Sponsor Local Community Groups - Not The Town of Newmarket

One of the things that transforms a municipality into the community is the strength of its community groups.  These groups run not-for-profit on the efforts of unpaid volunteers.  You might recognized them as the local hockey league, church group, service clubs, or arts organization.  What can't be disputed is the fact that these organizations make our towns more liveable and without them, Newmarket wouldn't be the same. 

This past week, the Town of Newmarket recognized 30 of its sponsors.  These are local businesses who the town convinced to donate their sponsorship money to the local government rather than to the struggling dance team, theatre group, coffee club, or hospice volunteers, etc. 

And I think that's wrong. 

All around Newmarket, I see minor sports teams with a blank on the back of their jerseys where a company sponsor would normally be found.  I see the cost of participating in a community group activities rising (unfortunately the key driver of these rates is the cost of renting town owned facilities or some other government red-tape requirement).  And I see children and seniors who simply cannot afford to participate in activities with their peers. 

What I don't see is the Town of Newmarket struggling to make ends meet.  In fact, I doubt that there is another local employer who has grown as substantially as the Corporation of the Town of Newmarket has over the past ten years. 

Our local government is wrong to divert sponsorship monies that so many community groups rely upon for their operations to the public coffers.  There is simply no way that the local skating club, for example, can compete for sponsorship dollars on a level playing field against the government. 

I am asking our Council, for the sake of the financial well being of our community groups, to curb the town's appetite for sponsorship money and give the local community groups a break. 

I am also imploring the local businesses that are forking money over to the municipality to commit to giving an even greater amount of money to local not for profit community groups who could really use your financial support.  If you have limited sponsorship funds to give, please consider the local community groups first.