B.C. Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman says his government is having to make tough funding choices. (CBC)

The legislative opposition and sports groups hammered the B.C. Liberal government Monday over funding cuts to sports programs at schools and sporting clubs across the province.

Football clubs like the Vancouver Trojans have depended on provincial funding to buy equipment such as pads and helmets to help meet safety standards, send players to tournaments and keep fees down for disadvantaged families.

The Vancouver club has football programs for children six to 18 years old.

The $83,000 the club was promised in July was reduced to $15,000.

"We can't afford to finish the season," Trojans president Kerry Mann told CBC News. "I mean, we can't even afford to rent another bus."

The province has cut $14 million to sports groups since the Sept. 1 budget.

"Some groups … may not be as important as running a food bank versus a sports group," B.C. Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman told reporters outside the House. "Those are tough decisions we have to make."

Opposition leader Carole James called the remarks patronizing and said the government should cut ministers from cabinet and put their salaries toward children's sports programs.

Kerry Mann of the Vancouver Trojans says his football club can't finish its season without its annual grant from the province. (CBC)

"B.C. School Sports provides the funding that helps students go to competitions, that helps them hone their skills, that helps them get used to competitions," James said. "That's how we develop our Olympic athletes."

A northern B.C. high school teacher who put together an elite wrestling program that produced international champions, including one who won gold for Canada at the Beijing Olympics, also spoke out Monday.

Joe Sullivan said the grant of $4,000 to $5,000 he received annually from the government's gaming revenues was just enough to ensure his program would survive for another year.

"I can't over-emphasize how much those grants meant to me," said Sullivan, who ran the wrestling program in the Hazelton area, about 800 kilometres northwest of Vancouver.

"Every year when I would apply for those (grants) you would sort of say a little thank you prayer because you know that this is what is going to make the difference that will put us over the top —and it did."

Carol Hyunh won gold at Beijing and the Hazelton Secondary team produced nine other international medal winners and numerous provincial champions.

Sports groups representing 800 youth organizations will receive $19 million in grants this year from the province's gaming revenues, officials in Coleman's office said.

Last year, 1,079 youth sports organizations received $29 million in gaming money from the province.

Environmental groups will be the next to get the word on cutbacks. Letters are going out to grant applicants this week.

Coleman said there will be more than $1 million in cuts to about 50 environmental organizations.

With files from The Canadian Press