Mr. Speaker, the amount of money generated from lottery proceeds in the NWT was $3 million last year, a significant amount of money. Currently in the NWT proceeds of the Western Canada Lottery program are exclusively allocated to sports organizations. The NWT is the only jurisdiction in Canada that exclusively allocates lottery proceeds to sports. Alberta and British Columbia divide their lottery proceeds between many different organizations and causes, and the Yukon divides its proceeds between arts and cultural programs and sports programs.
The arts play a significant role in a community’s economy and well-being. National statistics show that, on average, investments in the arts result in an 8 to 1 payback to the community for every dollar invested in the form of increased tourism, increased businesses for restaurants and jobs created, to name a few of the spin-off benefits. The arts contribute to a lively, healthy community and give our youth a vehicle to express themselves creatively in positive ways, typically using local materials and resources. They are also an integral part of a diversified economy. As we already rely so strongly upon our non-renewable resources, our territory is going to continue to be vulnerable to the vagaries of the global economy. A healthy arts and culture industry can help us withstand these difficult swings.
Mr. Speaker, our neighbours in the Yukon have recognized this and are benefiting from a burgeoning tourism industry, due in part to their superior level of funding arts and culture in comparison to our territory.
Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear that I’m not suggesting that we reduce funding for sports in the NWT. I recognize that sports play an indispensable role in the lives of our youth and contribute to maintaining healthy communities. I also want to acknowledge that this Assembly has begun to recognize the importance of the arts through increased funding, and I applaud this effort. However, there is still room for additional support, and I think that some access to lottery funds is a valid place to start. There is certainly a possibility of increasing lottery revenue in the NWT. If arts organizations were involved in advertising, I have little doubt that we would start to see an increase in lottery revenues that could be split and used for the increased benefit of both sports and arts and culture — two vitally important aspects of our society.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
