Premier Christy Clark
West Annex Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
Dear Premier,
I am writing you in regard to the gaming grant review conducted by Mr. Skip Triplett. As you are aware Mr. Triplett completed his work and submitted his findings to government in October. Your commitment to the public and the many organizations that are engaged in this issue was that you would release the report within 60 days. This would have been December 31,2011. Your government announced at the last possible moment that this deadline would not be met and the report, would be released at some undetermined time in 2012.
This is very troubling not only for the uncertainty it continues to create for these many organizations. It also continues a sense of devaluing of these organizations by your government. When the Minister of the day Mr. Coleman first cut these grants and then later reorganized the criteria for eligibility he did it with no consultation with the organizations involved. Further, he suggested that this funding was in some way through the goodness of the government's largesse rather than an obligation to support the essential services that these many organizations provide. That is simply not an accurate view of the responsibility for funding these groups that provide important public services.
When you appointed Mr. Triplett you suggested this was also notice of a change in the attitude of the BC Liberals towards these organizations. To Mr. Triplett's credit I believe he took his responsibilities very seriously and conducted a process that was thorough and respectful of the many groups and individuals who support this funding stream and participated in his review.
Sadly, the way your government has dealt with his report, both in the delay and the manner in which the community was informed of it through the media, suggests your government has not learned this lesson of respect.
I am calling on you to immediately release Mr. Triplett's report. Mr. Triplett was clear during his process that he would not be making specific recommendations but, rather, presenting options for consideration. Assuming that is the case there is no reason why the community and public should not be able to see the report and its options and comment on them before government formulates any decisions regarding Mr. Triplett's work. Anything less is simply a continuation of a failed practice of your government that you indicated you wanted to correct. You have that opportunity now.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Shane Simpson, MLA Vancouver-Hastings
co: Skip Triplett, Managing Partner,Triplett & Triplett Advisors
Susan Marsden, President, BC Association for Community Gaming
