Dire situation

P.E.I. Literacy Alliance faced with shutting its doors without federal core funding

The future of the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance is in peril after the federal government decided not to restore $150,000 in core funding to the lauded, long-running not-for-profit organization.

“The situation is dire,’’ says newly appointed treasurer Jeff Murphy.

“Our provincial government continues to be a solid partner in supporting the alliance through project-based funding and provides some assistance for our overhead costs. The federal government, too, provides some project based funding. We also have support from corporate and private donors, but we need core funding of $150,00 annually to run the organization.’’ Acting executive director Amanda Beazley says the cuts will force the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance to close its doors this winter, leaving more than 700 children without access to free tutoring.

Last week, the province announced additional project funding that would allow the summer literacy program to expand to offer year-round programs to keep students engaged in learning. However, the program is run by the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance, which is in need of core funding in order to deliver any of its programs. Charlottetown MP Sean Casey says he will continue to push his government to reinstate core funding to the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance – a group he applauds for doing “fantastic work.’’

“I’m not prepared to let that drop,’’ he says.

“The response back from the (federal) government has been less than positive.’’ Island Senator Libbe Hubley says she finds it hard to understand why Ottawa would not provide core funding. “Well, that’s a huge disappointment to me noting the money the (P.E.I. Literacy Alliance) was asking for and the incredible amount of work that they do and the tremendous achievements that they succeed,’’ she says. Beazley notes in 2014 the then federal Conservative government cut funding to literacy organizations across Canada, “thereby dismantling a once vibrant and effective network that operated in every province and territory.’’

To date, only eight of the original 15 remain in operation.

Beazley says while the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance is one of the organizations that has managed to survive, it has been on life support for numerous years relying on cash reserves, provincial support, corporate donations and program cuts to survive, in hopes that federal funding would be restored.

Beazley says the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance has been working in partnership with Island MPs and senators since 2015 to “educate’’ the federal Liberal government on the importance of restoring core funding.

“After years of lobbying efforts, including a trip to Ottawa to meet with federal officials, the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance was advised on Aug. 3, that federal core funding of $150,000 per year will not be restored.’’