OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- The Canadian Plastics Sector Council has confirmed it will suspend operations effective March 31 due to lack of funds. The federal government first publicly stated in summer 2011 that funds would be cut off. CPSC could not find an alternative revenue stream to offset a lack of federal assistance.
The federal cutoff is part of a broad-based austerity drive to reduce Canada's federal deficit.
Many of CPSC's programs will be taken up by Mohawk Enterprises, a division of Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.
The council represented Canada's 2,700 plastics processors. It had an annual operating budget of about C$500,000 (US$507,600) plus additional funding for special projects
CPSC was set up in 2000, one of 32 national sector councils representing a range of industries, including forestry, mining, biotechnology and environment.
CPSC offered a variety of materials and tools for human resources in the plastics industry. Members will be able to access CPSC's on-line tools, resources and website materials until October 2014. Materials include CPSC's 2012 update on labor market information and human resources planning.