calling functions from the view file

[eluser]jrlooney[/eluser]
Kinda new to CI and not sure why this doesn't work. If my controller looks like (not all functions shown - just the ones necessary for this example):

Code:

class Contact extends Controller
{
    private $uri_params = array();

    function Contact()
    {
        parent::Controller();
    }
    function get_sort_link($value)
    {
        $this->uri_params['sort'] = $value;
        return $this->uri->assoc_to_uri($this->uri_params);
    }
}

Why can I not do the following in the view file:

Code:

$this->get_sort_link('first_name');

This results in:

Fatal error: Call to undefined method CI_Loader::get_sort_link() in /Users/php/ci/contact_manager/views/contact_list_view.php on line 15