P.E.I.'s IT sector loses industry association

The voice of the IT sector on Prince Edward Island is shutting down, putting an end to several outreach and intern programs.

ITAP, the Innovation and Technology Association of Prince Edward Island, said it can no longer operate due to a lack of funding.

This comes after the province slashed its grant.

"We're business people and we understand fiscal constraint," said Paul Lypaczewski, ITAP's executive director. "But at the same time, ITAP is serving a key need for the IT sector, the fastest growing sector on the Island, and so we're very concerned and we're very disappointed."

ITAP has been around for about 10 years, providing industry outreach and mentorship, and running several high profile programs such as IT Garage — a video game and software development internship program for recent grads.

Last July, the province cut ITAP's funding by 40 per cent, and eight other sector councils had similar cuts.

The government said it was re-directing the money to Skills PEI, as a way to create full- time jobs.

ITAP let go all of its staff, while its board of IT professionals stayed on, working for free to implement programs and trying to come up with more funding.

Lypaczewski said he met with the province several times, but was offered only  $70,000, half of what ITAP got in past years.

In the end, it wasn't enough to implement programs, and hire the staff to keep things running.

Province hopes to keep programs going

The provincial government intends to find other ways to keep some initiatives going.

"It is unfortunate that the offer that the province had in front of ITAP didn't meet their proposed budget requirements," said Steve Thain, senior investment officer for Information and Communications Technology for the province. "However, again we do respect their decision."

"They do deliver very integral programs to the industry, and we're going to seek industry and partners and training institutes for their information on the areas that ITAP did touch, and some of the gaps that may be identified, and help plug in some of those gaps."

Those gaps include the popular IT Garage, which doubled its program last year because it was so successful.

The province says it's uncertain who will run it going forward.

Opposition concerned

The PC Opposition expressed concern over the cuts Monday, but tempered its position with the acknowledgment that government does have to watch its spending. 

"Give these sector councils a time frame. Give them measurable goals and outcomes that are directly tied to our job growth and our industry growth," advised Opposition Workforce and Advanced Learning Critic Sidney MacEwen.  

"And then if they meet these objectives, then the funding stays, and if they don't, then they reassess the funding at that time."

MacEwen said the MacLauchlan government needs to work more constructively with industry sector groups to grow the Island economy and employment.