Wed Sep 18 01:32:52 UTC 2024: ## Winnipeg City Council Reverses Cuts to Community Grants Program Following Protests
**Winnipeg, MB** – After facing public pressure from community groups, the City of Winnipeg has reversed a decision to cut $2.1 million from its community grants program. The move comes after a summer of protests from organizations reliant on the funding.
The original plan to reduce the program from $3.4 million to $1.3 million was met with strong opposition from numerous organizations, including BGC Winnipeg, Resource Assistance for Youth, and End Homelessness Winnipeg. Critics argued that the cuts would cripple long-term programs and force organizations to focus on short-term projects. They also expressed concern about the proposed restriction on using grants for core staff and administration.
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, Mayor Scott Gillingham and the Executive Policy Committee reversed the cuts and committed to maintaining the program at its current level. The $2.1 million that would have been cut will now be factored into the 2025 budget process. Additionally, the committee voted to allow grant funds to be used for operational funding, addressing a key concern of community groups.
“These organizations are doing really important work on the front lines of our community,” said Mayor Gillingham. “We didn’t have an intention to destabilize these organizations.”
The decision comes after months of vocal advocacy by community groups. “This is what community grants do,” said Kate Kehler, Executive Director of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg. “They nurture and deliver on the city’s chartered responsibilities to look after the health and well-being of its inhabitants.”
While the funding cuts have been reversed, one aspect of the original plan remains: a new committee will now select which groups receive the grants. This change, according to Councillor Vivian Santos, aims to increase transparency and ensure a more open selection process.
“Protests against the cut were heard loud and clear in the previous months,” said Santos. “This is really, of course, near and dear to my heart as a councillor that represents the inner city, [which] has a lot of these non-profit organizations in [it].”
Despite the victory for community groups, Mayor Gillingham acknowledged the financial challenges facing the city. “We have a financial challenge before us,” he said. “One of the things that we’re trying to avoid at all costs, to make every effort to avoid, is reducing our … funding to the front-line organizations.”
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