B.C. Liberal Cuts Put Surrey Crime Prevention Society At Risk
SURREY – While families in Surrey are looking for solutions to help prevent violent crime, B.C. Liberal cuts are putting funding for Surrey crime prevention at risk, New Democrat MLA Harry Bains said today.
Harry Bains
Bains raised the issue in question period last Thursday, after Surrey experienced several violent crimes in one week, including three murders and an attack on a cab driver.
“The Surrey Crime Prevention Society is a non-profit organization that has been working closely with the community to ensure public safety,” said Bains, MLA for Surrey-Newton. “It doesn’t make sense to cut funding to a respected, volunteer-run organization in light of recent violence.”
The SCPS relies on funding from gaming grants to operate, but the B.C. Liberals are cutting the maximum amount they can qualify for by 35 per cent. SCPS is currently on their last year of a three-year funding grant of $156,000 per year. This contract will be honoured until the end of the year. Under the new provisions put forward by the B.C. Liberal government, even if they qualify for funding, the maximum amount available is $100,000, which means a funding cut of $56,000.
In March 2009, the B.C. Liberal government implemented new provisions to the public safety community gaming grants. These changes have exempted the SCPS from receiving priority access to community gaming grants, despite the fact that they work hand-in-hand with the RCMP and Surrey schools to ensure public safety.
“These restrictions make it difficult for the SPCS to provide public safety and prevention programs,” said Bains. “The government should be protecting these organizations.”
Carole James and the New Democrats are holding the B.C. Liberals to account for breaking their word on the HST and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.
