The BC Government has announced that it will no longer fund Success by Six as of March 31, 2011 and that it is cutting the funding in half for 2011. This issue came up in the BC legislature today and was debated. Below is a draft transcript from that debate:
M. Karagianis: Success By 6 was a creation of
this government in 2003. Now not only is their funding being cut in half this
year; the entire program is being cancelled in March 2011. The coordinators of
this program have worked tirelessly for six years to build relationships across
government with business, with First Nations and the non-profit sector. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]The cancellation of this program will have a
devastating effect on organizations already stripped to the bone by this
government's cuts. How can the Minister of Children and Families justify
eliminating funding to an organization that supports so many front-line services
to families? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]Hon. M. Polak: Success By 6 has been a
tremendous partnership with the government of British Columbia, with credit
unions, and we're proud that since 2003 we have invested $27 million in Success
By 6. In addition to the $2½ million that Success By 6 will receive in a grant
this year, we'll also be, across government, spending almost a billion dollars
in early childhood development, child care services, children and youth with
special needs. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]We will continue to work with Success By 6 as we
look for opportunities to help them transition some of their programs in these
difficult times. But there's no question that this is an area that we deem a
priority, and we certainly invest more than the opposition ever did. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]Mr. Speaker: The member has a supplemental. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
M. Karagianis: So this minister admits that
they're proud to have cut this program by 50 percent and that they are doing
away with it by 2011? That's the kind of support that this minister offers to
communities? The early childhood development provincial partnership has said
that without the three partners in place — the United Way, the credit unions
and, most importantly, the province of British Columbia — they will not be able
to carry on, and Success By 6 will be dissolved along with 400 programs across
this province that it serves. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]After six years the program is strong. It is
delivering innovative programs to communities, and now the B.C. Liberals will
cancel it outright. It does not make any sense. This is another bad decision by
a government that proves over and over again that it does not care about
supporting families and communities. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]I would ask the minister: will she stand today and
reverse the decision and reinstate the funding for Success By 6? [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]Hon. M. Polak: Year upon year since 2003 this
government has responded by supporting Success By 6 with grants — year upon year
upon year; grants that the opposition voted against every single time. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]We will continue to be working with Success By 6 as
they work with the $2.5 million grant we will provide this year in order to
ensure that we help them to transition their programs and to look for
opportunities to enhance community capacity-building across the province.
via www.leg.bc.ca