The city could be spending $200,000 more than expected if it fulfills all the requests heard during a pre-budget consultation meeting Tuesday night.
Officials with the Children’s Aid Society asked council for $65,000 to continue its outreach program, which has operated since 1988. The program helps homeless youth older than 16-years of age, which is too old for the 16 years and younger mandate of the society and too young for adult services.
Susan Jones, with CAS, said those teens in Thunder Bay are more exposed to violence, abuse and suicide.
Jones said general society believes that once a child leaves social services and enters adulthood they should be responsible for their own choices, but that’s just not the case.
"While it seems to be the understanding that they are victims, we still believe that they should be able to grow up and make adult decisions," Jones said.
The city funds the program every year yet CAS has to request the money on a year-by year basis. Coun. Aldo Ruberto asked whether a long-term solution could be found so that the funding could be secured.
"Every year they’re coming back," Ruberto said.
Coun. Ken Boshcoff asked CAS director Rob Richardson why the city needs to fund a program under the province’s mandate. Richardson said once a child turns 16 there is a gap in services until they are an adult.
"Once they become 16 the province has a somewhat confusing sort of mandate," Richardson said. "I do not see the province…wanting to embrace that from a provincial perspective."
The Aboriginal Cultural Centre is looking for $27,000 to continue researching the need for a centre in Thunder Bay. The group, which represents more than 100 partners, is looking to build an Aboriginal cultural centre in Thunder Bay that could potentially host everything from a First Nations museum to an Aboriginal art gallery.
The money would be used to further research and create promotion and awareness said Cindy Crowe.
"As well as finalize the research that we’ve started," Crowe said.
The Thunder Bay Community Foundation asked the city to match $100,000 for its 40th anniversary.
The foundation wants the city to match donations made dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000. Coun. Iain Angus asked because the request is not for a specific dollar amount, could the city agree in principle to the request.
