October 6, 1999
(Education)

Rabbittown has support of province

"The Department of Education is disappointed to learn that the Board of Directors of the Rabbittown Learners Centre has shut the centre down, especially in light of the province's commitment to provide the centre with the full amount of funding they requested," said Roger Grimes, acting Minister of Education.

The centre operated with core funding from the federal Department of Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC). However in June of this year, HRDC changed the way it funded centres like Rabbittown and it no longer provided core funding. There are a number of centres throughout the province that received core funding totalling approximately $2 million from HRDC.

"To ensure Rabbittown did not shut down, the province stepped to the plate and through the Literacy Development Council provided $20,000 in funding to keep the centre open in July and August," said Minister Grimes. Tuition from HRDC sponsored clients sufficed to keep the centre open in September.

In the meantime, the province was approached by the chair of the Rabbittown Learners Centre to provide 30 per cent of their operating costs. All parties recognized that the province could not fully fund Rabbittown and that there are several other literacy centres like Rabbittown throughout the province that were also adversely affected by HRDC's decision who would also request funding.

"The province agreed to provide $35,000 to Rabbittown for at total commitment this year of $55,000, 40 per cent of the centre's total operating costs," said Minister Grimes. "The province has more than met the request of Rabbittown and we are willing to give the majority of the $35,000 up front. With this money readily available I am very surprised and disappointed that Rabbittown closed yesterday."

"The Department of Education is anxious to meet with the Board of Directors of Rabbittown to ensure the centre can re-open as soon as possible with minimal disruption to the students," concluded Minister Grimes.

Media contact: Nancy Healey, (709) 729-0048.

1999 10 06                                             1:00 p.m.