It doesn’t appear the Government of Ontario has a plan in place to replace a tax-filing service program for low-income people whose funding they recently cut.
At least, if they do, they’re not talking about it.
Sudbury Community Service Centre executive director Kevin Cooper told Sudbury.com this week that he’s hopeful something will take shape to replace what he describes as an integral service.
“We’re still working very closely with the minister’s office to see if they can come up with some kind of solution,” he said, adding that he hopes they come with something before tax season is over.
Even so, he clarified that the Financial Empowerment Champions program which his centre hosts, and has had its funding cut alongside others throughout the province, is busy year-round.
Discussions are ongoing, Cooper said, and local service partners who refer clients to their program have been contacted to write letters of support.
Sudbury.com first reported on the funding cut last month.
The provincial government has pulled funding from Financial Empowerment Champions programs across Ontario. Locally, the Sudbury Community Service Centre saw a cut of $180,000. The local program includes three staff members and a team of volunteers who help low-income people file their taxes, as well as provide them with financial counselling. Last year, they helped file 4,200 tax returns.
Provincial spokespeople declined Sudbury.com’s interview request for last week’s story, clarifying that the minister was unavailable.
Multiple requests followed, for not necessarily the minister but anyone at the Government of Ontario to explain things, but these requests were all denied.
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services eventually sent a written statement which consisted of already-known information and did not address the funding cut.
“The ministry has been working with Prosper Canada to deliver a range of financial empowerment services to low-income Ontarians through six partner organizations, which includes the Sudbury Community Service Centre,” according to the statement, describing the system currently in place.
“Our government is actively working with sector partners to strengthen financial literacy supports to empower vulnerable populations.”
An interview request with Sudbury NDP MPP Jamie West was submitted to the party’s communications staff, and was not granted.
A written statement was sent instead.
“MCCSS and Community Financial Empowerment organizations are currently discussing a funding solution to sustain these critical services for low-income Ontarians,” West said in the statement.
“I know how much these services mean to the Sudbury community and hope that a mutually agreeable solution can be arrived at soon.”
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.