Manitoba boosts summer grants after criticism

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This article was published 22/05/2024 (474 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government says it will top up a summer grants program by $300,000 in response to high demand for the money that meant many camps and sports groups didn’t get a dime.

Ian Bushie, minister for municipal and northern relations, made the announcement during question period Wednesday in response to a question from the Opposition Tories.

“We meet, we listen, we act,” Bushie said in response to a question from Agassiz MLA Jodie Byram about funding for her constituency.

Multiple youth and community groups criticized the government this month after learning they would get little or no money from the Urban/Hometown Green Team program, which covers the cost of hiring youth for summer positions across the province.

The province had earmarked $5.9 million for this summer, down from $9.6 million spent in 2023 by the former Tory government.

Byram asked Bushie if funding would be reinstated to municipalities, golf courses, day camps and daycares that had received a fraction of what they expected to get.

Bushie said a decision was made to top up funding after meetings with representatives from the groups.

“We met with the (Manitoba Camping) association, we met with folks affected by the green team (funding) so we’re here to announce a further $300,000,” he said.

Manitoba Camping Association Kim Sherger was surprised by the announcement, but worries it won’t receive enough despite the top-up.

“Our camps alone… had applied for $1.6 million and received $300,000,” she said. “I can’t be greedy and say I hope it all goes to our camps. I hope that it will be split up fairly among the organizations.”

Danial Sprintz, director of sleepaway Camp Massad in the Interlake, joined reps from other organizations in a meeting with Bushie last week. Sprintz said he was pleased to learn their concerns were heard.

“There’s also other organizations… all being affected. You would hope that they would come up with more, but $300,000 is more than nothing,” Sprintz said.

The program funds summer positions for people between the ages of 15 and 29 in municipal governments (excluding the City of Winnipeg), northern affairs community councils and non-profit organizations.

Non-profits receive up to $150,000 and are reimbursed the full Manitoba minimum wage paid to employees.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca