For immediate release:
June 18, 2004

McGuinty Pinches Funding Earmarked for Charities
Liberals Quietly Slash Millions from Ontario Trillium Foundation

Queens Park - A decision by the McGuinty government to cut more than $5 million from the Ontario Trillium Foundation means community projects in Haldimand, Norfolk and Brant Counties - and across Ontario - will suffer MPP Toby Barrett says.

The Trillium Foundation was created by the Conservative government to assist charities and not-for-profit groups in their efforts to build healthy communities and support economic growth in Ontario. In past years, the Foundation received a $100 million annual budget for grants to support community projects.

“Slashing Trillium funding is a slap in the face to those local volunteers who work so hard to deliver initiatives that better the communities in which they live,” Barrett said. “Since its inception, in my area alone, the Trillium Foundation has supported critical projects in Haldimand, Norfolk and Brant for seniors, youth and many others – this cutback will mean the loss of hundreds of local projects across Ontario that improved our quality of life.”

Since 2000, projects and programs in all three counties have benefited from funding support through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, including:

§ $43,200 Trillium grant to South Coast Tourism to help lure tourists Haldimand-Norfolk
§ $86,000 in Trillium Funding to support Sex Assault Centre of Brant
§ $92,700 Trillium in support of Haldimand-Norfolk Senior Support Services
§ $25,000 to the Caledonia Agricultural Society to upgrade the Fairground grandstand.
§ $75,000 to help the Lynn Valley Trail Association complete bridge repairs crossing the Lynn.
§ $70,000 Trillium to the Brant ‘Kids Can Fly’ program encouraging healthy early child development.
§ $15,200 in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association in Brant.
§ $24,300 for a new field irrigation system of the Paris Soccer Club
§ $18,000 to Haldimand Art Works
§ $75,000 Trillium grant to create a “Crossing all Bridges Learning Centre” in Brant/ Brantford
§ $20,000 for the Alzheimer Society of Haldimand-Norfolk.
§ $21,900 to the Simcoe and District Fish and Game Club for a Lynn River study.

The Trillium Foundation was set up to compensate charities when their ability to raise funds through bingos, raffles and other activities was hindered by the creation of casinos in the province. The Foundation’s budget flows directly from charity casino profits in the province.

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