There is still no word on when Ottawa will lift the funding freeze on Canada’s largest urban aboriginal program.
The Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth initiative is currently going through a review.
The $22-million program helped pay for projects like the Alternative to Native Gangs program in Prince Albert.
That project helped steer youth away from life on the street, but has since ceased operating since its funding was halted.
Jeffrey Cyr is the executive director of the National Association of Friendship Centres, the organization that received 55% of the funds.
He explains the money will flow once Ottawa re-aligns it with the priorities of the government:
“What I know from speaking to government officials and what I know from speaking to the Minister is that they are equally interested in unfreezing it as fast as possible. So there is political will to move forward — and they have the bureaucracy engaged with us to try and move it quickly.”
A spokesman with Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan’s office says they want to make sure the program is geared towards giving Aboriginal youth the skills to get jobs in the future.
Jason MacDonald says there’s no date on when that will happen, but adds the government recognizes it’s an important program.