MINISTER MUST ACT TO STOP OTF FROM CUTTING LOCAL ROOTS: CLARK

QUEEN’S PARK – Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark is insisting the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport act immediately to stop the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) from implementing a plan that would cut the program’s local roots.

In Question Period today, Clark, who serves as Official Opposition Critic for Tourism, Culture and Sport, revealed the OTF board has been presented with a plan to reduce the number of Trillium’s granting catchment areas to 5 from the current 16.

“This centralization is happening without input from frontline staff, OTF volunteers or the communities this cherished program has served so well,” said Clark, who described the changes as a “traumatic overhaul” of the Trillium program as we know it.

“Fewer regions will result in fewer local voices and less local knowledge at the table to make decisions about Trillium grants as well as a reduction in staff members to work with volunteer groups. 

The development comes on the heels of Clark raising questions about OTF’s commitment to small community organizations after the agency suddenly suspended its $25 million capital grants program at the end of March.

Clark said a discussion paper on a “regionally based model” prepared for the March OTF board meeting includes a “Preliminary Implementation Plan.”

“Nowhere in that plan is there room for volunteer organizations in small-town and rural Ontario who rely on Trillium to have a say in these changes,” said Clark. “It’s unacceptable for the Minister to allow OTF’s management and board to take one more step down this road without ensuring those voices are heard before any decisions are made.”

Clark indicated the move to reduce Trillium’s presence in local communities comes at the same time that decisions made by local Grant Review Teams were overturned.

In his question this morning, Clark detailed how $3.4 million from the latest round of Trillium funding was left on the table.

“Instead of going back to the local grant teams – the experts – OTF’s central grant liaison committee hand-picked the winners by approving applications that were previously rejected,” said Clark.

He stressed the changes being fast-tracked by Trillium without public input can’t happen without the Minister’s approval.

“Now that I’ve brought the Minister up to speed about what’s happening at this agency under his watch, it’s time for him to act to protect frontline jobs and the volunteer groups they serve,” said Clark.