PROVINCE INVITES COMMENT ON COMMUNITY INITIATIVES FUND

The provincial government is inviting Saskatchewan communities to comment on the future of the Community Initiatives Fund.

The Community Initiatives Fund distributes part of the profits from the Regina and Moose Jaw Casinos for the benefit of Saskatchewan people and communities. The existing three-year plan to guide how the funds will be used ends on March 31st, 2006.

"It is important that the limited funds available through the Community Initiatives Fund are directed to sustainable programs that can make a real difference," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joan Beatty said. "The Community Initiatives Fund is for the benefit of communities, so we are asking communities to contribute to decisions about what those benefits should be."

The Community Initiatives Fund was established to compensate non-profit organizations affected by casino expansion and to ensure that off-reserve Saskatchewan communities received tangible benefits from casino profits. Since the fund started in 1996, almost $51 million has been provided back to Saskatchewan communities. Funds are directed to exhibition associations and hospital foundations; and have now expanded to include gambling prevention and treatment programs; vulnerable children, youth and families; increased participation of First Nations and Métis people in sport, culture and recreation; increased physical fitness for Saskatchewan people; and community sport, culture and recreation facilities. Additional grants that build bridges between Saskatchewan people were provided for community centennial projects.

This is an opportunity to help redefine the fund's purpose and priorities, and to consider how Community Initiatives Fund programs should be delivered in the future.

A copy of the call for comment document will be mailed to key delivery partners, stakeholders and municipal governments, and can be accessed at www.cyr.gov.sk.ca/cifopinion.html. The deadline for responses is September 15th, 2005.

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For More Information, Contact:

Janet Peters Culture, Youth and Recreation Regina Phone: (306) 787-4967