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Seniors deal with the dread of the inevitable shift to the passenger seat Page a16
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m y t i l e t o w n.c a
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
vicnews.com
Literacy program funding slashed Daniel Palmer News staff
Oak Bay News Staff
Pretty as a picture Ming, a Shih Tzu Bichon Frise cross, owned by Toni Burnett is unsure about the photographer, but thoroughly enjoying the pampering while being groomed by Kadie Armstrong at the Mucky Mutt Pet Salon. The newly opened pet grooming salon also features a U-Bath where do-it-yourself owners can use the raised bathtub to wash their pets. See the story on page A5.
Funding for literacy outreach programs across B.C. is being slashed as the province struggles to balance its books, and Greater Victoria co-ordinators say the move will force them to shut down operations. Kate Nonesuch, chair of Literacy Victoria Task Force, said a funding decrease from $30,000 in 2013 to $13,000 this year means outreach work will soon grind to a halt. A similar West Shore program will receive just $9,000 in funding. “We cannot possibly just dribble away our work on $13,000 across the board,” Nonesuch said. “As of Sept. 1, our work will have to finish.” The B.C. Ministry of Education funds literacy “As of Sept. 1, outreach across B.C. by our work will have allocating grants to Decoda Literacy Solutions, a non-profit to finish.” organization. Decoda then - Kate Nonesuch distributes those grants to 102 community organizations who use the cash to hire a part-time literacy outreach co-ordinator. Funding for outreach programs was cut from $2 million to $1 million in 2013, but former education minister Don McRae later reinstated that funding. In a March 2013 interview, McRae said Decoda did “outstanding work in communities large and small across the province.” But this year, current Education Minister Peter Fassbender isn’t bending to pressure from literacy advocates. Victoria co-ordinator Jan Dupuis said she often works with poor and immigrant populations through workshops at Our Place, the Inter-Cultural Association and elsewhere who need access to literacy training to land a job. “There was no consultation from the ministry on this, and we understood it had support across the board,” Dupois said. “It means you lose the momentum of those people and the community around literacy that isn’t just covered through the school system,” added Shantael Sleight, West Shore co-ordinator. Please see: Fleming: cuts ‘stupid’, Page A11
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