Funding to OCYA cut

A request in person by Child and Youth Advocate Del Graff in February that the government restore $275,000 to his office’s budget was turned down. The money was cut as part of efforts by the province to deal with the drop in oil prices that has left a shortfall of $7 billion in the Alberta budget. At the same meeting, the committee voted to return $546,000 to the Auditor General, who audits government departments and agencies. Afterwards, Progressive Conservative MLA Genia Leskiw said the Auditor General’s funds were reinstated because “they find efficiencies and they keep the various government agencies accountable for their spending.” The OCYA was one of six independent offices that suffered about $1 million in cuts in a decision made last December. The cuts come after OCYA had its mandate expanded in May 2014 with additional funding in order to assist investigating deaths of children under government care.