PCs Demand Answers as NDP Delays Building Sustainable Communities Program
Grant funding crucial for municipal and non-profit initiatives: King
WINNIPEG — The Official Opposition is calling for answers from the NDP as to what is happening with Building Sustainable Communities (BSC) grants for local governments and non-profit organizations this year, Trevor King, PC Shadow Minister for Municipal and Northern Relations, announced today.
The BSC program was launched in 2019 to offer grants for capital infrastructure and community initiatives led by local governments and non-profit organizations. Typically, application intake would have opened in December; however, the NDP have been silent as to the future of this program.
“As a former municipal councillor, I can attest that the BSC program is crucial to local community development,” said King. “Municipalities and non-profits need to know: have these grants been cut from the 2024 budget? Are they being delayed? The unknown is severely hampering these organizations’ ability to plan ahead.”
Since taking office, the NDP government has been on a cutting spree of vital initiatives in order to pay for their $3 billion worth of election promises, including cutting nine new schools, 660 childcare spaces, six shovel-ready personal care homes, and surgical programs for Manitoba patients. Without clarity from the NDP, it appears this important grant program is also on the chopping block.
“Manitoba municipalities need answers, but they have heard nothing from this government,” said King. “Our PC team is calling on the NDP to reinstate the grant portal by this time next week, otherwise local governments and non-profits will sadly have to assume they are cut.”
The NDP was also late, and provided little communication, in opening up the Green Team program for 2024, which offers grants for municipalities, education authorities, and non-profit organizations to hire summer students.
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