The Newfoundland and Labrador government has joined a chorus of criticism about changes in this year's summer jobs program for students.

Changes in criteria in the federal government's Canada Summer Jobs Program have seen scores of community-based employers disqualified, many for the first time in years.

Federal Human Resources Minister Monte Solberg says no funding has been cut in Newfoundland and Labrador's summer jobs program.
(Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

Provincial Human Resources Minister Shawn Skinner said the changes — which are aimed at helping rural areas with high unemployment, as well as disadvantaged groups — have cut off many groups from needed funding and caused "severe hardship and disappointment" for students.

Skinner has written to Monte Solberg, the federal human resources minister, pleading for the changes in the program to be revisited.

Solberg, however, told CBC News that about $6.4 million will be spent this summer on non-profit groups, albeit in different ways than in the past.

"There will be some groups who seem very worthy — and who are very worthy — but that's the case every year," Solberg said.

"There has been a change in the criteria, but of course the important thing to point out is that the amount of money being spent to support the non-profit sector is exactly the same as it was last year."

Such help may be forthcoming. On Friday, Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson said groups excluded through eligibility criteria will be eligible for a second round of funding.

"The truth is the prime minister wants it fixed, he's demanded it be fixed, and it will be fixed," Thompson said.

Numerous groups were told this week they are not qualifying, and among them are groups operating in remote areas.

Tom Hedderson, Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism minister, says groups like community museums appear to be hard hit this year.
(CBC)

Tom Hedderson, Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism minister, said the changes in funding allocations are putting at risk many programs in smaller communities that rely on student help during the summer months.

"Museums may not be able to open," he said.

"Our visitor information centres, our sports programs, recreation programs — I'm telling them we're expressing our concern, and are hopeful that some adjustments will be made quickly," said Hedderson.

Nancy Healey, executive director of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, is also hopeful of a reprieve.

"I'm optimistic that because of the amount of the pressure that a number of tourism operators and attractions and not-for-profits have put on our federal politicians and minister Loyola Hearn's office, that we'll be able to come up with some sort of resolution to this program," she said.

Sports groups also affected

Recreation groups also appear to be affected by the shift in funding criteria. The minor softball association in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, in central Labrador, said it used the $4,000 it received last year to hire three students.

"Unless I can get that money or come up with enough money to payroll it, it's not going to happen," said organizer Charlie Dollmont.

Solberg said the new rules will help students find career-oriented employment, particularly in rural areas.

'It's very hard for me to comment on any one particular group.'—Monte Solberg

That explanation doesn't fly with the Women in Science and Engineering group, which was turned down after 17 years of support. Director Laura Halfyard said most of the 30 work-experience positions they had planned to create were in rural areas in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Kelly Johnson, an environmental biologist, credits a WISE summer job 14 years ago with launching her career.

"That opened an entirely new world to me, for all the career options that are available to young women in science and engineering," she said.

"It's very hard for me to comment on any one particular group," said Solberg, responding to WISE's rejection.

"Because these careers are not just for boys anymore. Young women can and are pursuing these careers."

Among the groups that have been rejected this year are those running programs in municipal parks, historical sites and community libraries, along with recreation groups and even the Festival 500 international choral festival, which will be held this summer in St. John's.

Peter Gardner, executive director of Festival 500, said he was perplexed to hear that the new criteria involve providing career-related experience, given that his group had been planning to hire music students, mostly from Memorial University.

"These are real, hands-on, working jobs," said Gardner, whose group applied for about $30,000. "In the arts industry and particularly music, most students looking for summer jobs have to take jobs that have no relation [to their studies]."