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You can use this form to submit a letter to Premier Campbell, Minister Rich Coleman, Minister Kevin Krueger, to your MLA, and to opposition MLAs Shane Simpson (critic for Ministry of Housing and Social Development, which includes gaming) and Spencer Herbert (critic for the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts) regarding the B.C. Liberals' mismanagement of the Gaming Direct Access program. You can either use the letter as it is written here, or edit it to your liking before submitting.

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	If you wish, you can send the letter below as-is. However, you are welcome to modify the text in the box below until it more clearly matches what you would like to tell the government regarding the current and projected cuts to the B.C.'s support for the arts. When you are satisfied with the text, click the "Submit Form" button at the bottom of this page. Added automatically to the beginning of your message: Honourable Rich Coleman PO Box 9058 Stn Prov Govt Victoria BC V8W 9E1 Dear Minister Coleman, In recent weeks, it has become clear that the B.C. government has been pursuing an erratic and dangerous course with regard to funding of the arts and culture through the Gaming Direct Access program. I am writing as a voter, a citizen and a taxpayer to urge you to reverse this course of action, and to act in the interests of the B.C. public in ensuring access to the arts and culture for people in all regions and of all income levels. The recent arbitrary and misguided changes to the Gaming Direct Access program for non-profit arts and culture organizations are clearly not based on reality. The fact that further changes in qualifying criteria were made, completely unannounced, after proposals were submitted in good faith from around the province, shows either confusion or an attempt to evade responsibility on the part of government decision-makers. In the midst of broader economic hardships, a small amount -- a rounding error on the provincial finances overall -- is all that is required to aid the arts and culture sector in creating jobs and strengthening the economies of our communities. However, the primary justification for supporting the arts and culture is not economic or political. Access to culture is recognized internationally as a right, because the arts and culture are necessary for healthy communities. I am recommending that the government reinstate all of the Gaming Direct Access grants that were cancelled in 2009, and re-commit to distributing gaming revenues to charitable organizations, including those in the arts, in line with commitments the provincial government made to the people of B.C. before the massive expansion of gambling in our province; and I am asking that the recent, poorly-conceived restrictions on projects that are eligible for Gaming grants be removed. In addition, the recent 50% cuts to the B.C. Arts Council must be reversed. There is still time to stem the damage this government is doing to the arts and culture in B.C. The following will be included automatically at the end of the message: Sincerely, [your name and contact information] cc: Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts; Premier of British Columbia; Opposition critic for Housing and Social Development; Opposition critic for Tourism, Culture and the Arts; [name of selected MLA]