The Calgary Alliance for the Common Good calls on the Province of Alberta to restore funding to the Youth Probation Program

The Calgary Alliance for the Common Good, which unites 33 organizations and represents 35,000 Calgarians, is very disappointed to learn that the province has announced that it is ending the youth probation program run by the City of Calgary.

During these challenging times, we call on our government at all levels, to preserve and enhance services that support individuals and communities that have been made vulnerable. Few people are more vulnerable than youth who are already involved with the justice system. When we as a society invest in these youth, we can transform lives and create an opportunity for struggling youth to develop into adults who, in turn, become part of building a strong city. 

While the province usually runs probation services, the City of Calgary’s program has a proven track record of reducing recidivism and because of this, the province of Alberta has continued to allocate funding and the responsibilities of running this program to the City. Equally, it’s Indigenous liaison position has also been an effective means of working with the Indigenous community, which is overrepresented in our justice system.

We call on the provincial government to restore funding to the City's Youth Probation Program. If the provincial government does not do this, we ask them to commit to developing a program that is as effective and receives at least the same amount of combined funding that this program currently does. 

 

Media Contact:  The Calgary Alliance for the Common Good has several leaders who can speak to this issue

D'Arcy Lanovaz  who is the President of CUPE 38, can speak to the nature of this program, of the experience of the CUPE staff that have worked there and the impacts of these cuts. 
EMAIL: [email protected]

Bob Hawkesworth who is a former City Councilor, can speak to the program's effectiveness and how that has led to the city continuing to run this program up to this point

EMAIL: [email protected]

Suzanne Karhiio Dzus who is the Indigenous Community Organizer for Calgary Alliance for the Common Good, can speak to the important role that Indigenous Liaison Officers play and why cutting this role with the youth probation program is a significant loss. 
EMAIL: [email protected]

 

About the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good:

The Calgary Alliance for the Common Good is a non-partisan, non-profit alliance of 33 community, labour, faith, education, ethnocultural, and non-profit groups representing 35,000 Calgarians. These organizations have come together to help shape a just and compassionate Calgary. Learn more about us at https://www.calgarycommongood.org/about_us.

 

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