[BCMA MBEN] Direct Access Freeze: More Fuel...?
Jim Harding
JHarding@MuseumsAssn.bc.ca
Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:11:58 -0700
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Members & Subscribers;</span></font>
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The following bulletin from BCACG President Susan Marsden, accompanied
the just-received August newsletter from the BC Association for Charitable
Gaming (BCACG), for all recipients of Gaming grants:</span></font>
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"With Gaming Revenues at an All-Time High,</span></font>
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BC Government Freezes Direct Access Grants to Charities</span></font>
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"We have added this special bulletin to bring to your attention the situation
that has evolved this summer with Direct Access grants. As you can see in
the excerpts below from a Vancouver Sun article, the Province of BC has
frozen Arts, Culture and SportsDirect Access grants that were committed to
charities for late spring of 2009. Unfortunately, the BC Association of
Charitable Gaming was not informed of this freeze nor were the grant
recipients -- all anyone knew until now was that their own grant was late.
Now thanks to this article we know that there is an indefinite freeze on these
grants, despite the fact that gambling revenue has risen in BC.</span></font>
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"Arts, sports and community groups all over BC are anxiously checking their
budgets after learning <b>the Province has frozen $36 million from lottery
and gaming revenues.</b></span></font>
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"Housing Minister Rich Coleman was unavailable for comment, but a
spokesman said a decision on the grants would be made soon. He said the
freeze is necessary because ' like other jurisdictions around the world, our
government is facing unprecedented economic times.'</span></font>
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<i>--Vancouver Sun, July 25, 2009</i></span></font>
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<i>"</i><b><i>In BC, revenues from government-run gambling rose last year to
$1.962 billion, up from $1.919 billion in 2007. That's also a huge
increase from the $403 million generated in 1992 in BC.</i></b></span></font>
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<i>"Alberta, Manitoba and </i><b><i>British Columbia also had above-average
gambling revenues per capita in 2008</i></b><i> ($556), while Prince Edward Island,
Nova Scotia and Quebec had relatively low numbers.</i></span></font>
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<i>-- above two excerpts from Vancouver Sun, Thursday, July 23, 2009</i></span></font>
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"The BCACG has repeatedly asked the Gaming Branch to ensure that we
are informed of changes in policy and issues of importance to our members.
The request has been made formally to the branch both by the BCACG and
by the BC Bingo Council. We need your help in mounting a campaign to
ensure our voices are heard and that something like this does not occur
again.</span></font>
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"What you can do:</span></font>
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- Contact your MLA and let him or her know that it is not acceptable to treat
charities across the province this way and to deprive citizens of this province
of the valuable services provided by these charities.</span></font>
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- Support the BCACG as we address the gaming grant issues of all charities.
Join the BCACG and send us a letter of support.</span></font>
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- Attend the BCACG symposium in September to help ensure your voices
are heard in Victoria.</span></font>
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<i>Sincerely,</i></span></font>
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<i>Susan Marsden,</i></span></font>
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<i>President, BCACG"</i></span></font>
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As of Noon today, and after regularly checking-in since this story began
circulating, there are no formal announcements posted on the Ministry
website:
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<a href="http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/gaming/grants/">
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<u>http://www.hsd.gov.bc.ca/gaming/grants/</u>
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There has been no formal notification to Direct Access applicants or funded
clients, however informal discussions between peer cultural and heritage
organizations indicate that applications from this spring are still being
processed, but 'approved' are not being paid out, at least not before 'mid to
late September'. </span></font>
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BCMA is endeavouring to confirm the status and timeline of Direct Access
grants. </span></font>
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BCMA's annual grant provides for a number of programs including
production of <i>Museums Roundup;</i> instructors, materials, venues & hosting
fees for our ongoing(?) Regional Workshop Series program; bursaries; and
periodic capital costs (computers, servers).</span></font>
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If you are a Direct Access program client, (early applicants may have
already received their grants), and you have received formal notification
concerning the status of your application (freeze) or indication of a future
payment, please post this notification to BCMA-L</span></font>
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Thank you. More to follow...</span></font>
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--Jim</span></font>
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_______________________________</span></font>
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Jim Harding, ED</span></font>
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BC Museums Association</span></font>
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(250) 356-5694</span></font>
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