Harper government axes Katimavik volunteer service organization in federal budget

by Miranda Nelson on Mar 29, 2012 at 5:56 pm

The Harper government hates young people. You know how I know? Among the ridiculous cuts revealed in today's fully egregious budget was a short statement: "The Government will eliminate the Katimavik program."

For those of you not in the know, Katimavik—the Inuktitut word for "meeting place”—is a volunteer service organization aimed at 17- to 21-year-olds. For the last 35 years, Katimavik has offered volunteer opportunities to young Canadians, allowing them to see the country, meet new people, learn how to live within a group, give back to communities, and generally be decent human beings.

Ask pretty much anyone who's been a participant and you will hear nothing but good things about the program.

(I was never in Katimavik so if you were, please leave a comment below and assure me that it was indeed as awesome as I was led to believe.)

But our government—the one that is "committed to giving our young people the opportunities they deserve"—no longer finds Katimavik valuable. The government's big problem with it? It has an "excessive per-person cost". Alright, Katimavik does cost money: about $28 million since September 2009. But apparently a program that's had 30,000 participants—one that fosters independence, community service, civic engagement, and leadership skills isn't worth anything to the Harper government as its axing the entire thing, no questions asked.

Keep in mind this is an program that generates $2.20 for every dollar it spends in its host communities and its participants logged 572,392 hours of volunteer time in 2011.

What does the government plan on supporting instead?

Encounters with Canada, a program that brings kids to Ottawa, and the Forum for Young Canadians, which educates kids about the government.

To sum up, supporting highly political programs aimed at indoctrinating children: yay! Supporting a program that helps create more empathetic, independent, service-oriented Canadians? Not a chance.


Follow the outraged Miranda Nelson on Twitter.

Comments (36) Add New Comment
Mike G
Mar 29, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Dang, I was on Katimavik early 2000s, learned how to cook and a few other essentials to life. Made me a better person without a doubt and was all around a wonderful experience, this is sad news.
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Stevie Renaud
Mar 29, 2012 at 7:10 pm
I'm from Québec and I was in the Katimavik program in 2002. Katimavik really changed my life as well as all the members of my group. Never I would have thougth I could work as a manager in my life... It gave me leadership skills, problem solving skills (when 12 peoples are living in the same house, believe, problems may occur).

I can't understand how come the Conservatives are "kiling" Katimavik. I'm so upset right now.
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Alex Hanam
Mar 29, 2012 at 7:15 pm
My Katimavik experience was nothing short of amazing. Seriously.
I could write several novels worth of praise for the program, so I'll attempt to summarize: I learned a lot about myself, other people, communities, jobs, the crazy diversity that makes Canada so amazing and rich, and how to live life--with open eyes and open arms.
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Yo
Mar 29, 2012 at 7:22 pm
I support the argument being made in this article, but the prose needs a proofread before being published online. Eg. Egregious, not "aggregious". Best.
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Miranda Nelson
Mar 29, 2012 at 7:27 pm
This is why I should never turn off spell check. Thanks for the catch :)
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Doctor
Mar 29, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Harper's party is full of haters. They all come from the disenfranchised and uneducated (they are of the WalMart crowd) and they will. punish any and all that does not work for the greater greed in Fort Mac.
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Birdy
Mar 29, 2012 at 8:05 pm
There MUST be some way for the program to continue without federal funding.

30,000 past participants with leadership and problem solving skills? A program that fosters independence?

Don't let Harper control your life kids, there's no reason this can't be saved and run without the government.
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R O
Mar 29, 2012 at 8:16 pm
I did it a few years ago, pretty much made me change what I wanted to be. Completely changed my career choice. I wish this doesn't happen...
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You're kidding, right
Mar 29, 2012 at 8:28 pm
I am very disappointed with this decision. I too, am a grad of Katimavik. This programme opened up the concept of Canada for me.

It was an incredible opportunity and experience. One of the best things: it got me out of (then) parochial Vancouver, and I met and worked with other kids from all Canada. Will it surprise any of you to know that the English and French kids, after a little initial unease due to the times (PQ on the rise, referendums on separation being held), really learned something from each other.

Many of the francophones were sovereigntists, at the time. I think they were surprised to see that Anglos were just as passionate about the concept of a nation, as they were. In fact, I know that that obvious passion for one country that accepted many experiences, but was united, captured hearts and minds.

At the time I attended there was a "civilian" and military option in the program. I would say that every Canadian in that age group should serve their country in some capacity, get outta the house and away from the electronics, and see and work for this country. I hope that we will be able to bring the Katimavik program back at some point in the future.

By the way, I don't know if we can prove cause and effect, or correlation, but I am willing to bet that the experiences that kids have had in the 34 years of the programmes existence--kids from Vancouver, from Cape Breton, from Estevan and Chicoutimi, kids from Fort McMurray to Kitchener and Corner Brook and all points in between and beyond---has made many of us Katimavik attendees, better, more engaged citizens of this great country.

Engagement makes for better democracy. I urge everyone who has been fortunate enough to experience the program, to write to Minister James Moore and the Prime Minister. Let's find a way to restore this profoundly important programme.
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Michael Huang
Mar 29, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Thank you Katimavik for teaching a Chinese kid from Alberta that he needs no labels, except "Canadian." I smoked peace pipes with the James Bay Cree up in Chisasibi, QC, farmed with Manitoban sheep farmers, and had heated debates with the Quebecois sovereignists in my rotations (Until we decided: no politics at the dinner table!)

