Finance
March 9, 2016

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Cathy Bennett, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board:

Provincial Government Continuing Support for Community Groups

Mr. Speaker, our government knows this province is facing a difficult fiscal situation and we are focused on reshaping Newfoundland and Labrador’s fiscal future. As we continue down the road to long-term sustainability, we want to work together with our community organizations and bring clarity to their current funding arrangements.

Our government is keenly aware of the need to allow such organizations to focus their efforts on the important issues instead of spending valuable time on annual funding applications.

That is why, for Budget 2016-17, our government will not be making any changes to the approximately $70 million in core funding that it provides to community groups in grants. This support will be maintained for the next fiscal year to enable groups to continue the important work they do, while allowing time for us to conduct a comprehensive review of all funding for community-based organizations. This review will also support our commitment to provide multi-year funding to community-based organizations

Mr. Speaker, through this action, our government is providing some clarity to these groups while we work with them over the course of the next year, leading up to Budget 2017, to help ensure that they are maximizing their funding and being as efficient as possible.

Thank you.

2016 03 09                              2:25 p.m.