Debates of March 10, 2005 (day 53)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, also the Minister responsible for lottery revenues in the territory. I know my colleague was talking about winning a billion dollars or if he had a billion dollars, but…The questions I had for the Minister I just wanted to understand a little bit about the lottery revenues here in the Northwest Territories. As I understand it, Sport North controls the lottery booths that are here in Yellowknife. I’ve heard from many people in Yellowknife that access to these lottery booths, and it’s a past-time for many northerners to play the lottery, to buy tickets, and they close the booth at 6:00. If you’re in southern Canada you can go into many convenience stores and buy tickets around the clock. I’m wondering, is there a way that we can increase lottery revenues to the organizations that need it by increasing the length of time that these booths are open. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 592-15(3): Lottery Revenues

Mr. Speaker, I have to admit I’m not familiar enough with the new lottery regulations. In 2004 our Department of Municipal and Community Affairs along with Sport North and the Department of Justice, completed a review of the Lottery Act and regulations and the new regulations will govern how the program will be conducted. The Member is correct; right now the control of the sports lotteries are controlled by Sport North. The new sports council is being formulated. We have set up an implementation team. They are defining the nomination process and council selection that’s taking place this month. We’re hoping to have our first AGM for the sports council in April of this year. As part of their responsibilities we’re hoping that they’re going to lay out a resource management plan which will include a lot of this stuff following the lottery and support for the lottery and how they’re going to increase their revenues. But I don’t have the details on the actual regulations with me at this point, so I’d have to get back to the Member on that issue.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 592-15(3): Lottery Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d be the first to agree that Sport North and the staff that they have do a first-rate job at running the lottery booths, especially the ones I’m known to frequent on occasion here in Yellowknife. The question I’d ask the Minister, and he doesn’t have to provide an answer today, but I’m wondering if the organization, if it’s a new council that’s going to receive the lottery revenue, if they’ll receive an increase in revenue if terminals are located in a variety of different locations or could we expect to get more revenue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 592-15(3): Lottery Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the tasks that the new sports council will be having to undertake is to see how they can maximize revenue flow. At this point I’m not in a position to say whether that’s going to involve more terminals or longer hours or where the terminals are going to be located. So I would have to seek that information and try to come back and provide that to the Member, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 592-15(3): Lottery Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So after I think the Minister mentioned April 1st, is Sport North still going to control the lottery booths or is it going to be the new sport and recreation council? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 592-15(3): Lottery Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The new sports council will spend this next coming year to organize a number of things including how they’ll develop their resource management plan and how they’ll develop and put out their communications and marketing plan and they also have to look at consolidating their offices, office space. We expect them to have, by this fall, a draft operating plan. We want to see business plans, we want to see a whole number of things for them to come forward. Our plan for them to start operating as an entity is for April 2006. Our first AGM for this council is April 2005 and they’ll spend a whole year getting ready to be up and running by April 2006. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 592-15(3): Lottery Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Then on April 1st, 2006, who’s going to control the lottery revenue? Will it be Sport North or will it be the new sport and recreation council? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 592-15(3): Lottery Revenues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re expecting the new sports council to have all the fiscal responsibilities by April 2006.