Province to cut $10 million from community services for children, families
In a confidential letter sent last month, executive directors in the Ministry of Children and Family Development were told that cuts to contracted agencies would be necessary by April 1, because “it is no longer possible to achieve the fiscal targets for 2010/11 without baseline reductions to funding for community service providers.”
“Although the province has maintained its funding levels for the Ministry of Children and Family Development,” the Jan. 21 letter said, “at this time we are not able to meet cost pressures arising out of inflation, increased caseloads in some services, and increases in the cost of delivery of services.”
The minister, Mary Polak, confirmed Thursday that reductions of about $10 million to contracted agencies are in the works by April 1, but said that represents only about 1.2 per cent of the ministry’s $825-million budget for those organizations. She said contracted agencies account for the majority of the ministry budget, and provide the bulk of front-line services for the ministry.
“If you’re spreading $10 million across the province — with a budget that you’re starting with of $825 million — you can hopefully accomplish that with small changes that are spread across the province,” Polak said, adding that the global ministry budget has not been cut.
“Our goal here is to protect those critical front-line services,” she said. “Where you’ll see the changes is in areas that aren’t at the core of what we provide as a ministry.”
Polak said the ministry will also take another $5 million from so-called mainstream contracted agencies and transfer it to organizations that provide services for aboriginal children and families.
“Direct service to children and families will remain a priority through this process and every effort will be made to find savings through efficiencies and, secondarily, through service reductions,” the letter said.
So far, it said, the ministry has “redirected $32 million from administrative costs to front-line services.”
The letter said the focus of the changes will be underutilized services, which will be “reviewed and potentially reduced.”
It said the ministry will encourage “sharing operational costs to gain economies of scale.”
NDP critic Maurine Karagianis was highly critical of the planned cuts, saying they will be “devastating to communities.” She said the cuts have the potential to hit everything from crisis lines to victim services to programs for those struggling with mental health problems or addiction.
“So many of these programs are vital to communities. How can you possibly cut them without harming children and families in the process?” she asked.
Polak said the ministry is consulting with agencies in every region on how to cut spending with the least impact to services.
“This represents quite a departure for our ministry to approach budget in this way. It’s by far the most transparent and open budget process we’ve ever engaged in this ministry,” she said.
By Jonathan Fowlie Vancouver Sun, February 11, 2010