Look who showed up at the Civic Centre last night

Although Charity Bingo Impact Study author Robert Hann was a no-show, the Charities and Not-for-Profit Funding Review Committee met at City Hall last night anyway.

Last night's meeting was packed in comparison to the committee's poorly attended earlier working sessions, with eleven of the committee's 19 members showing up.

Even Ward 1 Councillor Steve Butland and Ward 6 warhorse Frank Manzo (both shown) graced the gathering with their presence.

Earlier SooToday.com story about 'deadbeat' councillors

Committee members were originally planning to tell Hann a thing or two about the impact of the Sault Ste. Marie Charity Casino five years after it opened.

Now, they'll have to wait for another opportunity.

Mayor Rowswell speculated that Hann might not be ready to come before Council or the committee.

"I think we already know what he (Hann) is going to say," said Butland. "These recommendations are good, valid and legitimate," Butland said, referring to the Committee's work so far.

'Look at what you guys do when there's no politician in the room!'

One of the first recommendations to come up on last night's agenda was reducing the maximum allowable license fee charged by the City from three percent to one percent.

"Look at this! Look at what you guys do when there's no politician in the room with you," Mayor John Rowswell said.

"But, all kidding aside, we have to get this passed at Council and I don't think they're going to do it at one percent. We would be taking a loss," the mayor said. "Can't we barter?"

Butland suggested they try an interim reduction "to give a respite, a bit of breathing room."

Greenbelt Bingo

Then, Kathy Merritt, one of just two members who've had perfect attendance at the committee' meetings so far, reported on Greenbelt Bingo's measures to try to compensate for lost revenue.

Merritt told the committee that 11 charities are losing their bingos at Greenbelt because nine bingo sessions are being cut from the schedule in an effort to slow down revenue loss.

If these charities do not have an opportunity to double up with other groups, the 39-member Greenbelt Bingo Association will become a 28-member association as of November 1.

"Last week, we had a deficit of $848," Merritt said.

The bingo hall owner assumed half of the loss.

Charities lost $424 last week

The $424 remaining loss was shared equally among the 39 members of the association.

"We paid approximately $3,111 in licensing fees, just last week and at three percent," Merritt added.

Faced with that infcormation, Rowswell then relented.

"Okay, you've convinced me, Kathy. Let’s make it one percent for an interim time period to give them some time to recover," he said.

The Charities and Not-for-Profit Funding Review Committee had its first meeting on September 16 and has been working feverishly on recommendations for Jim Watson, Ontario's Minister of Consumer and Business Services ever since.

On November 1, three committee resolutions will be brought to Council, spearheaded by Butland and Manzo.

The gist of the intended motions:

- reduce the cost of lottery and gaming licenses from three percent to one percent of the prize value starting November 1 and continuing to April 1, 2005

- request an increase in Trillium Foundation funding from $100 million to $150 million annually, and that Trillium's funding formula be restructured to reflect regional needs and the impact of local charity casino

- that the committee's report be accepted by Council as submitted

A sub-committee will meet on Thursday to finalize the report and three motions to be submitted to council before sending to Minister Watson.

Watson oversees the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario which enforces gaming laws governing how charities can raise or spend money with raffles, draws and other games of chance. "The Committee as a whole will have to sign off on those recommendations as well," said the mayor.

He anticipates they will meet on Monday or will send e-mail or fax responses to the draft recommendations by that time.