It was not unanimous, but county council will hear specific requests from Legion branches after voting on councillor Mark MacKenzie’s notice of motion.
MacKenzie moved the county reconsider its grant policy to hear Legion requests for funds. A Legion branch in Minto, MacKenzie’s riding, was refused a grant this year.
The Harriston Legion had asked $20,860. The county’s grants this year were $59,100 in total.
MacKenzie’s motion was “that requests for grants submitted by branches of the Royal Canadian Legion in the County of Wellington be given consideration by the council of the County of Wellington through their grant policy.”
Administration, finance, and personnel committee chairman John Green had explained that the Harriston Legion request missed the county deadline and also that it also did not meet the county criteria for grants.
The Harriston branch has sought money for a new door to its auditorium, cash for a new awning, and $10,600 for a stone cairn, and $5,225 for plaques for that cairn.
MacKenzie said his notice of motion from the March meeting was simply trying to obtain the right of legion branches to ask for money like any other “not for profit organizations. They warrant a chance to apply for a grant.”
Warden Joanne Ross-Zuj noted that the Harriston request was for “substantial numbers.” It was actually over one third of the total amount the county provided in grants to nearly three dozen organizations.
Councillor Chris White said the motion “seems to imply they can’t apply. They can.”
But MacKenzie said Harriston Legion members were told a grant to that group “would set a precedent.”
White argued, “But they did apply. He wondered if MacKenzie’s motion “gets you where you want to go.”
White also wondered if the county should re-address its policy to include Legions.
Councillor Barb McKay said of the Harriston application, “It was a shopping list.” She said it was turned down because is was “so global and so much. They can apply. The application was for a lot of money.”
Councillor Mike Broomhead told council he could understand what MacKenzie wanted to do.
Broomhead noted his township had also been turned down for a grant because it did not meet the grant criteria.
Broomhead said, “Anyone can apply.”
He added that MacKenzie wants to ensure that if a group can meet the criteria for a grant, it can apply.
But White said the criteria is laid out already. He wondered if the county could reconsider legions in general for grants.
Councillor Rod Finnie said he opposes giving grants in general and noted the county and local municipalities provide tax breaks for their buildings.
Finnie noted all service clubs are dedicated to ‘improving life in the community” but established groups might not have to raise money the same way as other groups.
He noted grant requests this year totalled over $90,000, and many were to fund once only.
MacKenzie said that was part of the Harriston Legion’s application, since it was celebrating a 70th anniversary and wanted to purchase a commemorative plaque.
He said his motion is only about creating a “level playing field” for grants, but the legion was turned down because the county did not want to set a precedent.
Council took a recorded vote that would allow legions to make grant requests. It carried 13-3, with only Green, Finnie, and Maieron opposed.
