British Columbia’s Community Gaming Grant Review will stop in Williams Lake with a community forum scheduled for the Pioneer Complex on Thursday.
Skip Triplett, appointed last month by Premier Christy Clark to lead the independent review, is examining the role of government in allocating gaming revenue with input from charities, non-profits, community members, local government and others who would like to participate.
The terms of reference include reviewing and providing options for:
• Existing legislation governing community gaming grant funding
• Funding formula
• Criteria/eligibility for community gaming grants
• Processes involved with applying for and receiving community gaming grants
• A multi-year funding model
• The future role of government in community gaming grants.
The Williams Lake forum, which is open to all, will run from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18 at the Pioneer Complex, 351 Hodgson Rd.
To reserve a speaking time, groups or individuals wishing to make an oral presentation at the forum must register online at: www.communitygaminggrantreview.gov.bc.ca.
Those wishing to attend are also encouraged to register online.
Submissions to the review are also being accepted by e-mail, fax or mail. Triplett’s final report is due to government by Monday, Oct. 31.
Community gaming grants currently help support the delivery of programs and services in the following sectors:
• Human and social services
• Public safety
• Youth arts and culture
• Fairs, festivals and museums
• Parent advisory councils
• Sports for youth and people with disabilities
• Gaming generates more than $1 billion in revenue per year for the B.C. government.
Submissions can be made until 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16 through www.communitygaminggrantreview.gov.bc.ca; by mail at P.O. Box 9827 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria BC, V8W 9W4; by fax at 250-356-2842; or e-mail at communitygaminggrantreview@gov.bc.ca.