Canadian Gov't cuts international youth internship programs

[Blane]

The government has cut funding to a ton of youth internship opportunities (including the program that I went through for my internship with the UN). really depressing move for young canadians trying to get a bit of a head start.

Embassy, September 27th, 2006

FEATURE

By Brian Adeba

Treasury Board Axes International Youth Programs

Some groups are still unclear whether Monday's cuts to international education programs affect them, but those who know find the move hypocritical and damaging.

As the Conservative government tightens its purse strings this week by slashing $2 billion from federal programs initiated by the former Liberal government, organizations involved in administering an international internship program for youth are raising alarm bells about the possible negative effects of severing understanding between Canada and the rest of the world.

The government says it has saved $10.2 million by terminating the International Youth Internship Program, while at the same time announcing a $13.2 billion surplus. The IYIP, with funding from the government, is administered by more than 20 non-governmental organizations. Young people between the ages of 19 and 30 spend an average of six months abroad, developing skills and getting global exposure and experience.

"For Canadian youth, it's a shame because it reduces the pool of experts that Canada will be producing," says Annik Lussier, who manages the IYIP for the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations.

Since 1998, the NCCAR has been sending 14 young Canadians each year on six-month placements in the Arab world. The interns work on refugee issues, good governance and judiciary reform. Ms. Lussier says about 90 per cent of the interns, upon returning to Canada , have been able to find employment because of the experience they received abroad.

"The cut occurred without consultation and with this surplus, I hope there's a way to reinvest this money," says Ms. Lussier.

"Cutting youth programs is not the way to go."

Funding for the internships abroad comes from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Canadian International Development Agency. However, Michèle Monette, a spokeswoman for CIDA, said international youth programs funded by the agency will not be affected by the cut.

About six organizations contacted by Embassy said the government did not consult them about the cuts, but John Baird, president of the Treasury Board, defended the move in the media saying consultations were made with various ministers from whose ministries the cuts were made.

Youth Will Be Deprived

Randy Weekes, Director of the Youth Internship Program at CANADEM, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting international peace and security, says the cut is an unfortunate decision, especially in light of the fact that the government has expressed a desire to take a more active stance on the international stage.

"It will have a negative impact and it will deprive young Canadians of that experience," says Mr. Weekes.

CANADEM receives funding from DFAIT for 10 internships around the world and sends about 30 interns with funding from other government departments. Its interns are attached to United Nations organizations, the International Organization for Migration and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe . CANADEM interns have served at the international tribunal in Sierra Leon , Serbia , Bosnia , Senegal , Uganda and Sri Lanka .

"We receive about 150 requests for interns from the UN and other international organizations and this means we won't be able to support these interns," says Mr. Weekes.

"And these are not high school leavers, but young talented people with bachelors and masters degrees," he says.

"This is a very damaging cut in terms of opportunities for young people," says Ron Elliott, a project manager for the Canadian Society for International Health.

"It is detrimental to the interests of Canada in terms of participation on the global health stage," he says.

Mr. Elliott says the international youth internship program enabled the CSIH to place young talented Canadians in internships with organizations in Europe and the United States .

For the last three years, Mr. Elliott says funding from DFAIT enabled the CSIH to send an intern to the WHO in Geneva to work on health issues of indigenous peoples.

"One intern helped craft a WHO policy on health issues of indigenous people and this would not have been possible without funding from DFAIT." For the last few years, the CSIH has been sending five interns to international bodies in the U.S. and Europe .

Other organizations, which receive funding for international internships are not aware if the cuts will affect them. Jeff Pappone from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, says he doesn't know yet if the AUCC will be affected by the cuts, but added that the association is studying the government's announcement.

Brenna Donoghue, director of communications for the Toronto-based Engineers Without Borders, also said she is not sure if her organization will be affected by the cuts. Engineers Without Borders sends 20 students to sub-Saharan Africa , where they work with local groups to improve sanitation and help farmers plant crops and get better yields.

Mr. Weekes says he hopes the government will find ways to undo the cuts.

"We are going to enter into discussions with the government [to find ways to resolve the issue]", he says.

brian@embassymag.ca

[Tenenbaum]

that does suck!

[AdamH]

Cutting the DFAIT internships doesn't come as a surprise since IYIP and other Youth Employment Strategy placements have been destined for CIDA for the last few years.

It still hurts and doesn't make a lick of sense though.

[phorbesie]

unrelated...blane, r u on team usa message board?

just curious, i know some japhamily peeps are on there..

[nattyMatty]

you see. We had no say in that what so ever.

[DevO]

This news sucks.