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BC to review gaming grant system

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Premier Christy Clark says the province will consider boosting funding for community groups that depend on gambling revenue.

Clark says they will be open to ideas as they launch a review of the gaming grant system, led by former Kwantlen University president Skip Triplett.

“There are a lot of different pots of money that provide the sources of funding for this, and it appears to me like it’s kind of become a patchwork over the years and I don’t think that makes it predictable and it doesn’t make it sustainable for lots of groups,” says Clark.

Various charities and local groups receive provincial money from gambling revenue to run arts programs, festivals, sports teams, museums and public safety campaigns.

Clark restored $15 million in community gaming grants in March, but critics have slammed her for giving back less than the amount cut under former Premier Gordon Campbell.

She says if the report recommends community groups get more money the government will seriously consider it, but Clark cautions more funding is not always the answer.

“For groups, we can argue about the amount, but jeez gosh, they want to know that they’re eligible from year to year and that the services that they’re providing fit into some criteria,” Clark says.

Triplett is to deliver his report by the end of October.

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