MAJOR LOTTERIES CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sport, culture and recreation groups throughout Saskatchewan will continue to benefit from the proceeds of Saskatchewan Lotteries.

A new three-year agreement for the distribution of proceeds from Saskatchewan Lotteries was signed today in Regina by Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joanne Crofford and representatives of the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation.

"In the 1970s, government took the unprecedented step of developing a public policy that secured lottery profits as the major funding source for recreation and cultural activities," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joanne Crofford said. "This forward looking policy has ensured a strong role for each community in providing a comprehensive network of activities that contribute significantly to Saskatchewan's quality of life."

Originally established in 1974, the Lotteries Agreement is a partnership between the government and the province's voluntary lottery community. The agreement has resulted in the annual distribution of millions of dollars to more than 12,000 sport, culture, recreation and community groups in Saskatchewan. This year, about $25 million will be distributed. The funding helps these groups contribute positively to the well-being of urban, rural, northern and Aboriginal people throughout the province.

Under the new Lotteries Agreement, the provincial license fee of 9.5 per cent will remain unchanged from the previous agreement.

"Not only will this agreement allow more than 600,000 Saskatchewan people to continue to participate in healthy, positive activities provided by the lottery-funded sport, culture and recreation groups" President of Sask Sport Inc. Spencer Graham said. "But the combined economic impact of sport, culture and recreation activities in our province of more than one billion dollars every year will continue to be felt."

Saskatchewan Lotteries proceeds are administered through the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund by three organizations: Sask Sport Inc., SaskCulture Inc. and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association.

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For More Information, Contact:

Sandhya Padmanabh Culture Youth & Recreation Regina Phone: (306)787-4967 Email: spadmanabh@cyr.gov.sk.ca