Funding program shifts priorities

The province's lottery grants program will focus on social organizations and reduce or eliminate grants in several other categories this year, the ministry of housing and social development said Monday.

The announcement of new priorities came after the province lifted a freeze on the grants last week following a review of the program. No one from the ministry would comment on the changes announced in a news release.

The ministry, which receives money from the BC Lottery Corp. and distributes it to organizations, has granted $53 million to applicants so far this year. More grants are pending but the amount hasn't been disclosed.

A wide range of gaming grants provided $156 million to 6,800 charitable and community groups last year, including $40.5 million to 779 groups in Vancouver, among them the Trout Lake Little League, Vancouver Symphony Society and the Burnaby Canoe and Kayak Club.

The ministry will grant the full amount requested to many high-priority social programs. The program has provided $10.9 million in funding for the 2009-2010 Arts Council, but following the review will fund only a limited number of arts and culture activities, the ministry release said.

The ministry will eliminate funding for capital project grants, playground grants and three-year grants this year.

For the rest of the year, the program will focus on low-income, disabled and at-risk people; community health services; nutritional programs in schools for children in low-income families; public safety programs; community education including daycare and preschools; community facilities such as halls and recreation facilities; sports for disabled people; and sports, scouts and cadets for youth.

Lottery grants will pay the $180,000 premium for liability insurance coverage for the province's search and rescue organizations, the housing ministry and the ministry of public safety and solicitor general announced yesterday.

Liability insurance for the rescue teams became a key issue after the Golden and District Search and Rescue Association was sued by a man whose wife froze to death after the couple skied out of bounds at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.

"The Province has had to make some very challenging decisions regarding the use of limited gaming funds," said housing minister Rich Coleman in the release. "Search and Rescue is a critical public safety resource, and maintaining this service is a top priority for this government."

Dwight Yochin, a search and rescue manager for the Coquitlam Search and Rescue, said the funding will save the team $2,000 a year and will especially help rescue teams that can't afford the premium.

In the next two weeks, the ministry will tell applicants for arts, culture and sports groups if their grant was approved and how much they will receive.

rdalton@vancouversun.com