Winnipeg mayor delays vote on cut to community grants program
Community members rallied outside city hall in opposition to proposed changes to program
Winnipeg city councillors will reconsider proposed changes to a community grants program that would have cut available money by more than half and disqualified operational funding.
A city report recommended cutting the program's funding from $3.4 million to $1.3 million, limiting grants to specific projects and excluding core funding for organizations.
Groups that have received funding through the program include BGC Winnipeg (formerly the Boys and Girls Club), Resource Assistance for Youth, the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, End Homelessness Winnipeg, Art City, Graffiti Art Programming and Take Pride Winnipeg.
Representatives of some of those organizations and their supporters rallied Thursday outside city hall, where councillors were gathering for a meeting that included a vote on the grant program.
The crowd erupted in cheers when, minutes before meeting started, Art City artistic director Eddie Ayoub announced the mayor had agreed to reconsider the plan.
"You actually did this. Your support made this happen. It works, it really works ... all the emails, showing up, all of it," Ayoub told the crowd.
The rally included breakdancers from Graffiti Art Programming, and people in the crowd carried signs with messages like "Art City is Winnipeg" and "Art Saves Lives."
"I think that it gave the mayor and city councillors a moment to reflect on the value of all the community grant program recipients and the work that they're doing, and the effectiveness of it and how important it is," Ayoub said.
"When Winnipeg shows up, lets their voice be heard, it is very effective. This is a perfect example of that."
During the council meeting, Mayor Scott Gillingham raised a motion to table the report that recommended the cut. It will go back to the executive policy committee during its next meeting in July.
Social Planning Council of Winnipeg executive director Kate Kehler, speaking as a delegate, thanked the mayor and councillors for delaying the decision, but asked what will happen in the weeks between now and the next meeting where the report will be considered.
"What does that actually look like, and how can we engage with you now … so that we can actually let you know what is needed, and how we can work together in order to get it funded properly?" she asked.
The mayor and other councillors have said the funding changes are necessary to control the city's deficit, which a financial update earlier this year projected could be up to $40 million.
Gillingham has also said the changes are needed to give city staff the ability to review grant applications and approve those that best align with its guiding documents, and give groups that have not received city funding a chance to apply.
Speaking to reporters during a break in the meeting, Gillingham said he and councillors will have discussions over the next few weeks to find ways of maintaining the funding levels, while coming up with a new intake process.
"We do need to make sure that we're vetting grants applicants as to the degree to which they're meeting and pursuing and implementing the city strategic priorities action plan," he said.
Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) told reporters community groups that would have been affected by the cuts want to see a new vision from city hall that prioritizes "children's recreation arts, in order to support social development in the city of Winnipeg."
"So hitting the pause button is the right thing to do," she said.
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