Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Last summer, during the May session, I raised concerns regarding the drastic funding cuts to the Youth Employment Program initiative, the acronym YEPI, as we know it in Nahendeh. However, in Nahendeh, we are not saying YEPI anymore. This continued reduction in assistance to youth workers is, and was, visibly noticeable. A ghost town is how many people could describe Nahendeh communities if something is not done about this soon.
There is a change when I see no groups of youth painting, cutting grass, et cetera in our communities. The village of Fort Simpson, like all communities in the territory, offered a wide variety of services throughout the summer which are critical to the tourism, recreational and youth activities through a partnership with the GNWT.
Throughout the last three years, the village has received enough partnership funding for nine to 11 positions, ranging from staffing assistance with the community pool, tourism information centres, and many summer youth activities.
Last year, the village, due to this drastic cut from the ECE funding, resulted in a reduction of numerous summer programs. The programming gave our youth experience, skills, responsibilities and the ability to earn and save money. The confidence youth receive from these employment programs is invaluable to the development within the communities. The most unfortunate aspect in all of this is the ministry has not considered the reinstatement of this funding as a priority. Many constituent parents have expressed their concerns, once again this year, whether there will be enough employment opportunities for our children again this summer.
The actions of this government seem to continuously contradict the policies and objectives of this government with a growing concern for youth, healthy living, and substance abuse such as crystal meth. Why would this government cut so many badly needed youth employment opportunities? Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause