P.G. Groups Pick Up Gaming Funds

Saturday, August 28, 2010 04:08 AM

Prince George, B.C. – Several organizations in Prince George have received a grand total of $1,836,351 dollars in gaming grants for human and social services and public safety.

In all, more than 300 local organizations in 29 communities in Central, Interior and Northern regions of the province are sharinig in more than $8.1 million in community gaming grants.

Some of the Prince George groups that will receive funding include:

C.N.I.B. - Northern BC Region, $93,800
Aimhi Prince George Association for Community Living, $60,000
Child Development Centre of Prince George & District, $60,000
Family Young Men's Christian Association of Prince George, $72,000
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Prince George, $55,000
United Way of Northern British Columbia, $42,000
Elder Citizens Recreation Association, $48,900
Hart Pioneer Centre Association, $48,900
Hart Community Centre Society, $50,000.00
Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George, $44,000
Blackburn Community Association, $45,000
Canadian Mental Health Association - Prince George Branch, $48,000
(S.O.S.) Society Sexual Violence Prevention and Counselling Services, $54,000
Prince George Hospice Society, $60,000
Northern Family Health Society, $65,000
Prince George Alano Society, $75,000

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Posted on Saturday, August 28, 2010 04:08 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: seamutt on August 28 2010 8:18 AM

Anyone with an idea how much in lotteries and other gaming is bought in PG compared to the 1.8 million.

Posted by: SummerSoul on August 28 2010 9:03 AM

How do these "generous" grants of money exploited from mathematically-challenged citizens compare with past grants?
Which organisations have been cut off, like Theatre Northwest and the Prince George Symphony?

Posted by: hood rich on August 28 2010 11:10 AM

what is the criteria for receiving the grants? lottery system ?

Posted by: Bskakun on August 28 2010 12:06 PM

From the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch

Total revenues from commercial gaming in B.C. were approximately $2.52 billion in 2009/10. After expenses, including prize payouts, total government revenues from gaming were about $1.07 billion.
In 2009/10, the Province distributed $112.6 million in gaming grants to approximately 6,700 community organizations. $47.5 million was distributed in support of government priorities not traditionally supported through gaming grants.

In addition, charitable organizations reported earnings of $24.1 million through licensed gaming activities, such as ticket raffles, independent bingos, limited casinos, and wheels of fortune.

In total, community organizations received approximately $184.2 million in gaming revenue from all sources in 2009/10.

From what I recall the Treasure Cove casino generated just under 50 million dollars last year with the City getting just under 3 million dollars.
When the Province decided years ago to increase gaming they said this needed to be done in part to help the Charitable organizations. Take that information and do what you want with it, but as a City Councillor we are getting more and more requests from local charitable organizations because they say they are losing the money they were receiving in different types of gaming grants.

Brian Skakun

Posted by: gus on August 28 2010 12:54 PM

tyr this site for information. There is lots there, including all the details of where the money went to last year if you follow the hyperlinks on the page.
http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/gaming/revenue/index.htm

This page has the fund details distributed last year including Prince George
http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/gaming/reports/docs/fin-rpt-core-grants-2009-10.pdf

The total for regular grants was $4,335,375

The total for additional special grants was $1,410,590.
http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/gaming/reports/docs/fin-rpt-special-one-time-grants-2009-10.pdf

Most of that the School District probably to be distributed for special programs, you know, the ones that are supposed to help on field trips, etc., I suspect.

Maybe Lois Boone and Carole James should discuss that sometime. Would be an interesting discussion.

The total given out to community organizations in the province was about $184 million. So we got a reasonable share when you look at the population % we are of the provincial population.

PG City Hall receives 10% of the gaming revenues. So the money given by this community and others who come here to play at the Casino can be calculated from that.

Posted by: NMG on August 28 2010 6:57 PM

You can debate the pros and cons of gambling until you are blue in the face, but the simple fact of the matter is that the casino is essentially a giant vaccum cleaner that sucks money out of PG and redistributes it to the Province, the Treasure Cove owners (and their employees to some extent) and some local charities.

I don't have a problem with people who want to gamble, but I find it hard to believe that the casino doesn't have a signifcant overall NEGATIVE impact on the amount of investment that would occur locally or on the overall health of our local business community, if it wasn't here. I personally don't see it as a huge benefit for our community. Quite the opposite in fact. I think we'd be better off without it.

Posted by: Palopu on August 28 2010 7:54 PM

I agree with NMG 100%. The next dollar the Casino gets from me will be the first.

Seems people are hell bent to gamble, and thats their business, however if they wanted to save some time, they should calculate the amount that they lose in a year, and just mail a cheque to Gordo. That way they could go fishing, boating, or do something else, with all their extra time.

As a footnote, one should keep in mind, that unless you are actually sitting in on a card game, or playing roulette, or shooting craps, or betting on a horse race, then you are not gambling.

There is no gambling involved in putting money into a machine and waiting for the results.