Friendship Centres Seeking More Federal Dollars

Friendship Centres Seeking More Federal Dollars

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 12:22

The National Association of Friendship Centres is looking for some allies on Parliament Hill today.

Over 40 delegates from the outreach group have assembled in Ottawa to plead for more money from the federal government.

Association director Peter Dinsdale says they haven’t seen a funding increase in 13 years.

Dinsdale says they hope to convince parliamentarians to include a core funding increase in the next budget.

“I don’t know if we’re any more optimistic. I think in fact it’s out of a sense of frustration and almost desperation that we’re doing this. It’s not our inclination to be on the Hill to be briefing Members of Parliament. We’d rather be on the front line providing service,” he says.

Dinsdale adds some centres are running on yearly budgets of $85,000 a year, which makes it extremely difficult for them to keep operating.