The Manitoba Government has made changes in the way they invest in Non-profit Organizations.

Victoria Espey is the Executive Director of the Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation (PCRC), and she explains the Province has collapsed six community granting programs into one called the Building Sustainable Communities Fund (BSF).

The PCRC is a Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation (NRC) therefore, it is business as usual there. Espey explains the PCRC and the Province have a great relationship and the PCRC will continue to receive core funding and funds for programming staff. Espey notes the changes may not affect the PCRC but will affect how community agencies get projects off the ground.

Espey outlines this is because with the creation of the BSF and the loss of the Neighbour Renewal Fund (NRF) the granting criteria have changed. Now the Province exempts core salaries and benefits, and will only commit to being a 50 per cent funder.

"It's really going to force community organizations to think about the way they implement projects in the community," says Espey. "Community organizations will have to build new partnerships and work for partnerships a lot harder than they've probably ever had to before."

Lynne Parker is the Executive Director of Recreation Opportunities for Kids (ROK) Central, and she shares these changes mean a considerable reduction of programs for ROK.

Parker adds the programs that ROK runs are geared toward vulnerable populations, and she believes it's the responsibility of the government to help make these programs available. Parker notes most grants do not cover wages and benefits.

"If we don't have wages for our staff it's just not going to work," stresses Parker.

The Province has launched a consultation process. Parker hopes this process will allow ROK and other community organizations alike to move forward.

To participate in the discussion, a survey has been created. If you'd like to have your voice heard regarding this fill out the survey here!

Espey adds the province's consultation process is positive, noting it will be encouraging for non-profits to have their voices heard from an open-eared government.