MONTREAL - The Conservative government's decision to cut funding for a countrywide youth volunteer service called Katimavik has prompted an outcry from supporters.
The program was started by Pierre Trudeau in 1977, but the Tories cut it in Thursday's budget.
An Inuit word meaning "meeting place," Katimavik is a youth learning program aimed at 17 to 21 year olds. They volunteer in non-profit community organizations across the country.
On Friday, one of the last batches of volunteers were were preparing to spend the next six months in Montreal. At least one will be volunteering at an environmental centre in NDG.
"They'll do research for us," Nikki Schiebel of Eco-Quartier told CTV Montreal. "They'll help us with kiosks, they help set up things, they go door to door with us and promote recycling".
The Conservatives opted to cut Katimavik's entire budget, saying the $15 million program is too costly.
CEO Daniel Lapointe, clearly disappointed, said Katimavik helps young people become kinder, more generous members of society.
"With that money we able to take over a thousand young people across the country and give them an opportunity to do volunteer service for a six month period in two communities," he said.
"That could be food bank, it could be a shelter for homeless people, it could be an organization that helps the elderly, and by doing that they are learning skills that will stick with them for the rest of their lives."
This isn't the first time funding has been cut by the Conservatives. Brian Mulroney's government cut funding in 1986.
In protest, Liberal Senator Jacques Hebert went on a 21 day hunger strike in the lobby of Canada's senate.
Funding was restored when Liberals came back into office in 1994. Since the start of the program in 1977, more than 30,000 Canadians have taken part.
The organization is hoping to convince the Tories to reverse the decision, and has set up a page on its website where supporters can share testimonials.
