Against the current
Red tape ties up Undercurrent Youth Centre funding
The CBRM plans to take a second look at how it funds non-profit groups following an appeal by an organization that operates two youth centres in the municipality.
On Tuesday, Undercurrent Youth Centre executive director David Sawler appeared before the Cape Breton Regional Municipality council to ask that the non-profit group’s application for financial assistance from the CBRM’s sustainability fund be reconsidered.
Sawler, who told the chamber that he has never questioned the support of the CBRM, put forth the argument that Undercurrent’s application for $10,000 was not considered because it was deemed to be outside of the criteria of the sustainability fund. Officially known as the community facilities and grants contribution policy, the fund is used to help non-profit groups and organizations, excluding those with religious or political ties, make ends meet in an area where there is great demand for every available charitable dollar.
According to Sawler, it was the municipality’s own criteria, which dictates groups that can and cannot be funded, that has caused the confusion.
“Undercurrent, and its property, is owned by Lighthouse of Cape Breton which is a church, but Undercurrent programs run separate from the Lighthouse programs that are faith-based — Undercurrent is a wing of Lighthouse that provides programming, but is not faith-based,” said Sawler, who added that the difference has been recognized by other levels of government and private businesses that have provided funding.
During his 15-minute address, Sawler also highlighted the impact of the Undercurrent programs in Glace Bay and Sydney.
“We have a large number of kids — youth who are actually living in homes with poverty and addiction and statistics will tell us that if something doesn’t happen in the kids’ lives then it’s more than likely repeat that cycle,” he said.
“And that’s where Undercurrent and other groups like us come in — we’re there to work with young people and to break the cycle of poverty and addiction in young peoples’ lives.”
Sawler’s words did not fall on deaf ears as councillor after councillor, including Glace Bay’s George MacDonald, applauded the work of the youth centres.
“It’s almost shocking to see the success you have reached with the youth in Glace Bay,” stated MacDonald.
North Sydney councillor Earlene MacMullin weighed in on the situation with another sympathetic voice.
“This is a case of getting caught in a policy that was not meant to hurt organizations like (Undercurrent),” she said.
Deputy mayor Eldon MacDonald agreed that it was unfortunate that the matter came down to conflicting interpretations, but he also cautioned that the CBRM only has so much money to hand out to non-profit and community groups. The discussion ended with council voting to have the Undercurrent appeal reviewed by the sustainability committee.
Sawler, accompanied by a few Undercurrent clients, walked out of the council chambers with no more money than he went in with, however, he said he was pleased that council is taking another look at the Undercurrent application specifically and at the sustainability fund policy in general.