By Chad Ingram

Published April 21 2016

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP LaurieScott is criticizing the Ontario government for pressing pause on capitalgrants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The government will redirect money from theTrillium Foundation's $25 million capital grants program for 2016 to theOntario 150 program a grant program centred on Canada's sesquicentennialanniversary in 2017.

“They should not be raiding the Trilliumfunding because our community groups rely on the Trillium Foundation” Scottsaid adding that funding from the provincial organization helps with projectsat buildings such as curling clubs and Legions throughout the riding. “It isnot fair to the volunteers.”

In Minden a $150000 grant from theOntario Trillium Foundation helped pay for part of the Minden Community FoodCentre on Newcastle Street.

Scott noted that part of the Trilliumfunding process is grant review applications and said the move is unfair tovolunteers who have spent time completing applications for capitalfunding.

Scott said if the government wanted toprovide grants for sesquicentennial celebrations “they should have made anallotment for it.”

The MPP said it is not clear whether some activecapital grant applications may qualify under the Ontario 150 grant program.