March 5th, 2025 (Greater Vancouver, Northern BC, Kamloops, BC) – Responding to the Province of British Columbia’s 2025 Budget released Tuesday, YMCA BC recognizes the significant economic challenges facing the province and welcomes the continued investment in core public services that British Columbians rely on. As the government looks for efficient ways to deliver services, community-focused organizations like the YMCA stand ready to work in partnership.
“Non-profits like the YMCA are ready to work together with the government to support British Columbians as our province faces stiff economic headwinds,” said Heidi Worthington, President and CEO, YMCA BC. “Whether collaborating with government to provide more families with much-needed access to affordable and quality child care, helping young people overcome barriers to employment, or easing pressure on health services by improving peoples’ physical, mental, and social well-being, the Y is committed to enabling everyone in our communities to have equitable access to healthier outcomes.”
The province has downgraded its estimates for possible job losses due to the impact of tariffs, which is positive, but uncertainty remains. Young people are often hit the hardest during periods of economic downturn and with recent reductions in federal funding for youth-facing services, the government should consider how the contingency funds set aside in this budget could best to support this group.
Continued investments in mental health services for young people are a welcome sight in the budget. YMCA BC knows the critical role these early intervention services play in reducing the pressure on the health system over the longer term and believes that additional investments in prevention will help our health budget stretch further.
YMCA BC hoped to see a renewed commitment to early learning and child care funding to build on the success of ChildCareBC and accelerate work to deliver high-quality and affordable care for all. We remain committed to working with the government to develop a strong workforce, a sustainable funding model, and to strengthening the school-age child care system.
This budget contains needed capital investments for schools, hospitals, and transportation, which will help create jobs and opportunities. However, communities also need social infrastructure to thrive—spaces for recreation, child care, employment training, newcomer services, and for youth to come together. It’s vital that organizations who provide these spaces and community services, like the YMCA, can access infrastructure funding to ensure they can be repaired and remain open and accessible.
“YMCA BC looks forward to continuing to work with the provincial government to identify ways to build a British Columbia that is healthy, equitable, affordable, and a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging,” said Worthington.
