With provincial politicians refusing to provide details of what they've cut, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has launched an effort to create a list.
“It's nearly impossible to get accurate information from the usual sources,” said Iglika Ivanova, an economist with the CCPA. “The information is not being released that way.”
Instead news of cuts to programs, services and grants are coming out in dribs and drabs through the media, she said. “Obviously not everyone complains and gets media attention. We thought it's important to start tracking it ourselves.”
The CCPA has opened a page on its website seeking comments and e-mail from people who know about cuts in their community.
“We're concerned the impact of these cuts will be huge,” said Ivanova. “If we want to know what's happening, we have to do it ourselves.”
Housing and Social Development minister Rich Coleman said he has been clear about which areas his ministry's gaming grants program has ceased funding. “I've been very upfront about what's been cut and what's been reduced on the gaming grant side.”
“It's not a case of saying here's an organization that's been given money and now they're going to have that taken back from them,” said finance minister Colin Hansen when asked why there's no list of what's been cut.
“There a whole bunch of organizations that would have liked to have got money from the province and applied for it. There's going to be more than the usual number of organizations that are not going to get yeses.”
Ivanova said the cuts are not just to grants but include programs and services. The most vulnerable people are least likely to complain publicly, she said. “Some people don't get as much representation in the traditional media.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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Gary
2 years ago
And just think
The money from all these cuts is being syphoned into Campbells Mega projects. Not the least of which is the Olympics.
Jeffrey J.
2 years ago
Parallel Services
As our neocon elites take away more and more services, a vacuum is created. And it will be filled. By organizations like the CCPA and other progressive groups. We NEED these services, and will need even more to come. Gandhi did the same thing in India, where alternate, parallel services were created due to the failure of the British elites. Sadly, history is once again duplicating itself.
Great coverage.
sdgreen
2 years ago
BC Liberals are Malicious
http://thepoliticalcomment.blogspot.com/
The BC Liberals have lost confidence of the people through their lies, their complete arrogance against the people of British Columbia.
The 'cuts' the BC Liberals have effected have not been well thought out by any logic or understanding.
The BC Liberals have declared war against all British Columbians. The BC Liberals must be removed at the earliest opportunity.
Frank
2 years ago
sdgreen?
Are you not the same sdgreen that defended everything Campbell did from the early days of this website on?