B.C. NDP interim leader Dawn Black is calling on the provincial government to renew funding for the College of New Caledonia (CNC) Aboriginal program.
But it's unlikely a decision will be made in time for the coming provincial budget, says Science and Universities Minister Ida Chong.
"It's not likely to be able to have it ready before budget," Chong said Thursday. "The budget process is actually concluding now and the finance minister is putting forward a status quo budget because it will be up to the new premier and his or her new cabinet to decide [what programs will be continued]."
Over the three years the program has been in place, CNC has seen a 126-per-cent increase in the number of Aboriginal students, to 1,552 from 744, and the number of credentials achieved by Aboriginals rose 126 per cent, to 156 from 69.
As a result, CNC board chair Ray Gerow said the program will continue, even though the province is no longer providing funding and the college faces a shortfall of as much as $1.85-million in the 2011-12 budget.
The provincial government had been providing the college $400,000 a year for the program, most of which paid for five liaisons who worked to recruit and retain Aboriginal students.
"By creating such instability and by failing to act to protect these crucial programs, the minister and the government are doing great disservice, not only to the students who will be impacted, but to an entire community and region," Black said in a letter to Chong.
"Access to meaningful advanced education opportunities is critical to ensuring the economic and social well-being for our communities. And CNC's Aboriginal education programs are a perfect example of how post-secondary institutions can perform that role."
Reached Thursday, Chong said while the province's program ended in December, CNC did receive $100,000 in extra funding to continue the program through to the end March.
She stressed it was a pilot program involving 11 colleges around the province and was going to be subject to an review.
"The importance of this program remains high but at the same time we need to evaluate to make sure that prior to making any further commitments that it's working the way it should be," Chong said.
