Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've heard a lot of concerns and questions about the Western Canada Lotteries Act, and we're soon to be hearing about some multi-sport funding issues within the budget here. So my first question is to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs: can the Minister please advise if the Western Canada Lotteries Act has a clause in the bill that allows the lotteries to be used for multi-sport games? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, yes, the proposed bill that was submitted to standing committee does have a clause in it that allows the dispersal of funds to cover multi-sport games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Just a friendly reminder to Members that this bill is before standing committee. So if you could not go into detail on specific questions, I'll allow further debates, but not specific details. Member for Nahendeh.
Uh, oh. We'll work on it.
---Laughter
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank you for the clarification on that. This is going to be a little bit challenging, but I guess we'll go into what's in the budget and -- the budget is before the House, too. Oh, well, here we go: what is the intention in the budget with the bill in adding this multi-sport games funding to the bill? Can you answer that question?
Basically, Mr. Speaker, why did I include the line in the bill, is my understanding of the question. So I'm going to try to state that without getting into trouble for talking about the bill. Basically, it's important that the -- I'm struggling to not talk about the bill.
It's important, Mr. Speaker, that all of the monies that are obtained through the Lottery Fund are protected and that we can actually use it for sports and recreation, which was the intent of that funding. So I am proposing that we would maintain that, as we have historically done, that we would do that in the future.
I thank the Minister for that answer as we navigate on some difficult grounds here. Can the Minister please tell us how much money the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs put into exploration of funding excluding salaries?
Currently, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs provides $8.3 million for sport and recreation programs. That includes $4.7 million from the Western Canada Lottery Fund revenues and $3.6 million from the Government of the NWT operation funding for Municipal and Community Affairs.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess $4.7 million is on taxpayers who actually play lottery, so I appreciate that's where the money is coming from. So can the Minister actually give us a breakdown of the $3.6 million, where this money is actually spent and allocated? Is it in salaries? Is it programs? Or what variety of programs is this money accounted for? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
To divide down the actual monies from what we spend on actually supporting of youth and taking part in sports activities, and from what we pay staff, is a process that would take some time. If the Member would like, he can either present a written question or he can come to my office and I can provide him that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Again, I'd just like to remind Members to refrain from asking questions when the bill is before standing committee. Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
