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VICTORIA — When cabinet minister Doug Donaldson announced a $69-million support package for displaced forest workers, he didn’t mention it would be paid for in part by suspending $25 million in grants to develop the rural economy.

Donaldson, who is cabinet minister for both forests and rural development, confined the bad news to a letter sent out to hundreds of applicants for grants under the B.C. Rural Dividend. The dividend was established under the previous B.C. Liberal government to “strengthen and diversify” the local economy in communities of 25,000 people or less.

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Since 2016, the program has provided $73 million in grants to more than 500 communities, organizations, First Nations and other applicants to develop business plans, develop tourist attractions and build local infrastructure. The budget for this year was $25 million and applications closed Aug. 15.

All that was put on hold as of the letter Donaldson sent out Thursday. But the minister had to beat around the bush a bit before letting the applicants in on the secret.