Looking back, those were the best (and at times, the worst) six months of my life.
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Mark Jones
Mar 29, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Katimavik was definately an awesome program but it's not too late! Lets reverse the decision. Here's the link to contact your MP's.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPosta...
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Ophelia
Mar 29, 2012 at 10:21 pm
My guess? Katimavik grads, after discovering the wonderful diversity across Canada, learn tolerance, acceptance, compassion, and the importance of civic engagement, and the power of their vote - which I strongly suspect does not often go to the Conservatives. Best way to kill the opposition is to stop funding programs that expose youth to values more in line with the opposition's. Keep young Canadians in their sheltered environments where it's easier to breed paranoia about the rest of the country and the world. Katimavik isn't the kind of program to breed good, loyal, objectivist right wingers.
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Keagan Nagy
Mar 29, 2012 at 11:35 pm
I was in Katimavik from July 6th 2011- December 16th 2011. I grew up and became an adult in this program. I know that I am Canadian, I know that now, I feel it now. I have lived in British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec. I have friends in every single canadian province. I am a canadian now more than ever. I am more confident in my understanding of french. I am more confident in myself. Katimavik was the best decision I could have made outside of high school. I got to see my country, experience my country, I got to live my country. Katimavik is the best thing going for young adults and it is a sad day that as of March 29th, 2012 youth no longer matter to the Canadian government.


My friends I implore you please speak out against the federal budget cutting the Katimavik program, write to your member of parliament and please pass this along to your friends as well. Many communites, young adults, non-profit organisations benefit from this program. Show the Canadian government that the youth of this country still have a voice, that we still have a purpose. Please send our government a message that they are meant to be a government to help the people, not push their own agendas. Young people might be young right now, but we do grow up. When we start running the country do you want us to cut programs for the elderly or the young people because we are in neither category. We need to keep programs that benefit Canadians in more than just one age group.
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greensea
Mar 30, 2012 at 1:42 am
This is the second time a Conservative majority has eliminated Katimavik. Mulroney cut it in the 80's, but it was re-created in the 90's. I think their base hates anything that isn't settling for the best service sector job you can get and not complaining about it.
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Brian Thurston
Mar 30, 2012 at 4:50 am
35 years ago, I was searching for some direction in my life. I had tried a couple of university programs, however didn't find the passion and drive to continue the pursuit. A new program, Katimavik, provided a promise of a new experience. After 10 months, I had learned more about life outside of urban Ontario than school had ever conveyed. I learned about the unmeasurable value of volunteering. I learned to understand Canada's multi-culturalism and to enjoy both of our national languages. The depth of the passion and commitment to the Quebecois culture of the mid-70s became something to admire and not to shy away from. What I learned in those 10 months was a new perspective that kept me passionate about multi-culturalism, volunteerism, appropriate technologies and tolerance that was not taught in schools then, nor today. Katimavik was an invaluable investment in me ... I hope that I have provided significant returns on that investment to my family, community and country in the 35 years since.
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Jaimie Cheeseman
Mar 30, 2012 at 6:16 am
I was a part of the 6 month program from September 2009 to February 2010. And let me tell you this. Katimavik changed my outlook on life. It gave me real world experience. Showed me parts of Canada I had never been too. This is probably the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life and all youths between 17-21 should have the oppourtunity to try it. Myself I believe that the Harper Government wants to "save money" yet what will be done with the money they save. Ohhh I know a big fat pay raise and still have a huge outstanding debt. Thanks Harper. You ruined one of the most incredible experiences an young adult will ever have.
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Ron Thibodeau
Mar 30, 2012 at 6:25 am
For a youth transitioning into adulthood in 1977 Katimavik gave me the opportunity to development an understanding of what it means to be a Canadian. Born and raised in Toronto of Acadian heritage, I, over the course of 9 months, improved my french and discovered regions that till then I saw only in photographs or read about in books. For one transitioning from secondary to post-secondary education it afforded me time to reflect and make a sound decision for my career. With my group comprising of francophones and anglophones from a broad geographic spectrum our country we provided volunteer community service in our 3 communities in New Brunswick, Alberta, and British Columbia. Please recall, during 1977, the voices crying out for Quebec to separate from Canada were still echoing in our country and in our group(s). The affordability of necessary community services for these towns and villages was not a concern with Katimavik there to provide the youth of this country. In the process we as a group achieved a greater appreciation for the concept of what is a Canadian. Katimavik is without peer. Can the Harper government offer Canada anything it's equal? No! Keep KATIMAVIK.
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fidel gastro
Mar 30, 2012 at 8:43 am
there is so much hatred of conservative here. ironic considering how much you all talk about tolerance.

you consider conservatives bigots and walmart types? your knowledge and understanding of other perspectives is pretty superficial.

you all talk the talk about tolerance and understanding, unless someone disagrees with you.

wow.
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Irene Colebert Whitney
Mar 30, 2012 at 10:08 am
I worked as a group leader with Katimavik the first year it started (1977?). I am disappointed to hear that budget cuts are designed to bring an end to this program. Katimavik provided excellent experiences for young Canadians who wanted a "gap year" in their lives as they learned more about themselves and others, their potential career choices, and their country. We all lived and worked together, and in both official languages. For many years after our intense Katimavik experience we all kept in touch like family. Participants and leaders moved on to find careers, and ways to be better, contributing members of society. This cut is short-sighted and I hope that with enough public input and support the government will get the message: reverse this poor decision, save funds in other ways, and support this very worthwhile program.
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Henry J Mah
Mar 30, 2012 at 10:50 am
This is the current Harper government trying to do as much damage as possible before being unceremoniously booted out of office for the current election fraud scandal. Harper is no longer even attempting to be transparent about this, he is exercising his control with impunity, because at the moment with a majority he and his cronies are ramming through as much egregious legislation as possible. Once his agenda is in place it would require a lot of long procedures to displace it.

But remember: just because something has been put into law does not mean it will stand that way forever in perpetuity. The next governing body can overwrite or rescind them as required or as necessary.
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