Social advocates say more funding needed
The Daily News (Nanaimo)
February 21, 2008 
By: Martha Tropea

While environmentalists are applauding Tuesday's decidedly green provincial budget, social advocates in Nanaimo are worried about being left out in the cold.

The Liberals promised new measures to address climate change and promote energy efficiency, but the advocates say emphasis on specific social initiatives was lacking.

A promise of $104 million of extra funding to reduce homelessness over four years doesn't mean much to the city's social planner John Horn.

"I don't know how many communities in B.C. would be significantly impacted by this."

Until the province rolls out specific programs groups can apply to for funds, Horn said the budget offered little indication of how Nanaimo will benefit.

"We'll probably get that in three or four months," he said. "Over the next little while we'll see more details emerging."

Jim Spinelli doesn't think the latest budget does enough to address Nanaimo's critical affordable housing issues….

He [MLA Krog] said there's nothing in the provincial budget for child care, no promise to increase the minimum wage, no breaks for students such as tuition freezes or cuts, and no real commitment to attack B.C.'s major polluters.

Nanaimo Coun. Diane Brennan called the Liberal budget a "big disappointment."

"From the beginning, they've made it very clear they're not particularly interested in the social development of this province," she said. "This is a total disgrace."…