green Team project or another project, what's important to us is not to have a silo approach to government … so we look at all departments.”

This Canadian Press report was first published on May 21, 2024.

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press