It shouldn’t come as a surprise that NexusBC had its gaming grant restored in full.
Now for those of you not following the story, the non-profit agency lost its provincial funding earlier this year and the volunteer service was cancelled.
The reason from the gaming branch was the program didn’t have broad community benefit, although Nexus identifies prospective volunteers and links them with charitable groups needing help.
But just a few weeks ago, Nexus received notice from gaming officials that the $41,000 was back and the volunteer service could resume.
Taking on bureaucrats is never easy, but it’s obvious why Nexus’ appeal was successful.
“It may have been all of the attention paid to it,” said Lynn Belsher, NexusBC executive director, of the flurry of media reports that followed the grant being cancelled.
And while turning to the media should be the last course of action when upset with a government action, it’s increasingly the first and only alternative. Government frequently buckles when faced with negative headlines, editorials and letters to the editor.
Nexus has started rehiring staff for the volunteer bureau and that’s great news, but the optimism could be short-lived.
Belsher admits the government could withhold the money in future years.
“I will send in another application but who knows if it will be accepted,” she said.
Which means the media cycle will roll once again.
Beyond Nexus, other agencies are still waiting to hear if their 2016 gaming grants will be restored after formal appeals were initiated.
Among them is Vernon’s Upper Room Mission, which took a big hit and lost $100,000. As a result, there were insufficient staff resources to monitor clients between meals and the doors had to be closed except for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With nowhere to go, some clients began congregating downtown and that led to complaints from the public and merchants.
A federal grant has allowed URM to reopen throughout the day, but that is only for the summer. If Victoria doesn’t provide a gaming grant soon, closed doors will resume again in September.
The John Howard Society got a grant for 2016. but it was warned that a program that assists low-income individuals with a range of issues (such as dental care or purchasing work boots) does not provide a broad community benefit.
“John Howard has to wait and see. We have to apply every year in August and then we get a decision by December or January,” said Barb Levesque, executive director.
The bottom line is that the squeaky wheel got the grease initially and the government backed off on its earlier decision on NexusBC.
But unless community organizations, residents and the media remain vigilant, the gaming branch could resume its arbitrary rulings about what is a community benefit and what’s not.
If you want key community services to continue, contact Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster and Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo and have your say.
