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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Bob Bromley, MLA for Weledeh, argued Wednesday that it was time some of the money from lottery revenues were devoted to the arts.

He said $3 million in revenue was generated by lottery sales last year.

"Currently in the NWT, proceeds of the Western Canada Lottery program are exclusively allocated to sports organization," he said, adding the territory is the only jurisdiction in Canada that is does this.

Many, he said, split the funds between various organizations.

"I'd like to find out how we can get this done," he said.

Robert McLeod, minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, said the department was looking at the management of lottery money with sport and recreation partners, but arts groups were not at the table.

"The money from the lotteries is not that much, and as the member knows, it costs a lot of money to supply sports to youth across the Northwest Territories, bringing them to tournaments and helping funding some of the events," he said.

McLeod said while both arts and sports were important, the money should be going to youth.

Bromley said he did not want to reduce funding for sports in the NWT, realizing the positive role they play in the lives of youth.

"I just think what we should be discussing is whether those dollars for youth should be going strictly to sports, or whether they should be going to sports and arts and cultural programs," he said.

Bills ascend

The 16th legislative assembly's second session ended on Tuesday night with Commissioner of the Northwest Territories Tony Whitford giving assent to seven bills – which then became acts. Included among them was an act to amend the pharmacy act, an act to amend the legal profession act, and an act to amend the income tax act. As well, the Donation of Food Act was made official.

The food donation act specifies that "a person who donates food to another person is not liable for damages resulting from disease, injury, death or other harm caused by the consumption of the food," unless this had been the intention of the donor, or if the food was "rotten or otherwise unfit for human consumption."

The third session of the assembly convened on Wednesday and is set to run until Friday afternoon, Oct. 24.

Sissons renos

Eight MLAs voted in committee Monday to recommend renovations for J.H. Sissons school be pushed ahead by two years.

In discussing the 2009-2010 capital plan for the department of education, Robert Hawkins, MLA for Yellowknife Centre, said work to the 30-year-old school must be done promptly.

Two MLAs voted against the motion, including David Krutko, MLA for Mackenzie Delta, who said J.H. Sissons was already in the books for future renovations, while schools in his constituency were in much worse shape and also needed work.

Quote of the week:

"What exactly is his first priority? Is it the people of the Northwest Territories and the future of the Northwest Territories, or is it his constituents back in Inuvik?" David Ramsay, MLA for Kam Lake, asking Premier Floyd Roland why he stayed in Yellowknife rather than attend a premiers' conference in Montreal, while projects in his home riding were being debated in the legislative assembly.