Gaming Grant Announcement a Disappointment, Say New Democrats
VICTORIA — The premier’s cynical attempt to spin a freeze in community gaming grant funding as an increase is disappointing and disrespectful, say the New Democrats.
“This year, there was $135 million in gaming grants given to community groups. Next year there will be $135 million in gaming grants given to community groups,” said Shane Simpson, the New Democrat gaming critic. “Only a B.C. Liberal could call that an increase.”
Simpson also raised concerns about the failure of the Liberals to act on putting multi-year funding in place, promising instead to explore options.
"Christy Clark and Minister Chong both stressed Skip Triplett should consider multi-year funding; he did, and found it was a major issue, yet we see no action," said Simpson. "It shows the Liberals never had any plans of acting on the report – another case of wanting to be seen to be doing something."
Spencer Chandra Herbert, New Democrat critic for arts and culture, says that while he is happy that arts and culture organizations have had their eligibility restored, he is disappointed by the Liberal decision to force organizations to fight over a smaller pot of funding.
“I’m glad that the Liberals seem to be backing down from their war on arts and culture organizations,” said Chandra Herbert. “However, in his report, Skip Triplett said expanding eligibility 'immediately would reduce the funding available to the current eligible sectors' and he suggested that it should 'be phased in as the community gaming grant funding pool approaches 2008 levels.' Without a return to those funding levels, the reality of expanded eligibility is that more organizations will be fighting for fewer resources.”
Total profit from gaming has increased by $80 million since 2008 while the Liberals have reduced grants given to community organizations by $21 million.
“When we began the expansion of gaming here in B.C., there was an understanding that community organizations would benefit,” said Simpson. “Yet, even while gaming revenue increases, the Liberals are refusing to restore these small grants that do big things in communities.”
Adrian Dix and the New Democrats have been calling on the Liberal government to restore gaming grant funding to 2008 levels.
“These organizations provide services that would be much more costly to get from the government or the private sector,” said Simpson. “They are great at leveraging a small amount of money to get a lot of work done. Whether they are creating opportunities for people to achieve economic independence, rescuing lost hikers from the back country, or helping children unlock their creative potential, the work they do is irreplaceable and invaluable.”