Student summer job program in question

The future of the provincially-funded Summer Temporary Employment Program or STEP is in question after the program was put on hold due to budget constraints.

The $7.1 million program creates about 3,000 summer jobs each year. Grant applications are usually due by the end of February.

"There is no decision on funding for the Summer Temporary Employment Program at this time," said Human Services spokesman Greg Kuzniuk in an email.

"We will have more information once budget decisions are finalized after Budget 2013 is tabled on March 7th."

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues is concerned about the delay. The group hires about 100 students each year to run summer camps.

"It will shorten the opportunity that leagues will have to put this camp on," said EFCL executive director Allan Bolstad. "Parents then, I think, will be wondering what to do with their children."

Richard Stuart with the Edmonton Folk Music Festival said the freeze will hurt students and the non-profit organizations that rely on their help.

He said the government should have given groups more advance notice.

"In terms of people budgeting for things or trying to anticipate what their costs or possible revenues would be, it's a little unfair to do it kind of at the last minute like this," Stuart said

Stuart said the cuts to STEP wont hurt Folk Fest as much as other organizations as the event is in good financial shape.

However, he worries how students will be affected.