Community organizations have been left hanging by a freeze on gaming funds.
In a recent press release, New Democrat Social Development Critic, Shane Simpson, said that community organizations have been waiting for weeks to find out whether the funding they rely on will come through or whether they will be forced to shut their doors.
“The B.C. Liberals need to come clean about whether or not they plan to slash gaming grant funding.”
Government gaming grants allow eligible organizations to apply for gaming revenues to support a broad range of programs and services. To receive a grant, the organization and the program offered must meet certain eligibility requirements.
Depending on the category under which they fall, organizations have different deadlines to apply for funding. Most organizations that applied for their grants before the election have received their funding, while those who applied after the election have been left in limbo. Ministry officials say groups may have to wait up to another two weeks to find out if their funding is being slashed.
Here in Golden, the list of those still waiting includes Alexander Park Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), Golden & Area Community and Economic Development, Golden Dolphins Swim Club, Golden Figure Skating Club, Golden Jr Hockey Society, Golden Nordic Ski Club, Golden Secondary School PAC, Golden Snowmobile Trail society, Lady Grey PAC, the Metis Nation Columbia River Society and the Nicholson Elementary PAC.
In the case of the Nordic Ski Club, for instance, they receive $10,000 each year to help fund their organization.
Janne Arlt, president of the Golden Dolphins swim club, said that the issue has certainly been a source of stress for the organization this year.
“The gaming funding is a main source of our funding that covers things like coaches’ salaries and purchases of equipment.”
Arlt explained that because of the current situation, the Dolphins have done a lot of fundraising that has helped to cover costs, but that there are still bills coming in the fall that they are unsure of how they will cover.
“We have had to be very fiscally tight this year. Our treasurer talked to the gaming and licensing department and we were informed that we would most likely be receiving some funding, but not as much as normal. It has been a bit of a mystery as to why they are reviewing the applications and we have had no word on why this [the freeze] is happening.”
Arlt said that this issue has left the club wondering if they can rely on the anticipated funding.
“We would have real difficulty operating without the gaming funds. It is very hard in small communities because there are only so many resources we can draw from with fundraising. The businesses in town can only give so much and they have been very generous with many non-profit organizations in this community.”
Arlt said that without the gaming funds, the Dolphins organization would have to really look at the feasibility of the club’s future next year.
“With us having to cover the costs of the rentals, coaches and travel, registration fees would have to go up or we would have to look at cutting back on the size of the club. If the funding is pulled completely, I would be very worried about the future of rural sports associations in this community.”
Arlt said that with the government’s agenda of promoting active and healthy living in B.C.’s children, cutting funding to sports organizations would be retroactive.
“If they cut this funding, it would be a real hypocrisy on their [the government’s] part.”
MLA Columbia River Revelstoke, Norm Macdonald said that the government originally gave the excuse for freezing of funds as due to the election, but now that the election is long over, it is unclear what is happening to the frozen funds.
“The impacts can mean real immediate fiscal problems for organizations that rely on that grant money,” he said.
Last week, Social Development Minister Rich Coleman went on the record saying that gaming grant funding would remain stable, but Finance Minister Colin Hansen refused to commit to the same. Meanwhile, it was reported that Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid has told organizations in her constituency that they should expect to be quite disappointed with the funding they will receive from B.C. Gaming this year.
“If the grants are remaining stable why is the finance minister refusing to back up Mr. Coleman’s claim that funding will remain the same as last year, and why did Minister MacDiarmid tell organizations in her constituency to expect to be disappointed,” asked Simpson, the MLA for Vancouver-Hastings, adding, “Every minister seems to have a different story on gaming grants. These organizations have been waiting too long to find out if they will have their funding slashed by the B.C. Liberal government.”
“The number of organizations that have been slammed by this government’s mismanagement of gaming grants is staggering. Parent Advisory Councils, little league sports clubs, Special Olympics organizations, arts groups and community development organizations across the province have been left wondering if they will get the funding they need to make it through the year,” said Simpson.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Social Development website information, www.eia.gov.bc.ca/gaming/grants, community gaming grants are designed to fit the needs of a wide variety of non-profit organizations throughout British Columbia. Culture, sport, the arts, public safety, the environment, human and social services, and students’ extra-curricular activities — all these areas are supported through gaming grants to community organizations.
Ursula Cowland, executive director of licensing and grants, could not be reached for comment. The Ministry of Housing and Social Development, Communications Director, Paul Woolley, did not respond to a request for comment.
A list of community organizations which have gaming grant applications in the works is available at https://eservice.pssg.gov.bc.ca/gaming/report/DirectAccessWebReport.do.
Organizations whose applications are “in progress” are the ones that have been affected by the funding freeze.