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Mono council weighs community donation priorities

April 27, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By JAMES MATTHEWS

Requests for donations this year surpassed the amount the Town of Mono had budgeted.

Fred Simpson, the town’s clerk, said during the regular council meeting on April 25 that this is the first time requests for money surpassed the budget for donations.

Recognizing the benefits that various groups provide to the residents of Mono by promoting cultural and social well-being, council established a donation budget to support community groups.

An invitation to apply for donations was advertised in local newspapers on March 23 and April 3 and on social media. Community groups, organizations, and registered charities were eligible for financial support.

Council had earmarked $10,600 for donations. Ten requests that were received total about $31,000 in donations.

Those who applied are Courageous K9; Dufferin County Multicultural Foundation; Headwaters Food and Farming Alliance; Alzheimer Society of Dufferin County and Hospice Dufferin; IG Wealth Management, who sought sponsorship for a walk for Alzheimer’s disease; the Royal Canadian Legion; the Mono Bicentennial Committee; OPP Detective Sergeant Steve Coburn, who swam a mile in icy water to raise money for local food programs; and the Shelburne Foodbank.

The High Country United Church submitted the largest request at $22,100.

“In terms of the largest request … the difficulty I have is do we as a council collecting taxpayers’ money from all residents of Mono, do we give to faith-based organizations?” Deputy Mayor Fred Nix said. “Even if they are running some very useful community programs.”

He said it’s a question with which he’s struggled.

“My instinct says that governments should not be funding churches or any other faith-based organization,” Nix said.

It could set a precedent for other faith-based groups seeking future donations. The town donated money to a church in Hockley Valley last year. But that was to help preserve heritage infrastructure.

“Those are different cases,” Nix said, and added that he’s against supporting the donation.

Councillor Ralph Manktelow said it’s a slippery slope to start supporting faith-based groups.

Coun. Melinda Davie said High Country United Church’s request is quite large. But she isn’t ready to commit to not awarding donations to such groups.

Coun. Elaine Capes suggested council help the church purchase a defibrillator and get a better price through the town’s or Dufferin County’s procurement process.

The church had detailed in its application that one of the reasons for their donation request was to buy a $5,000 AED Defibrillator. Capes said council should give $1,500 toward the purchase.

Manktelow reiterated his opposition to supporting faith-based groups in any way.

Mayor John Creelman questioned the Shelburne Food Bank’s request for a $5,000 donation from Mono.

“This is a first,” Creelman said.

He asked if that town’s food bank is already getting money from Dufferin County and, further, how many Mono residents are served by the Shelburne Food Bank.

Capes said to give the Shelburne Food Bank the full amount but not the OPP detective who is also raising money for food programs.

Creelman said groups that traverse borders should be asked to quantify how many Mono residents they serve.

Given the arduous process to ink a 2023 municipal operating and capital budget, Capes said she’s hesitant to take as much as $10,000 to give away.

“I would like to look at our policy around donations for next year,” she said. “And I would also like us to consider having a citizens’ committee to talk about this, not just council.

“These are taxpayer dollars and maybe they don’t want us giving anybody any money.”

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