Regional board expands access to health-related service grants

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – More health organizations will be able to apply for funding because the regional district is set to tweak its grants policy – although the maximum allocation is shrinking.

At the February 20th regional board meeting, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) directors reviewed a recommendation to approve amendments to the Health Related Services Grant-in-Aid Policy.

During the January 23rd regional board meeting, mayor and director of Fort St. John Lilia Hansen put forward a recommendation that the policy be amended.

The director brought the recommendations forward because the North Peace Division of Family Practice Cooperative was ineligible to apply for funding under the original policy, while the South Peace Division of Family Practice was. 

The policy details eligibility for health-related services across the PRRD when applying for financial support. Prior to the February meeting, the policy stated only not-for-profit organizations could apply. 

After receiving unanimous approval from the directors, the eligibility of the policy was extended to include not-for-profit cooperatives ‘in good standing with the Cooperative Association Act’. 

The policy was also amended to specify that all applicants present financials to the regional board “no later than October 31st of the previous year” to be considered for grant approval. 

This means that under the new policy, organizations which submit or intend to submit applications for funding in 2026 are required to present to the board by October 31st, 2025. 

A second amendment approved by the board placed a maximum funding limit of $75,000 per application “to effectively manage financial commitments” to health-related services from the PRRD. 

“While I regret that this number is being reduced, I do want to see more fairness and equity throughout the region, where the money that we have budgeted for can be spread,” Hansen said.