VICTORIA — The B.C. government was accused Wednesday of clawing back millions from daycares, preschools and playgrounds, only a day after it justified deep cuts to arts, sports and environment groups by saying the money was needed to protect children's programs.
The government confirmed it had cut gaming grants for preschools, childcare centres and resource centres to $4.6 million this year, from $8.9 million last year.
The reduction was necessary so the government can afford grants for youth-based arts and sports programs, as well as food banks and search and rescue groups, said Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman.
The more than 50 per cent drop in daycare grants came on the heels of steep cuts to the province's overall gaming grants program announced Monday.
The government reduced the amount available to charities and non-profits by $36 million, leaving only $120 million this year to be parcelled to more than 6,000 organizations.
The grant money comes from $1.1 billion in annual lottery, gambling and casino revenue, but the government said it needs the bulk of that money this year to fund health care and other priority programs as it runs a $1.7-billion deficit.
The cuts contradict a $28 million promise in last week's budget to help subsidize daycare for low-income-families and run contrary to promises in last month's throne speech to help families, said NDP housing critic Shane Simpson.
"We have a government that on one hand said that early childhood learning and early childhood education is a priority, and on the other hand cuts those grants that for organizations with very tight budgets," said Simpson.
The government was also under fire for its decision to end a $4 million grant program that helped Parent Advisory Councils build 250 school playgrounds in the past two years.
"They're taking money away from kids and playgrounds and putting it into government revenue," said NDP Leader Carole James.
Coleman said the government has compensated PACs by restoring last year's $20-per-student funding, which PACs can spend on playgrounds as they wish.
The government also restored $110 million in annual facilities maintenance grants, which it said could be used by school districts to upgrade playgrounds.
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