View cases - Stewart McKelvey

[7] Myert contracts with provincial or federally funded agencies to provideprevention and intervention programs for youth in such areas as drug addiction, abuse,homelessness and employment. Myert’s payroll varies depending on the number offunded programs ongoing at one time. In 2002 it had approximately 150 clients andemployees combined. Clients may work for the company in practicums. The companyhad about 80 staff members in 2002. Most of the employees are attached to programcontracts and if the program ends, their jobs end and they are unemployed.[8] All funding agencies monitor performance of the programs. If performancerequirements are not met, contracts can be cancelled. Because funding is contractual,there can be gaps in funding where program contracts end and new program contractsstart. This means that individuals who work for Myert, may be “between jobs”.However, Myert endeavours to keep a number of individuals employed as consistently aspossible.[9] Myert does have some employees who are not specifically designated toprograms. In order to ensure the company can maintain the salaries for these employees,it will negotiate ‘contributory agreements’, where there is no profit margin. Under acontributory agreement, Myert gets paid for actual expenditures such as salaries and rent.This allows the company to maintain an operational budget and provides more stabilityfor staff. It also means there will be a close audit of the actual expenses.[10] The Program was funded under a one year contributory agreement with HumanResources Development Canada (“HRDC”) commencing at the beginning of July 2002.The Program objective was to “…provide a variety of workshops and short terminterventions focusing on employability skills, job search, job maintenance skills, to 500insured youth participants in Abbotsford.” The targeted clientele were unemployedyouth. The activities of the program were to include the following:1. Twelve three-week job search sessions including the following topics:- dealing with chronic barriers to employment- identifying employability skills2