[Bcma-l] Fwd: CMA Communiqué: Canada Summer Jo bs: New program fails museums

[bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	CMA Communiqué: Canada Summer Jobs: New program fails museums
Date: 	Fri, 18 May 2007 10:45:00 -0400
From: 	Canadian Museums Association des musées canadiens 
<lmcconnell@museums.ca>


    Canada Summer Jobs: New program fails museums


*Ottawa, May 18, 2007 —* Today is International Museums Day, and while 
museums around the world celebrate our universal heritage, the CMA is 
extremely concerned about the effects that changes to the Canada Summer 
Jobs (CSJ) program are having on museums across Canada.

Canada Summer Jobs is a new initiative under Human Resources and Social 
Development Canada (HRSDC) designed to help Canadian non-profits, public 
sector employers, and smaller private sector organizations offer summer 
jobs to students who face social barriers.

Hundreds of museums have been rejected this year, due to CSJ’s change in 
focus. CMA has heard from many museums suffering the effects of this 
change: the funding issues are deep and very real. CMA is working with 
the provincial and territorial museums associations, and has called upon 
the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of HRSDC, to review the CSJ 
program criteria, and to meet with CMA as soon as possible.

The last federal budget committed an additional $5 million per year to 
support student jobs in museums. “This is terrific news which is really 
welcomed — if the funding can get out now before it is too late for this 
year," said John McAvity, CMA executive director.

Meanwhile, student hiring in museums under Young Canada Works is 
underway; more than 450 jobs totaling approximately $1.5 million have 
been awarded to date. CMA, which administers YCW, has over $3 million in 
additional applications in hand, and is ready to move at record-breaking 
speed to ensure museums get this funding quickly, once we receive approval.

Watch the CMA website, www.museums.ca <http://www.museums.ca>, for 
additional information.


For more information:
Naomi Grattan
Director of Communications
Canadian Museums Association
ngrattan@museums.ca <mailto:ngrattan@museums.ca>
613-567-0099 x223