B.C. rescue groups have funding concerns

The provincial government has announced it will provide additional liability insurance for volunteer search and rescue groups in B.C., but the groups say that only solves one of their funding concerns.

On Monday the government promised an additional $180,000 for the insurance coverage, saying the money would come from its gaming grant program that uses gambling revenues to fund non-profit groups in B.C.

"The investment we're making now to better protect these organizations will enable them to remain focused on their primary goal: delivering exceptional search and rescue services," said Public Safety Minister Kash Heed.

Search and rescue groups across B.C. had demanded the government provide more insurance funding this past spring after a Quebec man sued Golden's volunteer search and rescue group after his wife died when the couple skied out of bounds last February.

The province already funded insurance for the individual search and rescue personnel, but the organizations themselves were not covered by that insurance, leaving the boards and other members open to lawsuits. Some of the province's 85 search and rescue groups had halted operations while the issue was being settled.

Operating funds uncertain

Even with thefull insurance coverage, many of the groups are also dependent on the same gaming grant program for their operating funds,and possible cuts to that funding have left the future of thegroups uncertain.

Last week, Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman warned the priorities of the grant program will have to be reviewed because there were more applications than cash.

The $159-million fund has been frozen while the grants are reviewed, but some of the cash was released over the weekend. Coleman warned some groups may not get all the money they requested, while others may get nothing at all.

"The province has had to make some very challenging decisions regarding the use of limited gaming funds," said Coleman, whohinted thesearch and rescue groups willlikely be at the front of the line for thegrants.

"Search and rescue is a critical public safety resource, and maintaining this service is a top priority for this government," he said.

Cuts would impact services

Tim Jones, the manager of North Shore Rescue, said anycut in funding would result in a serious re-evaluation his group's services

"My question is not to the liability coverage. My question is to the funding. I'd like an answer, are you going to cut funding?" said Jones.

"I don't think it should be a political decision. I will accept if we're not given our full grant that we asked for based on merit and need, if they assess that we don't meet that criteria I can accept that.

"What I won't accept is a political decision to grab gaming funds because of the recession," said Jones.