Top government officials have bashed the LIU program for being basically a waste of money - which is why they put it on indefinite pause two weeks ago.
But tonight, the PUP Area Representative for Fort George - a community with a good number of clients in the work program - says he hopes they bring it back, and soon.
Usher added that government cannot only use an "iron fist" when addressing crime:
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"I'm hoping that it can come back very soon. I see the benefit in the LIU program. I see it as a way of offering an alternative to the lifestyle that many of these at-risk youth are faced with. And it's something that we have to continue to have a holistic whole-of-government approach when we're looking at these issues. It can't just be an iron fist when it comes to crime. We have to look at the way that these communities are operating, the avenues that can be given to these individuals at risk, especially younger persons in the neighborhood so that they have an alternative, they have an opportunity to get out of that lifestyle. So I'm hoping that after the assessment is done, that it can be brought back. And certainly the work that those members of the LIU team were doing, it's work that the community appreciates."
Reporter
"During this pause, are you concerned that this might have a negative effect on these individuals or the community at large?"
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"Well, I'm certainly hoping that it won't, but yes, there's always a concern that I have that the individuals that were part of the program, they lose hope, they lose faith in the program, they lose faith in the ability to get out of the situation that they're in. So I'm hoping that this assessment can be done very quickly, and we can get back to doing this whole of government approach."
Reporter
"Based on what you've seen, do you see the benefits of a program like the LIU Work Program?"
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
"I absolutely believe in the benefits of LIU. I mean, it's not only a work program, and that's the thing, there are many components to it. There's a sport component to it. There was the William Dawson Cup, basketball, football. There was a component where they were teaching these individuals agricultural practices so that they can have a skill. In Fort George, we always say skills pay your bills. So it's important to have marketable skills for these individuals so that they can have a productive life, and that is what the LIU was providing. Many of these individuals did not complete even primary school, certainly not high school, and so this is an opportunity for them to build a skill, market that skill, and be able to provide for their family."
We note that that one month "targeted SOE program" detained 20 persons. It ended today and they are expected to have been released.
