Was the government right to cut Katimavik?

Katimavik volunteers work in a wide variety of placements, from farms and natural parks to seniors homes and city halls. (Katimavik/Facebook)

The federal government has pulled the plug on one of Canada's oldest and largest youth volunteer programs.

Katimavik, a Trudeau-era program, has been facilitating youth engagement in Canadian communities since 1977. Its participants, aged 17 to 21 only, live in groups of 10 and spend six months volunteering in communities across the country.

More than 30,000 Canadians have participated in the program.

The program has changed a lot over the years, but it has always been popular with youth who are interested in hands-on learning, trying out a variety of jobs and getting to know different regions of Canada.

"Katimagroups" are meant to reflect the diversity of Canada, and include both English- and French-speaking youth from big cities and small towns.

But the government considers the program too small and too expensive. In its budget, released Thursday, it said it would "eliminate the Katimavik program," and would focus instead on "funding programs that benefit large numbers of young people at a reasonable cost rather than concentrating available funding on a very small number of participants at an excessive per-person cost."

Katimavik reacted to the news with "extreme disappointment," and argued that social responsibility, civic involvement and job skills for young people are more necessary than ever.

"At a time when civic engagement and voter turnout are at an all-time low, when youth unemployment rates are double the national average, this is clearly the worst time to cut Katimavik," the group said on its website.

Alumni also shared their disappointment.

@Katimavik has changed my life I would not be the person I am today without it!! Love and support you Katimavik!!

-- Kelly-Ann Cahill (@kellycahill) March 29, 2012

Lots of @Katimavik discussion on Facebook overnight.Many of us are wearing green shirts today in solidarity. Put yours on if you have one!

-- Richard Allen (@RichardAlln) March 30, 2012

I learned what it meant to be an engaged Canadian citizen during @Katimavik. Isn't that what we should want more of for our youth?

-- Mary Wilton (@MaryWilton) March 29, 2012

Uber-upset about the budget cut to #Katimavik. This program is a Canadian Gem. ow.ly/9YITc

-- Richard Black (@richgraphics) March 30, 2012

This is going to make me cry! Katimavik Changed my Life!! :'( Statement from Katimavik - reaction to budget katimavik.org/news/statement...

-- Roland Gurney (@RolandGurney) March 30, 2012

Do you agree with the government's elimination of the program, or should it be saved, once again? Have you ever been involved with the Katimavik program, whether as a participant, a project leader, an partner organization or a billet family?

Share your memories in the field below.


(This survey is not scientific. Results are based on readers' responses.)

Related:

• Katimavik defended 26 years after Hebert hunger strike