Organization calls funding cuts to job creation program ‘racist’
Posted Apr 26, 2016 06:33:25 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
An organization that provides employment services and support to a number of mainly African Nova Scotian communities is calling funding cuts to the program racist.
The Watershed Association Development Enterprise, better known as W.A.D.E., says a government restructuring plan will see the decision making and funds handed to the Cole Harbour YMCA as of July 1st.
W.A.D.E. board member Brenton Sparks told Global News the move is a clear attack of systemic racism.
“We’ve been dealing with it for years, and we’ve just had enough,” he said. “It just appears everything African Nova Scotians want, we have to fight for.”
Residents in North and East Preston, Cherry Brook and Lake Loon have relied on the group to help them find jobs for the past 30-years, and Sparks believes the cuts could have a devastating impact.
“To take that out of the area is detrimental as we can see with the gun violence that’s been going on,” he explained. “The job here is to take a lot of people off the streets, educate them and put them in jobs.”
Labour and advanced education minister Kelly Regan said employment service providers were asked to work together on proposals they felt would best represent their region.
“They were evaluated by a panel that did include African Nova Scotian representation, at the end of the day in their particular area, the YMCA has the best proposal by far,” she said.
W.A.D.E. says they will continue to fight the decision.
