50+ Seniors Expo sees huge funding cut weeks before event
A decision to dramatically cut government funding to the 50+ Seniors Expo has organizers of the annual event upset and calling on the premier to re-instate funding.
"We just couldn't believe it," says Valerie White, chairperson of the non-profit organization that took over the event from government.
The group was told in April that their funding would likely be cut in half.
With the expo set to start in just two and a half weeks, White says they were floored to receive a letter on Monday, informing them their traditional funding of $100,000 was cut to just $10,000.
"This was just completely devastating for us," White says.
She has written to Premier Stephen McNeil calling the move "a catastrophic blow to our organization, our members, our stakeholders that work in the field of ageing and most importantly for the people of Nova Scotia."
White says this is the only provincial event of its kind in the country. It is celebrating its 25th anniversary in June.
White worked with the department of seniors when the event was first started by government. She says the expo is "true example of serving the public good," providing people over 50 with opportunities to learn about issues impacting them and how to live healthier and productive lives as they age.
Group unsure where funding will come from
"The different exhibitors that are there cover that whole range of healthy," active living, White says. They provide "different kinds of programs and services available not just through government but by the non-profit sector and business."
She says it also provides opportunities for entrepreneurs in the 50 and over age group, stressing this an important event for an aging province with a high senior population.
For the past 25 years, successive provincial governments have provided $100,000 a year.
White says this was the first year the group had to apply for funding by filling out a 30-page application form.
"We're a very small non-profit group and that took us a lot of time to put that together."
In a letter to the group, Faizal Nanji, acting chief executive officer of the department of seniors, says "...we are in a period of fiscal restraint."
"The department has a number of concerns surrounding the financial viability of the event."
Nanji says " the event does not meet the accountability requirements ... and this will be our last year of financial support."
White says the group has decided to go ahead with expo, which it has spent a year planning. She says contracts have been signed and money has been spent on advertising.
She's not sure how the group will make up the shortfall.
The group met today with Simon d'Entremont, the province's deputy minister of seniors, who didn't make any promises but said he would look at the matter.
