Castlegar News Thursday, January 19, 2012
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Opinion Eligibility restored for gambling grants TOM FLETCHER
Black Press Adult sports and arts groups, environmental and animal welfare agencies will once again be eligible to apply for grants from the B.C. government’s gambling revenues. Those groups were made ineligible after the government cut the budget for community grants following the recession of 2008. They can again apply for grants, but the total fund remains at $135 million, where it was set by Premier Christy Clark last year. Shortly after taking over as premier, Clark restored $15
million of the $36 million that was cut from the fund, and appointed former Kwantlen University president Skip Triplett to hold hearings around the province. Clark and Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong released Triplett’s report Wednesday, and promised to keep working on a way to provide multi-year funding for community groups instead of making them apply every year for grants. Clark said the financial pressure on the B.C. government made it difficult to maintain the grant
budget at $135 million, and did not allow restoring it to its 2008 peak of $156 million. The province will also increase support for other organizations that have experienced funding cuts in the past three years, including fairs, festivals, youth arts and community service, as well as the B.C. Summer Games, she said. The announcement reverses decisions made by former minister Rich Coleman in March 2010 to focus grants on organizations helping youth and disabled people. Coleman said the grants were a patchwork that supported
some adult groups such as rugby clubs, while adult hockey and other activities received no support. Coleman said it made little sense that the B.C. government was providing $100,000 a year to support a parrot refuge on Vancouver Island while programs for needy children were stretched for funds. NDP critic Shane Simpson said Wednesday that Triplett’s effort to hear from community groups was sincere, but Clark has essentially ignored it. “[Clark] has expanded the eligibility, but not increased the size of the pot, so
there will essentially be more groups looking for a smaller pot of money,� Simpson said. The B.C. government now takes in about $1 billion a year from casinos, pub games, online gambling and lotteries. Triplett’s report said the grant program was established in 1998, to replace revenue charitable groups raised by running their own casinos and bingo games. Over the years, eligibility rules were changed several times, but the purpose of the grant program was never formally defined, Triplett wrote.
Well on Your Way to a Healthy Trip SUBMITTED
visit. PHAC recently posted travel health information on 10 of the most popular Canadian destinations, like Mexico, Cuba and the United Kingdom, with more to come soon. Give the site a visit for recommendations for your destination - you may require a vaccination prior to travel or there may be a health outbreak you don’t know about. Have additional questions on vaccines? Check out the website for a list of recommended vaccinations for travel. Also, try and see
your health care provider preferably six weeks before you go. They’ll assess your needs and give you advice on what vaccines you may need based on where you plan to visit. For example, some countries require you show a certificate of vaccination before they’ll allow you to enter their country. In addition the website has fact sheets about diseases and health conditions you may come across in your travels and how to avoid them, like malaria or the ever-dreaded travellers’ diarrhea.
Are you getting ready for a trip this winter season? The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) wants you to “surf before you fly� and check out their website, www. travelhealth.gc.ca for advice on how to stay healthy during your travels. On this website, check out Well on Your way: A Canadian’s Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad for advice on health and safety measures for before, during and after you travel. Take
the guide with you by printing it off or by ordering a free pocket-size version off the website. Before you go, you should also view PHAC’s Travel Health Notices. Find out if there are any health risks at your destination and what measures you can take to help reduce these risks. Stay connected with the latest notices through Twitter and Facebook. Apart from the notices, you may also want to search for specific information on the country you’re planning to
You can also find population specific information, such as recommendations on travelling safely while pregnant, and other tools like guidance on how to stay hydrated while abroad and what to pack in a travel health kit. Being prepared can make a big difference between an enjoyable, problemfree travel experience and an unpleasant one, whether you’re travelling for work or play, or visiting family and friends. Please visit www. travelhealth.gc.ca before you travel.
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Applications Now Accepted Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance, in partnership with Columbia Basin Trust, invites individuals of all artistic disciplines and arts, culture and heritage groups in the Columbia Basin to apply for project funding. Program brochures and application forms are available online at www.basinculture.com, or call CKCA at 1.877.505.7355 or email wkrac@telus.net. Deadline for applications is March 9, 2012, or March 23, 2012, depending on the program. Administered and managed by: P.O. Box 103, Nelson, BC, V1L 5P7 1.877.505.7355 wkrac@telus.net www.basinculture.com
MIR LECTURE SERIES presents
Teck Metals Ltd. Lecture
MYLER WILKINSON WED, JAN. 25, 7 PM
Mir Centre for Peace, Selkirk College, Castlegar, BC 250.365.1234 | selkirk.ca/mir Tickets: $12 Adults, $10 Seniors and Students
IMAGINING THE “BELOVED COMMUNITY�: TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE AND THE MIR CENTRE FOR PEACE Dr. Myler Wilkinson will look at how specific instances of transformative justice have already changed our community, and how the Mir Centre for Peace may play a role which leads into the future standing for community transformation, cultural, and personal healing. Narratives of peace will be at the heart of this lecture--a talk which will focus on politics, belief, and the individual.
Relay for Life enters its 7th year in Castlegar
Saturday June 9, 2012 Join us for our biggest, best Relay yet! Volunteer... Participate... Sponsor Join The Fight!
Contact Stacey Semenoff for more information s SSEMENOFF BC CANCER CA