4-H Canada says it has had to make the difficult decision to lay off seven staff members following significant cuts in funding it receives from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
The move comes as 4-H Canada was approved for funding under the federal Agricultural Competitiveness Program midway through the 2023-24 fiscal year, but at a significantly lower level than requested and historical funding. This was done after receiving the notification. Interim CEO Hugh Maynard said the timing of the news, at a time when financial budgets were already in place, posed challenges for the organization.
“Through discussions with the Minister and ministry staff, we have made progress and improvements to what was originally approved, and we appreciate the flexibility and time we were given to explore options together,” Maynard said in an emailed statement to Real Agriculture. “That said, the reduction in AAFC funding, combined with other factors, meant that 4-H Canada needed to begin a reset of our organization to ensure our ability to continue delivering the world-class youth leadership programs for which we are known.”
According to 4-H Canada, a number of factors related to the AAFC impacted the amount of funding received by 4-H Canada through the department this year, including changes in government priorities; This increased interest in the program from new applicants, which in turn resulted in fewer dollars available to traditional organizations such as 4-H Canada. Additionally, some previously supported initiatives, such as an annual citizenship conference, were not considered a priority this time around.
Maynard added that this is the first year that project-based funding from various government agencies, which had temporarily increased during the coronavirus pandemic, has returned to pre-pandemic levels. “These factors combined to force 4-H Canada to make difficult decisions, including reducing our staff by seven people,” he said.
In 2022, then-Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced that 4-H Canada would be paid $1.8 million over two years. In 2019, she announced a $3 million donation to the organization, also under the Agriculture Competitiveness Program.
“Due to the high volume of ACP applications and funding requests exceeding 4-H Canada’s annual allowable limits, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has prioritized projects that most closely match program standards,” said the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. office.
“We value 4-H’s contributions and are exploring options to ensure our support for all programs that encourage youth participation in agriculture. We will continue to offer programs such as the Youth Employment and Skills Program, Student Work Placement Program and AgriTalent to help young people gain valuable experience in the sector.”
Job losses are occurring in all areas of organizations, from management and sponsorship to communications and programming.
“While it is clear that staff reductions across the organization will have an impact, our primary priority is to continue our tradition of helping 4-H youth “learn by doing.” , use that as a guide to figure out how to solve it. Navigate your path forward as a team,” Maynard says.
As 4-H Canada grapples with the effects of tough economic times, Maynard adds, “our number one priority in terms of funding is to continue nurturing the strong collaborative relationships we already have with various government departments, organizations, agencies and businesses both within and outside the agricultural sector.”
Maynard says 4-H Canada will look at ways to expand partnerships in both the private and public sectors as part of an overall strategic and operational assessment to be conducted by its board of directors, foundation trustees and staff later this year.
“This is not the first time in our 111-year history that 4-H Canada has faced challenges, and it may not be the last. Our goal is to ensure the financial health of our organization and support our ability to develop and deliver some of the best youth leadership programs and activities in the world,” Maynard said.
In recent months, the federal government has made announcements regarding funding under the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership (SCAP), as the new five-year framework begins on April 1, 2023. H Canada has not been created yet.
Updated March 16 with statement from AAFC.
