BONNYVILLE – The MD of Bonnyville council is looking for a bit of information when it comes to the funding the Bonnyville and District FCSS is receiving.
Council passed a motion during its Sept. 23 meeting to write a letter to Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA David Hanson about a possible review of the funds the local FCSS (Family & Community Support Services) receives.
CAO Luc Mercier said the topic was brought up after there were questions about whether or not the province was conducting a review of FCSS funding “as a result of budget implications.”
“We would like to find out if they are and if they’re doing it, what they are doing and considering because it could have far reaching implications in our community,” he noted.
Coun. Ben Fadeyiw agreed, saying, “The impacts could have a big reach as far as FCSS. A lot of their funding has gone down with the new (Family Resource Network model) out there.”
During a meeting with the Bonnyville FCSS board, director of community services David Beale presented the 2021 budget under the ‘hopeful assumption’ there wouldn’t be any reductions to the provincial funding.
“Nobody said that’s happening,” he stressed. “I was just saying to my board that we need to be aware that in the future, no government funding is guaranteed. We’re a creature of the Government of Alberta and need to be prepared to make adjustments in 2021, if indeed we get the bad news that things are cut.”
In the municipality’s letter, Reeve Greg Sawchuk emphasized the importance of the services offered to the area by the Bonnyville FCSS.
“We understand that the provincial government is currently reviewing many programs to identify potential financial or program efficiencies to mitigate the fiscal deficit caused by COVID-19. Considering this, the MD wishes to inquire if the FCSS program is under review and if so, communicate clearly that this would severely impact social health and wellness, not just here in northeastern Alberta, but across the entire province,” Sawchuk wrote.
He continued, “The locally-driven preventive social initiatives provided by the FCSS enrich and enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. The pandemic has only intensified the need for these invaluable services. The continued provincial funding of this front-line program is essential now more than ever, especially for rural municipalities where we currently face other provincially instituted budget constraints.”
Beale offered his thanks to MD council for reaching out to get some clarity on their behalf.
“I’m glad the reeve and council are sending a letter to our MLA saying ‘please don’t consider FCSS as one of the places to trim the budget.’”
