Not for Profits Call for Help
Prince George, B.C.- The Northern Interior Community Association is calling for help from the City and it’s all about putting pressure on the Provincial Government on the issue of gaming funds.
Gaming funds have been reduced to a number of not for profit organizations, and those reductions are hurting programs and services being offered in not only Prince George, but throughout the Province.
Shawn Bellamy, President of the NICA says the streamlining of the application process will make access to gaming funds “less flexible, and less responsive.” That hurts programs and services . Vice President Wendy Young says the Community Arts Council was getting a $42 thousand dollar grant from gaming funds 4 years ago, but now that’s been trimmed to $11 thousand.
Some groups are being made to jump through hoops and being denied, while others seem to sail through with few questions. While the NICA called on its membership to share their gaming fund stories. The response to that survey was minimal, with those who did not take part explaining they feared retribution if they spoke up.
The NICA called on Council to press for answers from the Province.
“Your timing may be ideal”, says Councillor Garth Frizzell, who looked back at a resolution put forth 5 years ago at the Union of BC Municipalities by Kelowna which called for gaming funds to be restored to 2008/2009 levels. “I mean that’s (the resolution) old, the political action has been done, but maybe it’s time to look at it again.”
“The non profits do an enormous amount of heavy lifting in the community” said Councillor Terri McConnachie, who noted non profits can turn 50 cents into 4 dollars, “I look forward to working on your behalf.”
The City will try to develop a last minute resolution for consideration by the Northern Local Government Association and the City will write a letter to the Province stressing it’s concern over the gaming funds situation.
Comments
From an original agreement to share 33% of gaming revenue with nonprofit community organizations, the community’s share has now dropped to just 10% of gaming revenues. Apparently, the money to balance the provincial government has to come from somewhere.
The “fear of reprisal” from the government if individual community organizations dare complain, reminds me of the Harper Government going after nonprofits through Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) audits. While this Christy Clark government does not have access to the CRA as a means to punish individual community organizations who complain about funding levels, funding to them could be cut-off completely.
reminds me of the Harper Government going after nonprofits through Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) audits
That was a different issue altogether. So you would be happy with outfits like tides Canada, greenpeace hey even the gold standard Suzuki foundation, unelected ngo’s having influence on government policy with out wondering where their money is sourced?
Right you are, Seamutt, Harper went after political organizations masquerading as charities whose officers make exorbitant incomes. Non-profits such as the Community Arts Council barely squeak by, pay their staff very little and are non-political.
I worked with a non profit for several years and I’ve never heard of NICA. Tried to access their web page but it’s non responsive.
I never thought I’d see the day though, when someone requested more red tape.
Not for profit is a smoke screen . Its a way to do businesse and not pay taxes. The managers draw down wages until theres no profit. Then they expect to be subsidized. Its a joke. Its a way to get handouts.
The build-up to next years election is a good time to apply pressure. It’s vote-buying season, time to start shoveling money.
I’d like to know where gaming funds are going, if the provincial government has cut back so much on grants.
A sure bet is that revenue from gaming and lotteries has not gone down too much.
metalman.
just a quick search of “where the money goes” “gaming bc” will lead you to your answer very quickly
Wil try a link
http s://www.gaming.gov.bc.ca/revenue/
How unfortunate that some on this site would politicize non-profits and their need for gaming grant money. To impugn these important community organizations as being “political organizations masquerading as charities”, to infer these organizations are attempting to access money being provided by the government for the purpose of “vote buying” is very offensive, not just for these organizations, but the clients they serve!!!
These community organizations are using community gaming grants to fund important programs and services that help their “clients”. Who are these clients you might ask? From a list of Prince George organizations that have Community Gaming Grant funding applications pending, these clients (people) and organizations are:
– Persons in crisis requiring immediate intervention (Crisis Prevention, Intervention & Information Centre for Northern B.C.)
– Children with disabilities and are developmentally delayed (Child Development Centre of Prince George & District)
– People struggling with addictions / sobriety (New Hope Recovery Society) (St. Patrick’s House)
– People suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada P.G. Chapter)
– Persons who have HIV (Northern HIV & Health Education Society)
– Church Groups
– The elderly in our community ( P.G. Council of Seniors) (and Elders Society as well)
– Our youth through sports clubs such as softball and judo
– Persons involved in accidents requiring emergency rescue (P.G. Highway Rescue)
– Halfway / Transition Houses for Parolees (St. Patrick’s Society)
www. gaming.gov.bc.ca/gaming/report/WebReports.do#
By clawing back community nonprofit organization funding from 33% down to a weak and ineffectual 10% of gaming revenue, the above is only a partial list of the many types of people in our community who are not receiving the better levels services they used to have!
Should clarify that I am FOR distributing funds from gaming and lotteries to deserving societies and organizations.
Thanks for the link slinky.
From gaming.gov.bc.ca/revenue, 2013-14 fiscal year statistics:
I see that from more than one Billion in revenue, by far the largest amount of gaming/lottery revenue, more than 758 million dollars, goes to provincial government “consolidated revenue fund”
They claim that this ‘fund’ goes in part to support “health, education, and other programs”
They claim that $135 million goes to “more than 5,000 community organizations” (about $27,000 X 5,000)
My point is that very little of the gaming and lottery revenue is directly distributed in a clear manner.
Instead, most of the revenue goes into what we used to call ‘General Revenue’ where it COULD be used for all sorts of expenses, sure some goes to health and education, BUT HOW MUCH?
metalman.
I remember when the Irish sweepstakes was the only way to buy a lottery ticket. Legalized gambling was found to be objectionable, and especially the idea of taxation based on personal weakness. So, when they brought it in, they said – profits from gambling will be used to support charitable work – so that the government, has no vested interest in it.
Then, it was – well, let’s use some of the profits for health.
Now, gambling is just a form of voluntary taxation, and the government has a very vested interest in it’s welfare and prosperity. And is it really voluntary, when you’re dealing with something that becomes an addiction?
But, if we got what we asked for, and the profits from gaming went back to supporting non-profits, taxes would go up elsewhere to cover the general revenue shortfall. What many people don’t seem to understand, is the government sets a target of how much cash they need, and the only question to be answered, is where they will get it from. If you don’t want them to take it from gaming, then where would you like it to come from . Higher MSP premiums? Raise the PST? Tax the 1% even more?
JGalt – “How unfortunate that some on this site would politicize non-profits and their need for gaming grant money.”
================
Nobody did that.
——————————————
JGalt – “To impugn these important community organizations as being “political organizations masquerading as charities”,”
================
Nobody did that either. That characterization was clearly directed at the political activist organizations mentioned by seamutt.
——————————————–
JGalt – “to infer these organizations are attempting to access money being provided by the government for the purpose of “vote buying” is very offensive, not just for these organizations, but the clients they serve!!!”
===============
And nobody did that either. The comment was about political parties buying votes in advance of elections (which means those organizations would be more likely to be successful in their request for funding to be restored).
I have to wonder, do you have reading comprehension problems? Maybe you should read it slowly, and then read it again to increase the likelihood of understanding.
And just for the record, like metalman, I am FOR distributing funds from gaming and lotteries to deserving societies and organizations.
Libs need to fill their pockets.
Comments for this article are closed.