Yellowknife (May 03/06) - Funding for the territorial government's Youth Employment Program has been slashed by more than half.

This year, $300,000 is available for employers in the North Slave region looking for help giving students a foot in the door this summer.

Debora Simpson (left) and Ben Dummler (right) stand outside the office of the Genesis Group. The Geneis Group received funding from the Youth Employment Program to help hire Dummler as a summer student. This year, funding for the program is down by nearly 60 per cent. - David Ryan/NNSL photo

Last year the regional budget from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment was $750,000, which allowed 123 students to find work with 38 employers.

While there is enough money in the pot for 42 businesses to enjoy some subsidized summer labour this year, just 66 youth will be getting jobs in this region through the program.

Demand for assistance is greater than what's available, said Education, Culture and Employment Minister Charles Dent.

"The budget would have to be increased," he said, failing to offer any explanation of why such a deep cut was imposed.

Cutting such a valuable program is a mistake said Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee.

"I don't want to see students have their programs cut," she said.

While funding is down, Dent said the program remains valuable for students and employers.

"Employers are often reluctant to take a chance on hiring a student," he said.

"It's seen as a really good first crack at getting into the workforce."

It's not only allowed young people like Ben Dummler - who participated as a summer student two years working at the Genesis Group - to get temporary employment, it has meant long-term work for the Yellowknife youth.

He now works as a part-time network specialist with the company. "It gave me the opportunity to gain experience," he said.

Taking part in the program was valuable for the company too, said Genesis Group education consultant Debora Simpson.

"When our company was starting out, it did help to cover the cost of wages," she said.

Dent left the door open for a potential boost in the number of North Slave student spots, but said that will only happen if other regions fail fill all of their budgeted spots.