View From the Legislature

While many Manitobans may not have heard of the provincial Green Team funding program, in some way they likely have benefited from it. The program, which is one of the most popular funding programs in the provincial government, has for many years helped to support both youth and not-for-profit organizations.

Every year, organizations that offer youth employment opportunities can apply for funding which allow them to hire Manitobans aged 15-29 years of age. This is a true win-win situation as youth not only find rewarding seasonal employment, but the organizations that use the Green Team funding to hire them are able to offer more programs.

Often, these organizations are involved in helping people in the community. In this way, while there is a cost to government through the grants provided, there is also a benefit that is returned to all Manitobans through the services that are provided. It is little wonder why this is a popular program.

Youth camps have been one of the primary recipients of Green Team funding over the years. Manitobans cherish our spectacular but short summers and the opportunity for youth to attend camps is highly valued. Many camps hire youth through Green Team to help offer programs for the many campers they get through the summer. Often these camps help young people who might not otherwise be able to afford to go to camp and have this unique experience. Green Team funding is a key part of making this happen.

This past week, many youth camps learned that the NDP government had cut their Green Team funding and denied them the support that they had received in the past. The Manitoba Camping Association indicated that without the funding and staff that it helps hire, camps would be running deficits and be challenged to offer regular programs. Of those that did receive funding, many found that they received a third or a quarter of what they had received in the past.

As well, the Green Team funding has often been used by faith organizations, including churches, to hire youth and offer seasonal programs that benefitted youth and the local communities. Overwhelmingly, these funds have been seen as beneficial and the Green Team officials have often remarked how successful these programs were. And yet, the NDP notified dozens and dozens of faith-based programs that their funding had been cut as well. When the NDP were asked why these faith organizations were no longer being provided the Green Team grant despite having done excellent work in the past, no response was given.

And while the NDP were sending out letters rejecting funding for youth camps and churches (to name a few), they were in the Manitoba Legislature last week working to push through legislation that will see Manitoba taxpayers double the amount of money they are paying to the NDP as a political subsidy during elections. It is difficult to understand how the NDP have decided to prioritize using tax dollars to support their political party over supporting community-based programs and youth camps.

It is not too late for the NDP to reconsider these cuts to youth camps and faith organizations. Most Manitobans would see using tax dollars to support youth as a higher priority than greater subsidies to the NDP.